The Chief of Staff to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, High Chief Kayode Odunaro, has dismissed insinuations that the Ogun West senator will “invade Ogun with Lagos boys and technocrats” when elected governor in 2027.
Odunaro also punctured what he called a “sponsored political narrative” that Senator Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, is an indigene of Ekiti State rather than Ogun State. He described those behind the claims as “political buccaneers” who are afraid of the senator’s growing political strides.
He made the clarification on Saturday while featuring on a radio programme, Political Forum, in Abeokuta.
Odunaro said although Senator Adeola played active politics and held political offices in Lagos over the years, he has since returned to Ogun and has been engaging politicians and professionals domiciled in the state.
According to him, the senator has continued to champion empowerment programmes for residents of Ogun even before he emerged as senator representing Ogun West in 2023.
“The rumour that as governor he would flood his administration with Lagos politicians and technocrats is nothing but the machination of the opposition,” Odunaro stated.
He noted that like many indigenes of Ogun who made their marks in politics, governance and business in Lagos, Senator Adeola’s connection with the neighbouring state was to “garner the needed political experience, exposure and capacity to deliver good governance to his people in Ogun.”
“Just like several former governors of Ogun State and the incumbent have attachments to Lagos, yet they delivered good governance, Yayi will also govern Ogun with Ogun people,” he added.
Odunaro allayed fears that “outsiders” would dominate a Yayi administration, saying the senator has demonstrated genuine commitment to develop the state through infrastructural projects, economic empowerment, education and socio-economic interventions across Ogun West, Ogun Central and Ogun East.
Addressing the controversy over Senator Adeola’s origin, Odunaro said both he and the senator are historically natives of Isaga-Orile, a Yewa town whose people were dispersed during the Dahomey War.
“For our families, we later settled in Ilaro, and for generations that is where we have lived. So, there is no iota of doubt that Yayi is a true son of Ago Isaga, Pahayi in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State,” he said.
He faulted a suspended governorship aspirant who recently claimed on live TV that the senator hails from Ekiti but could not mention the town.
“Can you now see that the claim cannot be substantiated? Since 1999, every governor in Ogun has been linked to one state or the other. Aremo Osoba was said to be from Osogbo. Otunba Daniel was said to be from Edo or Delta. Senator Amosun was even called a Fulani man. This is the same pattern by political buccaneers. For the records, Senator Adeola is a bonafide native of Yewaland and true indigene of Ogun State,” Odunaro said.
The Chief of Staff also addressed the controversy around former APC governorship aspirant, Abayomi Semako Hunye, insisting that Hunye “scored zero” during the party primary.
He alleged that Hunye did not participate at the designated venue but rather gathered people in a private residence and presented it as an authentic primary.
Odunaro added that Hunye had earlier been suspended by his ward in Tube, Ipokia LGA, and that the suspension was ratified by the state executive and transmitted to the APC National Working Committee.
“To me, Hunye is a joker and habitual political negotiator. His case has been reported by the national organ of the APC to the Inspector General of Police because he went ahead to pick a running mate when the party had already declared Senator Adeola as the authentic candidate. The matter is in court. Let us wait for the outcome,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2027, Odunaro expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Adeola and all APC candidates in Ogun State would emerge victorious.
He defended the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, saying the government inherited “a totally broken down vehicle.”
“The President Tinubu-led administration has been busy repairing the totally broken down vehicle of Nigeria. Nigerians are feeling the discomfort now due to the ongoing repairs. But in the next four years, Nigerians will begin to enjoy a newly rebuilt country as the reforms start to impact positively,” Odunaro submitted.