By Ebenezer Adesegun
In response to S. O. Ogunbona and other apostles of Distinguished Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), let me make this abundantly clear: I am not against Yayi’s ambition. Every citizen has the right to aspire. But as a believer in ideology-based politics and as a stakeholder in Ogun State’s political terrain, I cannot continue to fold my arms while decisions that will shape the destiny of my children and generations yet unborn are taken by a few self-styled “party leaders.”
It is time to speak up. And I call on all like-minded citizens to rise against this dangerous culture of endorsing candidates not on the basis of vision, competence, or commitment, but simply because they possess financial muscle, political influence, or the ability to distribute constituency largesse.
- Asesile ni abowaba — Where Were the Roots All Along?
If indeed Senator Yayi’s roots have always been in Ogun West, why did it take over a decade before those roots mattered? Why only now, when a governorship ambition is at stake?
No legislator from Ogun has enjoyed the kind of influence Yayi currently commands at the federal level. But what assurance do we have that once he exits the Senate — especially if he no longer chairs an appropriation committee after 2027 — Ogun will continue to benefit from this influence? Can Ogun’s fragile IGR sustain both the growing political clientele around him and the massive infrastructural deficit we face?
- Forced Entry in Disguise
It is often argued that Yayi could not impose himself in Lagos due to entrenched interests. But is that not exactly what he is now attempting in Ogun — only with a different method?
Let us be frank: he may not be strong-arming Ogun’s political jobbers, but he is buying their consciences with federal appointments, festive handouts, and constituency projects. The direct beneficiaries of this strategy are not the people of Ogun, but Yayi himself and a handful of APC leaders who will profit if he secures Oke-Mosan.
If his legacy in Lagos was truly strong, nothing would have stopped him from vying for governorship there — the very state where he was “made.” Over a decade of service should have given him the standing to contest.
- “À Sáa Jẹun” Politics
The truth is bitter: most of those chanting support for Yayi today are motivated by stomach infrastructure. “Àpò tó kún kìí ráre” — the bag that is full will always have followers. The moment the sharing stops, the crowd will thin out.
What some glorify as “leadership that touches lives” is, at best, the distribution of public resources for personal political loyalty. Let us not sugarcoat it.
- The Leadership Model Question
Every leader operates a model. But we must be cautious about embracing a model that equates generosity with governance. A politician who distributes state resources and claims credit for “helping the people” is not extraordinary — he is merely discharging a basic duty.
The funds Yayi deploys today are not personal; they are public allocations. The crucial question remains: what happens if he becomes Governor without Abuja’s leverage? Will Ogun citizens be forced to subsist on promises and memories of past generosity?
- Ogun Deserves More Than the Loudest Voice
Ogun indeed deserves more. But more does not mean lowering our standards. None of the declared aspirants has ever served as Executive Governor. And let us be clear: running the executive arm of government is worlds apart from legislative experience.
As Governor, Yayi will no longer control federal appropriations. He will depend solely on Ogun’s IGR, federal allocations, and loans. Once stripped of Abuja’s privileges, he is no better — and may even be worse off — than any other aspirant. Those praising him today will vanish when the “feeding bottle” is no longer in his hands.
Conclusion
I sincerely wish Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola well. But with due respect, I am not convinced he is the best candidate for Oke-Mosan in 2027.
Ogun deserves a leader whose legitimacy is grounded not in largesse, but in vision, homegrown commitment, and sustainable governance models. Anything less is a betrayal of our collective future.
Thank you for your opinion, sir.
Meanwhile, Part 3 of my series “The Yayi Effect and Political Leadership in Ogun State: A Call for Value-Driven Endorsements” will be published tomorrow. Stay tuned.
| Adesegun is a political commentator based in Sagamu
I wonder why people always crave for only their interest rather craving for the love of all. Even Jesus Christ was not loved in as much as he died for us. As a political commentator, I suggest in my own opinion it would have been better if you had stated what is expected of Yayi rather than castigating and condemning him for spending constituents allocation. He has grossly teaches people how to fish rather than spread the money during campaign, while some people would be stampeded but he chose to empower them. You yourself can see the overview of what was given out. If other representatives are doing this kind of magnanimity a lot of Nigerians would have been empowered and enlightened regardless of school or no school. As trade or artisan would have been encouraged.
However, Yayi just needed to be encouraged to do more by planning towards his ambition that Ogun state is quite large, Abeokuta, Ijebu, Ijebu-Ijesha, Otta, Awori, Imeko, Ilaro, Igbogila, Imeko-afon, Imashai, etc and let know what infrastructures we really need to interconnect these towns together to enhance more trade between them, see what Otta road has become? Howbeit, baba Obasanjo tried what he could till today see what the road has turn out to be, even you if you’re given a hoe, where would you pack the sand towards?
I’m sure he’s aware of the enormous tasks ahead of him. Where are investors, the companies that would have been bringing in the IGR as rightly put. The airport Ibikunle Amosun initiated has been transferred to Ijebu, rather than live it in Abeokuta just to mention a little I know. Of course, if Yayi becomes the Governor he also would start developing from iyewa, at least roads that would lead to his hometown, he would not be like Babaa Obasanjo that forgot to repair Ibogun road out of hatred and begottery. And he wanted to initiate “Olaogun day” as the Ijebu perform annual ritual of “Ojude Oba.”
Hmm, let us support Yayi Olamilekan, a young mind, ready to work with experiences he has hammered from Asiwaju BAT. The old people would continue t spread the money like the Hausa do share to their Emirs, and themselves. Ogun state in general without less discrimination can be the new lagos. Let us always view things in a different perspective.
I come in peace!