Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday received the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, along with other key party candidates, including the Ogun Central Senatorial candidate, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, during a private meeting in his penthouse at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta.

 

The meeting, attended by PDP leaders in the state, focused on Ogun’s future and the pursuit of good governance.

 

Addressing the delegation, Obasanjo said he had withdrawn from partisan politics but remained deeply committed to the welfare, well-being and progress of Nigerians.

 

The former president urged Adebutu to pursue his governorship ambition with wisdom and humility, stressing that leadership should be driven by service rather than personal ambition.

He also advised the PDP candidate to ensure that his aspirations align with God’s purpose”At this stage of my life, I have set party politics aside. The goals of party politics are not always the same as the goals of promoting the welfare and well-being of the people.

 

 

 

“I can no longer engage in partisan politics. However, I will always remain deeply interested in the welfare, well-being and progress of our people. That commitment will never change.

“As for your desire and ambition, I encourage you to pursue them with wisdom and humility. Let your plans align with God’s purpose for your life because it is ultimately God who directs our paths.”

 

 

Speaking on Nigeria’s economic challenges, Obasanjo lamented that, despite the country’s vast landmass and abundant natural resources, successive governments had failed to manage them effectively.

 

 

“We are blessed with a large country, rich in land and abundant natural resources. Yet, despite these blessings, we have not managed them as well as we should.

“Our elders have a responsibility to provide guidance, preserve our traditions and take meaningful action that will benefit future generations.

 

 

“We must focus on how best to harness what God has entrusted to us for the good of our people. I remain a village man at heart. I come from the village, and I am proud of my roots. Those values have stayed with me throughout my life.”

 

 

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Adebutu described Obasanjo as a father figure, mentor and statesman whose counsel remains invaluable.

He said the visit was to seek the former president’s fatherly blessings and brief him on the party’s vision for Ogun State.

 

 

“First and foremost, we came to spend quality time with our father, our mentor and, indeed, the father of modern Nigeria. We came to appreciate him for his invaluable contributions and to inform him of our resolve to pursue a path towards better governance for our state.

“There is no one more deserving to be informed about the future of the state than someone who played a pivotal role in its creation. We have received his blessings and wise counsel, and with that encouragement, we are determined to move forward in the interest of our people.