By
Segun Olatunji
As the 2027 gubernatorial election in Ogun State fast approaches, the people of the Gateway State are once again confronted with the usual apprehension. They’re agitated by that pressing two-pronged question: whose legs truly fit the shoes now being gradually pulled by the incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun? Who is that one with that Messianic vision and mission to rescue Ogun State and truly improve on the achievements of his predecessors at the Oke Mosan Governor’s Office?
It’s true that many familiar political figures have started throwing their hats into the ring, beating their chests to make Ogun an El Dorado, if elected in 2027. But only one of them, in the reckoning of the majority of the ordinary people of Ogun State, deserves closer attention. And he’s none other than Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Commander of the Order of the Nigeria (CON), fondly called Yayi by his constituents and teeming supporters in Ogun, Lagos, Abuja and beyond.
Senator Adeola, is an experienced lawmaker, having cut his political and legislative teeth at the Lagos State House of Assembly over two decades ago. From the membership of the Lagos Assembly, having performed excellently in his legislative duties and more importantly in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people in his then constituency, Senator Yayi meteorically graduated to the Federal House of Representatives (2011 to 2015), where he served as Chairman of the very influential House Committee on Public Accounts, and subsequently to the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate, where he has been privileged, and still by sheer dint of hard work, to have been elected, first to represent Lagos West Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023, before he capitulated to the popular demands and yearnings of his Yewa/Awori kinsmen, who had seen the magic he was applying to representation at the National Assembly, to return home, not only to represent them at the upper legislative chamber, but to also extend to them the full dosage of his Midas touch with which he had been representing his then Lagos constituents and which, of course, was then also somehow trickling down to them too in the Ogun West Senatorial District, and even the entire Gateway State, some democracy dividends.
It was therefore not a surprise when at the primary election to select the Ogun West Senatorial candidate for the 2023 National Assembly election, Senator Yayi, who was a relatively new entrant on the Ogun State political turf, got all the votes cast by the delegates at the Oronna Hall, Ilaro venue of the All Progressives Congress’ Ogun West Senatorial District primary election. Therefore, one would not be wrong to say that this rich resume of political cum legislative experience possessed by Senator Adeola Yayi has adequately prepared him for the task ahead, as he aspires to occupy the exalted seat of the number one citizen of our dear State, by the special Grace of God.
Of course, even before his swearing-in as the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly in Abuja, after winning the 2023 election, Senator Adeola had hit the ground running with the execution of various infrastructure projects and life-changing empowerment programmes. The concrete physical evidence still abounds all over Ogun West Senatorial District and even across the entire state. His achievements in these regards have been rated unprecedented by even his peers at the Senate in Abuja, who have seen with their own ‘korokoro’ eyes the wonders Senator Adeola have been performing, not only in his Ogun West constituency but throughout Ogun State.
And in no time, it is not any surprise anymore that his rich profile began to dominate the headlines, suggesting he’s the next and the best of all to succeed the incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun in 2027. Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi is indeed the leader whose time is at hand as the next Governor of our dear Ogun State.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi is a rare blend of a public-spirited persona, private-sector professional competence, law-making acumen and democratic consistency. He represents a departure from the conventional political class that has delivered next to nothing to their constituents in terms of programmes, projects and real democracy dividends.
Senator Yayi’s political roots, which germinated from the state level and tentacled to the highest legislature, the Senate, in record time, have shaped him into the principled and beneficent democrat that he is now. The ranking Senator and Chairman of the all-important Senate Appropriation Committee is a leader who understands not just the mechanics of government but the moral obligations of responsible and responsive leadership. He’s a truly committed voice and activist for the development of his society and the people.
At a time thick pall of uncertainty beclouds the nation’s political landscape due to the action and inaction of many politicians lacking clear ideology, sympathy and empathy, Senator Yayi has remained focused on making life better for not only his constituents in Ogun West, but the entire Ogun State. He’s one rare politician not fascinated by self-aggrandizement and scoring of cheap political points. His focus has always been the larger society.
This chartered accountant, a Fellow of the prestigious Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), specialist/consultant in auditing and taxation, and successful businessman brings an admixture of his Midas touch and technocratic acumen to the political leadership with which he has been waving the magic wand that has been birthing the delivery of the myriad of unprecedented democracy dividends for which he has become synonymous and more loved by his Ogun West Senatorial District constituents, nay the entire people of Ogun State.
He is a leader who has truly exploited his understanding and proper grasp of the various economic and management theories and models, not only to create jobs, negotiate deals, and build institutions, but to also practically lift his society to a higher pedestal. Such a critical experience is what Ogun State urgently requires to move faster towards her Promised Land – a leader truly poised to confront headlong the various perennial challenges confronting the Gateway State in the face of the multi-dimensional economic crises, historic inflation and monumental youth unemployment bedeviling the Nigerian state as a whole.
Senator Yayi’s manifestos during previous political campaigns covering virtually all the areas of life of the people, have been proved by their immediate execution as not just populist sound bites. They have turned out to be actionable policy suggestions that have been concretised and made a reality by their physical execution.
Although Ogun State’s political landscape remains deeply fractured along various divisive lines, Senator Yayi has emerged as a potential bridge-builder cementing and concretising the various disparate societies in the state. As a politician with wide connections and acceptance across Ogun State and Nigeria, he’s surrounded by a unique aura and outlook that are both inclusive and pragmatic.
Unlike many politicians whose appeal is rooted in loyalty to only their supporters and the people in their immediate constituency, Senator Yayi, by his actions, promotes a statewide identity anchored on equity and equal opportunity. This is just the kind of leader the state requires to rebuild the trust between government and citizens on one hand and among citizens themselves, on the other hand.
Senator Yayi has been observed to be one politician who suffers no fools gladly. He eschews political theatrics and razzmatazz, but prefers dwelling on issues rather than insults, and substance instead of mere sound bites. There’s no doubt that he commands respect, love and appeal among both the old and growing population of young, informed and reform-minded voters in Ogun State. In Abuja, he’s one of the highflyer legislators in the National Assembly. Back home in Ogun, his level of philanthropy and purposeful representation is non-pareil. His outstanding performance in the provision of infrastructure, people-oriented projects and initiatives, as well as other dividends of democracy, is second to none.
Essentially, Senator Yayi has continued to maintain a track record of effective representation. So far, he has executed over 80 life-impacting projects in communities across Ogun West and beyond. He has also sponsored and co-sponsored several bills, including those of the City University of Yaba and the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, which has been signed into law by President Tinubu. The new university in Ilaro has already taken off.
The ranking lawmaker’s ideological orientation is simple: persistent practical intervention to support the poor and vulnerable. He believes in inclusive growth, not just empowering few political acolytes.
Ahead of the pack and being the youngest of them all, Senator Yayi’s aspiration adds a lot of depth and generational balance to the race to occupy the number one political office in Ogun State come 2027. Therefore, as the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ogun State prepares for the primary process for electing its governorship candidate in the forthcoming general elections, it is advisable it looks beyond recycled aspirants and recognise emerging political figures in the hues of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, aka Yayi, who combine grit, vision, integrity and strategic competence in bringing true and practical change to their society.
If the ruling APC in Ogun State truly wants to make a difference in 2027 and beyond, it must seek the emergence of a candidate and the eventual election of a governor who reflects a better future for the entire people of the state, and not one with a sordid, questionable or warped past. This is imperative so that the achievements of our indefatigable incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun will not pale into insignificance or even fizzle into oblivion at the end of the current administration. Therefore, the party needs a governorship candidate who will not only consolidate the laudable achievements of Governor Abiodun, but also significantly improve upon them with the ultimate objective of moving Ogun State forward.
As a matter of course, the demand for authentic, sympathetic and empathetic leadership in Ogun State is growing louder. If this trend continues, and if leaders like Senator Yayi can be allowed to emerge to execute their visions and missions effectively, the 2027 elections may prove to be the opportunity for the real development and the advancement the people have been looking forward to since the creation of the state in 1976.
Of course, there’s no doubting the fact that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi embodies, exemplifies and even exhibits virtually all of the qualities Ogun State desperately requires in its next governor. He’s principled, competent, inclusive, reform-minded and possesses the political grit and sagacity to successfully steer the ship of our dear State from 2027. This experienced lawmaker’s leadership style is anchored on ideas and practicality, not ego or selfish personal aggrandizement.
As the good people of Ogun State prepare for another contest for the governorship of the state, it’s advisable they extend their worldviews and widen their horizon beyond old political loyalties and flashy but empty slogans – a strategy not a few of our run-of-the-mill politicians are wont to exploit. One question we all must find an answer to, this time, is: who can truly take Ogun State to that higher pedestal of development from 2027, while also practically dispensing the real dividends of democracy? For many, one name that has become recurrent in this regard is that of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi.
And one word for those stealthily labouring to throw spanners in the works by instigating needless crisis between the incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun and Senator Yayi: ‘e lo si mi edo, e lo so agbeje mo’wo.’ Your devilish plot has woefully failed even before it matures. Yayi ni jo o, Yayi ni jare! 2027 is already a done deal, by the special Grace of Baba Olodumare.
Omo Ogun, ise ya!
Segun Olatunji, a Journalist and Crisis/Political Communication Specialistwrites from Oke-Ela, Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, Ogun State. He can be reached via [email protected]. Phone: 07073604633
