By Babs Oyetoro
The first endorsement of Sen. Solomon Adeola Yayi at a stakeholders meeting held recently with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in attendance set the tone for the second meeting held at the party secretariat in Ogun State on Monday, 13 April, 2026, where all the political heavyweights including the three former governors- Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun were in attendance.
It was the sitting Governor himself, Prince Dapo Abiodun that made the announcement that Sen. Adeola had been endorsed as the consensus candidate for All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming election at the strategic caucus meeting. Political pundits say: “this is more than endorsement exercise but indeed coronation of sort”.
The popular axiom: “the voice of the people is the voice of God;” fittingly confirms the eloquent testimonies that resonated across the three Senatorial Districts that Yayi is the popular choice of the people come 2027, when the news broke. The frenzy in the political atmosphere across the state was palpable. The entire state heaped a sigh of relief that the will of people was not subsumed through party politics.
This endorsement is beyond ordinary; it is indeed symbolic politically because it will correct the inherent political imbalance in the power configuration, which to a large extent has widened political gap thus threatening the fabric of unity in the state ahead of the election.
It is foolhardy for anyone to see the endorsement of Sen. Adeola as a means to placate the Ogun West Senatorial District alone. This is far from it. This is to lay a new foundation for fairness, equity and justice in the face of prevalent injustice for almost 50 years of our beloved state.
As it stands today, Sen. Adeola remains the face of the wave of political renaissance blowing across the state at the moment with a robust grassroot support.
It is a well deserved honour for a political leader who sees public office as a symbol of service to alleviate the suffering of the masses, giving hope to the hopeless by bringing dividends of democracy to all and sundry.
Sen. Adeola, an astute politician, whose unwavering commitment to the service of the masses has truly re-defined the concept of leadership and governance at all levels through purposeful service delivery.
As a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) with a solid background in public service he has broken the ceilings in many fronts.
His resume is a masterclass in professional and administrative excellence. No wonder he is saddled with responsibility of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation. Since he assumed that position he has performed creditably well.
By all standard, Yayi is not a neophyte in governance. His coming to leadership of the state with robust experience and sound knowledge in all aspect of governance-Administration, Finance and Economy management and what have you.
There is a general consensus that Yayi coming into the saddle as the state governor come 2027 is strategic particularly now that Ogun State economy is on a strong footing through the efforts of the workaholic incumbent, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The current governor has worked assiduously to lay strong foundation for the economy of the state; as he opens the economic frontiers of the Gateway State to investors through evolution of infrastructure development with improved IGR to the consternation of other competing sub-nationals.
Without sounding immodest and given his antecedent, Senator Adeola is eminently qualified and trusted to take over from Prince Dapo Abiodun, and continue on the trajectory of economic revival of our dear state.
There is no doubt, the Chairman of Budget and Appropriation Committee in the Red Chamber, Sen. Adeola, has demonstrated enough capacity to turn Ogun into economy power house of the South West, and make the state global destination to foreign investors; if he succeeds Prince Abiodun, come 2027.
More so, his connection to the centre is an added advantage to a man, whose providence has programmed to break the 50 years political jinx that has be-devilled Ogun West Senatorial District.
Besides, Ogun State is politically strategic to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term ambition and the party would prefer a trusted ally to fly the party’s flag in the gubernatorial election. Sen. Adeola perfectly fits that gap because of his grassroots appeal.
Sen. Adeola, who accepted the honour, promised not to let the party and the state down even as he assured that he would sustain the status of Ogun as the fastest growing economy and a promising industrial haven.
“I appreciate all the sacrifices my brothers have put together to ensure this day comes to pass. I believe in oneness and the unity of our dear state and the unity of dear state and Ogun West by extension. I know the vision for this state. I know how passionate and how central this state is to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as far as maintaining our status, besides being the fastest growing economy in Nigeria.
“All efforts that have been put in place to ensure we reposition this state and take our pride of place in the comity of states in this country are well recognised”.
He continued: “Your excellency, my dear leaders that are here, I want to assure you sir, I will not let you down. I promise to keep the flag flying…,” he noted with a measure of assurance.
This piece will be incomplete if it fails to give Governor Dapo Abiodun his deserved honour for seeing through this onerous process of choosing his successor amid contending forces and diverse political tendencies within the party.
The governor deserves commendation for not pandering to undue pressure to mortgage the will of the people. His tenacity, consistence to uphold the truth and unwavering commitment to do the will of the people can never be forgotten in the annals of the state history. Governor Dapo Abiodun take your flower for doing the will of the people. Posterity will not forget you in a hurry.
