ABEOKUTA. A political stakeholder and convener of the United Premier Movement, Chief Olalekan Shoyinka, has said that the debate over the ancestral roots of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, should now be laid to rest, urging a shift in public discourse toward policy direction and governance ahead of the 2027 governorship race in Ogun State.
Shoyinka spoke in a public statement on Monday following Senator Adeola’s recent clarification of his paternal and maternal lineage at the Isaga Day celebration held in Isaga Orile.
At the event, the senator traced his paternal ancestry to Isaga Orile while identifying Kemta Odutolu as his maternal roots.
According to Shoyinka, the clarification addressed a lingering public question and should bring an end to speculation surrounding the senator’s origin.
“Questions of origin are not asked for entertainment in politics. They are raised to establish identity, legitimacy, and trust.”
“By clearly tracing his roots to Isaga Orile on his father’s side and Kemta Odutolu on his mother’s side, Senator Adeola has answered, openly and publicly, the question many people had been asking,” he said.
He noted that the explanation has now firmly positioned Adeola as an Ogun Central indigene in the context of history and culture, adding that continued claims to the contrary must now be backed by evidence.
“At this stage, anyone who still insists that Senator Adeola is an impostor must come forward with verifiable historical, cultural, or genealogical facts.”
“It is no longer enough to trade in rumours or social media narratives. Until such facts are presented, intellectual honesty demands that we move on,” Shoyinka stated.
Shoyinka also pointed out that Adeola’s relationship with Ogun Central did not begin with any formal declaration of interest in the governorship, citing infrastructural interventions across the zone despite his current position as senator representing Ogun West.
“He did not wait until ambition entered the conversation before reconnecting with his roots.”
“His interventions across Ogun Central show sustained emotional and developmental ties with his place of origin,” he said.
However, the UPM convener stressed that ancestry alone cannot be the basis for leadership, especially as the state looks toward 2027.
“Having clarified where he is from, the more important question now is how he intends to govern Ogun State if given the opportunity.”
“Governance is not sustained by pedigree. It is sustained by clear ideas, practical policies, and delivery,” he stressed.
He noted that Adeola’s current influence at the federal level is closely linked to his role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, an advantage that would change if he assumes executive office at the state level.
“The people will want to know how governance will work for them in real terms. Market women, artisans, farmers, civil servants, youths, and small business owners will expect practical answers, not titles,” he added.
As the political season gradually builds up, Shoyinka urged aspirants to focus on tangible issues affecting residents, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, and economic opportunities.
“As 2027 approaches, people want leadership they can feel in their daily lives. Better roads to farms and markets, functional schools and health centres, safer communities, and policies that reduce poverty and unemployment,” he said.
He concluded by calling for a shift in political engagement across the state.
“The gear must now switch from arguments about lineage to conversations about leadership, delivery, and service. That is the conversation Ogun State truly needs as it looks ahead to 2027,” Shoyinka added.
