Facts Over Labels: Debunking the Stranger Narrative in Ogun Politics -By Oriowo Olalekan Ridwan-Nofiu

Separating political rhetoric from reality in the debate over Senator Yayi’s place in Ogun politics.

BACKGROUND STORY

I am en route Lagos and I thought to utilize my free time on the bus writing this piece. A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a report which was credited to Afolabi Orekoya, spokesperson, LADO, Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organization, in the statement, he beseeched the Ogun state people to avoid electing a “stranger” as the next governor.

For anyone who follows Ogun State’s politics, one would not require the service of a soothsayer or a wizard to deduce that it was an attempt at throwing a spanner in the wheels of Sen. Olamilekan Solomon YAYI’s campaign momentum as the plot to succeed the Dapo Abiodun administration thickens. As they say, in politics, all is fair in love and war. However, it is my duty and obligation as an Indigene of Ogun State and a follower of Ogun State politics to set the records straight and leave no ambiguity that can be exploited for political gain, especially one that could be detrimental to the candidacy of my preferred candidate, Sen. Olamilekan Solomon YAYI.

I explicitly stated my preferred candidate to avoid this piece being reduced to bias, partisanship, or patronage. I am aware that bias cannot be eliminated, as I am sympathetic to Sen. Olamilekan’s candidacy; however, please do well to read through the facts embedded therein.

A STRANGER OR SON OF SOIL?

A stranger is someone who is outside of one’s social circle of friends, family, or acquaintances. A stranger could also be someone who is new to a town or a community.

For the record, the claim that Sen. YAYI is a “stranger” can be attributed to the former Senator. Asinulowo’s video clip, wherein she stated Sen. YAYI is a stranger to Ogun West, due to not supporting political struggle in the senatorial district before 2015, when he initially attempted to move his political base from Alimosho in Lagos, to Yewa in Ogun West, albeit unsuccessfully. Another propagandish claim was that Sen. YAYI would cart away Ogun state funds to Lagos, due to his many years of active involvement in Lagos politics and his relationship with President Bola Tinubu, to solidify this propagandish claim, his origin has been changed at convenience from Lagos to Ekiti, and Ogun, all in a bid to stick the “stranger” tag.

It appears that Sen. YAYI’s undoing was being born and bred in Lagos, like many others such as myself, a circumstance that was outside of our control, it is even laughable to attempt to color a man from Ogun as a stranger, owing to his participation in Lagos’ politics considering the significant relationship between Lagos and Ogun States.

Sen. Olamilekan Solomon Adeola YAYI was born on the 10th of August, 1969 at the Lagos Island Maternity hospital to Mr. Ayinde Gafar Adeola Ogunleye and Mrs. Abeni Olasunbo Ogunleye. It is important to note that Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola YAYI, was born a Muslim and was christened Suleiman, but due to a change in religion to Christianity, the name Suleiman was converted to Solomon, while he stuck to his father’s name, Adeola as his surname. This is a common phenomenon, particularly with Yoruba people due to fluidity in religion. Using myself as an example, I plan to change my names to all Yoruba names, relegating the Abrahamic names, a decision I took after becoming conscious of my Yoruba Origin, vis-à-vis Abrahamic-inspired teachings. Would it now make sense for political opposition to query my origin due to a change of name or religion, when the undiluted fact remains that I am from Ojowo in Ijebu-Igbo, present-day Ogun State?.

Sen. Olamilekan Solomon YAYI could be a stranger to the former Senator. Asinulowo’s political group, to Afolabi Orekoya, Ladi Adebutu, or some Ogun West politicians, but, he is definitely not a stranger to Ogun State because his parents, like many others from different parts of Nigeria, and by extention Africa sought economic refuge in Lagos, which would be a comical attempt at twisting logic, the fact remains that Sen. Olamilekan Solomon YAYI’s father was from Agbo Ile Elemo Onibata, Ago-Isaga, Pahayi, Ilaro in the Ogun South LG area of Ogun West.

MOVING FOWARD

My advice to Afolabi Orekoya and the entire Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organization, LADO, or politicians is to dedicate more time and resources to selling the candidacy of Ladi Adebutu, and allow the good people of Ogun State the honor to choose the next governor of the state on records, antecedents in private and public spheres as well as a comprehensive development plan for our people, rather than engage in ignominious act, that would only set a negative precedent in Ogun State politics years down the line.

I am bemused by the lack of thorough research exhibited by Afolabi Orekoya and the campaign organization, despite the humongous resources at their disposal, but, it is now certain that old dogs can’t adapt to new tricks. I mean, with my 1000 Naira data plan, and a few minutes of my free time, I was able to pull out a list of politicians who cut their teeth in Lagos politics before moving to their various states. I would start the list with Ladi Adebutu’s fellow party man, Abdel-Majed Adesegun Adekoya, popularly known as “Attacker”, a two-term House of Representatives member, who represented Ijebu North, Ijebu East, and Ogun Waterside Federal constituency, from 2015 to 2023, and is currently in contention for the 2027 House of Representatives elections.

Adesegun “Attacker”, while in Lagos as a staff of the then Eko International Bank, resigned to join politics and was subsequently elected a Councillor for ward F2 in Somolu LG area, before being elected as the first Executive Chairman of Kosofe LG from March, 1997 to July, 1998. Adesegun Adekoya “Attacker” was also appointed as PA to the Hon. Minister of State for Finance, a post he held from 1999, to 2003 after which he relocated to Ogun state and continued to participate in political activities.

The next on my list is Chief Kunle Soname, although not an active politician, Chief Soname is the chairman of the popular betting platform, Bet9ja, he is also the founder of ValueJet Airlines, Remo Stars Football club, C.D Feirense football club of Portugal, as well as Beyond Limits Football Academy, a football academy with one of the best facilities in Africa, which has brought considerable limelight to Remo. Chief Kunle Soname was the first Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, a position he held from 2004, till 2007.

These aforementioned men have contributed immensely to the development of our state in their various capacity, it is important to note that they, like Sen. Adeola YAYI and many others, had their professional or political breakthrough in Lagos, would it be now be logical to refer to these men as “strangers” or is that tag reserved for certain people regardless of the numerous examples that abound?

If I am compelled to follow the school of thought of the Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organization, would it be out of place to refer to Ladi Adebutu as a “stranger”, on the basis of running for Ogun State governor from his newly swapped ward in Odogbolu as an Ijebu man? It is a public secret that Ladi Adebutu is from Iperu, the Remo axis of Ogun East, the same hometown as the outgoing governor, Dapo Abiodun.

Without muddying the waters, it is clear that Ladi Adebutu’s polling unit change from Iperu in Remo to Odogbolu, the Ijebu axis of Ogun East is an attempt to curry the Ijebu agitation for the number one seat in the state, despite being a Remo man, hilariously from the same town as the current governor. I ask again, would it make sense to tag Ladi Adebutu a “stranger” as an Ijebu man, considering he is running on the Ijebu sentiments?

Similarly, in Oyo, we have had Pastor Femi Emmanuel, a Yoruba man from Edo State, who rose to become the Oyo State Deputy Speaker. James Abiodun Faleke is a household name in Ikeja politics despite being from Kogi state. Although, there are sentiments regarding such representation, particularly in some quarters in Lagos politics where indigenes feel politically shortchanged, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution, considering Ogun state politics is controlled by Ogun State indigenes.

As a young person who is still navigating the Lagos corporate space and trying to build a future worthy of emulation, it is concerning to think I could suffer the “stranger” tag whenever I intend to run for political office down the line due to the many years away from Ogun state and its politics, or a potential name or religion change. I implore Afolabi Orekoya and the (LADO) Ladi Adebutu campaign organization to keep their campaign issue-based, devoid of propaganda claims, which could set a negative precedent in Ogun State’s politics.

Oriowo Olalekan Ridwan-Nofiu is an Alumnus of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Ìwòye. He is an Ogun-centric political analyst, observer and participant who writes from Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.
Contact: 09074447995, nofiuridwanolalekan@gmail.com