*Hon. Ladi Adebutu.
The Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign organisation of Hon. Ladi Adebutu, Mr Kehinde Shogunle, has defended the sale of Ogun State-owned Gateway Hotels to the Adebutu family, describing the transaction as a good investment for the state.
Shogunle, a former Commissioner for Finance in Ogun State under the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel, said the decision to transfer the hotel business to private interests was justified, arguing that Adebutu had the resources and connections required to revive the facilities.
He made the remarks during a radio programme on Rock City FM 101.9 in Abeokuta, where he maintained that the transaction was conducted transparently and in the best interest of the state.
According to him, the sale was not a major issue in the overall development of Ogun State, adding that he supported the decision taken by the Daniel administration.
“The thing went through a process, and at that point in time, the person that happened to bring in most resources and network to revive Gateway Hotels was Chief Adebutu,” Shogunle said.
He insisted that the transaction followed due process, maintaining that the involvement of private investors was necessary to restore the fortunes of the hotel business.
Gateway Hotels, with facilities in Abeokuta, Ota and Ijebu-Ode, were established during the administration of the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo as part of Ogun State’s legacy public investments. The facilities provided employment for many residents before being transferred to private interests through sale or lease arrangements.
The Abeokuta facility now operates as Park Inn by Radisson Abeokuta under the control of the Adebutu family.
The transaction has remained a subject of public interest because of questions surrounding the disposal of government-owned assets and the circumstances under which the hotels were transferred to private investors.
Shogunle’s defence of the transaction comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election, in which Adebutu is seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for control of the state.