The Onibudo of Ayetoro-Budo Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Adewunmi Adeniji Odutala, has declared that the governorship aspiration of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) enjoys overwhelming support across Ogun West, describing it as a collective project of both the Yewa and Awori people.
The traditional ruler said the monarchs in Ogun West had reached a unanimous decision to back the senator’s bid to become the next governor of Ogun State, insisting that the region must not allow what he described as a historic opportunity to slip away.
Reacting to a media report that, some sections of Yewa monarchs are against the candidacy of the APC governorship candidate, Oba Odutala maintained that Senator Yayi’s ambition transcends ethnic and sectional interests, stressing that it represents the collective aspiration of Ogun West to produce the state’s governor for the first time in over five decades.
According to him, Awori and Yewa traditional rulers are united in their support for the senator, noting that monarchs in the axis belong either to the Yewa Traditional Council or the Egba Traditional Council.
“Yayi’s project is beyond Yewa; it is an Ogun West project that comprises both Yewa and Awori. We belong to two umbrella bodies, the Yewa Traditional Council and the Egba Traditional Council and at our meetings, we unanimously resolved to endorse and vote for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as the next governor of Ogun State,” he said.
The monarch argued that Ogun West has suffered decades of political marginalisation, despite its enormous contribution to the state’s economy.
He lamented that the senatorial district, particularly Ado-Odo/Ota, remains underdeveloped even though it is regarded as the industrial hub of Ogun State.
“Only a bastard in Ogun West will allow this opportunity to slip off our hands. We will do everything within our power to produce Yayi as the next governor of Ogun State.
“Ogun West has been deprived of development because we have not produced the governor in the over 50-year history of Ogun State. Despite being the industrial hub of the state, especially Ado-Odo/Ota, we are still denied development,” the monarch stated.
Oba Odutala also dismissed reports suggesting that some traditional rulers from the Yewa and Awori axis were opposed to Yayi’s governorship ambition, describing such claims as false and the handiwork of mischief makers.
He challenged any monarch in Ogun West who does not support the senator’s aspiration to publicly declare his position.
“I challenge any monarch in Ogun West who is not in support of Yayi’s candidacy to come out and say it. Some Awori monarchs belong to the Egba Traditional Council, while others are under the Yewa Traditional Council.
“The mischievous media reports claiming that some sections of Yewa/Awori monarchs are not for Yayi are nothing but social media stunts. Yayi is our own candidate,” he said.
The royal father, however, stressed that while other aspirants are free to canvass for support across the state, the people of Ogun West remain committed to mobilising massive support for Yayi.
“Anybody is free to come and campaign; we are not stopping anybody. But we shall aggressively support our son to lead Ogun State. It is our turn now, and we will never allow any dissenting voice to truncate this opportunity,” Oba Odutala added.
The royal father said that although monarchs are not politicians, but they remain the closest to the grassroots and have a clear understanding of the aspirations of their people.
He noted that as custodians of their communities, they constantly interact with the people and are fully aware of the overwhelming support for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) across Ogun West.
According to him, the prevailing sentiment throughout the region is “Yayi here, Yayi there,” stressing that traditional rulers would not act against the collective will of their people.
“Our people want Yayi, and it is Yayi we will give them. Throughout Ogun West, it is Yayi here or Yayi there. And Royal fathers will not do anything contrary to what our people want, our people want Yayi, and it is Yayi we will give them.
