Yewa group reject Yayi, endorse Adebutu

By Omobolaji Adekunle

A group operating under the banner of the Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders has rejected the governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, insisting that Ogun West should be represented by a candidate with established ancestral roots and a long-standing commitment to the district’s political aspirations.

The group stated its position during a meeting held at Tetede Hall in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, where members questioned the senator’s indigeneity and accused him of playing no significant role in previous efforts to secure the governorship for Ogun West.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr. Hakeem Adetunji alleged that Senator Adeola was absent during key periods when the district presented governorship candidates, including the 2011 and 2015 elections.

According to him, the senator also failed to support Ogun West’s governorship cause in 2019 when the district presented a consensus candidate.

“We are here to rewrite our story. In 2011, when the late General Adetunji Olurin contested, Senator Yayi was nowhere to be found. In 2015, during the governorship bid of Gboyega Isiaka, we still did not see him. He was never part of our political journey,” Adetunji said.

He further alleged that the senator worked against Ogun West’s political interests in subsequent elections.

“In 2019, he worked against the success of Ogun West. He stood against the land he now claims as his own,” he alleged.

Adetunji also accused Senator Adeola of frustrating the 2023 governorship ambition of Chief Biyi Otegbeye, claiming that the senator deployed his political influence and resources against the district’s collective interest.

The group, which claimed to have over 5,000 members across Ogun West, announced its endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, describing him as a politician with deep roots in Ogun State and a long-standing relationship with the people.

Another member of the group, Adeshola Hakeem, questioned Senator Adeola’s connection to Ogun West, alleging that he only identifies with the district during election periods.

“I don’t believe in someone who suddenly appears and claims to be from here. We have not seen his antecedents, long-term impact, or consistent contributions to Ogun West and Ogun State,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Olabisi Ogundare, a community leader from Ward 1 in Ilaro, declared her support for Adebutu, maintaining that many residents were unfamiliar with Senator Adeola’s family background in the area.

“They say he is from Ogun West, but we don’t know him. As someone from Ward 1 in Ilaro, I have not known him before. He may claim to be an indigene, but we know Ladi Adebutu,” she said.

The stakeholders maintained that Ogun West should not abandon its long-standing political aspiration by supporting candidates they described as lacking historical ties and sustained commitment to the district, urging residents to rally behind Adebutu ahead of the 2027 governorship election.