A former federal lawmaker and public affairs commentator, Hon. Kayode Oladele, has criticised Kehinde Sogunle’s recent article on Ogun State’s political and developmental history, accusing him of selectively interpreting the past to advance the political interests of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu.
Oladele, in a detailed response titled “Sogunle’s Convenient History and the Politics of a Borrowed Past,” rejected Sogunle’s description of former officials of the 2003–2011 Gbenga Daniel administration as custodians of Ogun’s developmental “source code.”
He argued that the state’s development was the product of successive governments, public servants, professionals, communities and taxpayers, rather than the exclusive achievement of any political group.
“Public service is not private property,” Oladele said, arguing that those who serve in government are custodians of public institutions and policies for a period, not owners of the state’s collective achievements.
Oladele also challenged what he described as a double standard in Sogunle’s treatment of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), particularly regarding Adeola’s political career in Lagos before returning to Ogun.
He argued that Ogun indigenes who developed careers in Lagos could not be celebrated for contributing to another state while Adeola’s experience there was portrayed negatively because he subsequently returned to contest the Ogun governorship.
According to Oladele, Sogunle’s current political role should also be considered in assessing his criticism, noting that he serves as Director-General of Adebutu’s campaign organisation, while Adeola is a rival candidate in the 2027 governorship race.
The former lawmaker further questioned the attempt to appropriate the achievements of the Daniel administration for the present PDP campaign, noting that Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who governed Ogun from 2003 to 2011, is now a member of the APC and a serving senator.
Oladele asked who exactly Sogunle’s repeated reference to “we” represents, arguing that the achievements of the Daniel administration should be assessed as part of Ogun State’s collective history rather than treated as the political property of a present-day campaign.
On the competing policy platforms ahead of 2027, Oladele said candidates should be judged on the substance, financing, implementation frameworks and measurable targets of their programmes rather than political nostalgia.
His comments came amid the emerging debate over competing development agendas in Ogun.
Adeola, the APC governorship candidate, recently unveiled his nine-pillar ITESIWAJU agenda, built around infrastructure, tourism and culture, economic empowerment, security and welfare, inclusive growth, women and youth development, agriculture, job creation and industrialisation, and urbanisation and transparency.
The PDP’s Adebutu, meanwhile, has unveiled the ITURA DE agenda, which focuses on areas including economic relief, employment, infrastructure, security, welfare and local government administration.
Oladele also raised the issue of Ogun West’s representation in the governorship, noting that the senatorial district has not produced an elected governor since the state’s creation in 1976. He said the issue was legitimate for voters to consider alongside candidates’ competence, programmes and records.
He ultimately called for the competing political programmes and records to be subjected to public scrutiny, rather than allowing historical claims or political ownership narratives to dominate the 2027 debate.
“The ballot will settle it,” Oladele said, maintaining that Ogun voters should ultimately determine the direction of the state through the electoral process.
