The announcement by Lagos West Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola to run for the Ogun West Senatorial seat, which is now held by Senator Tolu Odebiyi, also of the APC, has caused concern in Ogun State.
Adeola, often known as Yayi, revealed last week that he will be moving his political base from Lagos to Ogun State, where he will run for the Ogun West Senate seat in 2023.
By 2023, the accountant turned politician would have spent 20 years in Lagos politics where he had variously served as member of the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate.
According to his Media Adviser, Kayode Odunaro, the Senator had relocated his All Progressives Congress (APC) membership and INEC registration to Ogun State, as part of moves to contest the Ogun West Senate.
The Lagos Senator’s inroads to Ogun politics has been generating hues and cries as many have called his indigeneship to question.
Last week, Yewa Baales, numbering 300 reportedly endorsed Adeola’s move to contest the Senate, thereby fueling the crisis among stakeholders in the area.
The Baales (traditional community leaders) from the five Local Government Areas of Ogun West Senatorial District, reportedly endorsed Governor Dapo Abiodun’s re-election bid, while calling on Adeola to contest to represent Ogun West in 2023.
They made the position via a communiqué signed by five representatives of from each of the LGA of Yewa South, Yewa North, Imeko Afon, Ado Odo Ota and Ipokia.
Reacting, a group – Ogun West Advocates (OWA) – on Tuesday tongue-lashed the Baales in Yewaland for endorsing Adeola, to contest for the Ogun West Senatorial seat in next year’s election.
The Ogun West Advocates in a statement signed by Olu Adeyemi, General Secretary, described the endorsement as a “show of shame”, saying the traditional chiefs’ position does not represent the view of a true Yewa/Awori son or daughter.
The statement reads in part “It is very unfortunate that some Yewa leaders, who should be seen as protecting the region from being invaded by the rapacious expansionists from Lagos have turned into moneygrubbers and insatiable political merchants. They are all on the social media defending a man who they know has no single root in Ogun West. This calls for sober reflections.
“We want to reiterate that the good people of Ogun West do not want Adeola to be their Senator; they have never endorsed him to be their senator and they will never do. As a people known for good character and integrity, we will never sell our birth right to any money bag politician, no matter how much is involved.
“At this point, it is very expedient to call to order our traditional rulers – Obas and Baales as well as the elders. Please stop embarrassing Ogun West!”