The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has fired back at claims that he is from Ekiti State.
Adeola dismissed the allegation as politically motivated, insisting that he is a bona fide indigene of Ogun State and that both his parents hailed from the state.
The Ogun West senator spoke with journalists in Lagos while discussing his ambition to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun in the 2027 governorship election.
“My father is from Ogun State, my mother is from Ogun State. I am from Ogun State. Those who claim I am from Ekiti are jesters,” Adeola said.
He also rejected claims that his late father was buried in Ekiti, explaining that his father was buried at a house he built in Alaguntan, Alimosho, Lagos.
“My father was not buried in Ekiti; my father was buried in the house he built at Ogunsola Street at Alaguntan in Alimosho,” he said.
Adeola described the controversy as another attempt by political opponents to distract from his campaign, insisting that the claims would not stop his governorship bid.
“They are just playing politics with the ridiculous claims and they will not succeed,” he said.
The APC candidate said his ambition was driven by his desire to serve Ogun State and not to use the office for personal enrichment.
He recalled that his journey towards the governorship had suffered setbacks on two previous occasions.
According to him, his first attempt to return from Lagos to contest in Ogun was unsuccessful, forcing him back to Lagos West, where he eventually won a senatorial seat.
His second attempt to succeed former Governor Ibikunle Amosun also met stiff resistance, sending him back to the Senate.
Adeola said his third attempt eventually produced success after he secured and won the Ogun West senatorial ticket before emerging as the APC governorship candidate.
He said his 24 years in the legislature had equipped him with the experience needed to govern the state.
Adeola spent eight years in the Lagos State House of Assembly, four years in the House of Representatives and 12 years in the Senate.
He said his administration would focus on continuity, arguing that Ogun needed to consolidate on the economic and infrastructure foundation laid by Abiodun.
Adeola listed the deep seaport project, Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, proposed dairy farm in Ilaro and other industrial investments among projects he described as the economic foundation for future development.
He also said Ogun’s internally generated revenue had grown significantly under Abiodun, while describing the state as Nigeria’s industrial hub.
On the state of roads, Adeola acknowledged the concerns of residents but said more than 65 per cent of roads in Ogun were federal roads.
He promised to prioritise strategic roads that would open up economic corridors and improve connectivity across the state.
Adeola said his proposed administration would operate under his ITESIWAJU agenda, built around nine areas including infrastructure, education, security, healthcare, agriculture, job creation, industrialisation, tourism and urban renewal.
He, however, stressed that his promise of continuity would not mean retaining every existing policy or project without review.
“Areas that I need to continue, I will continue, and areas I need to improve upon, I will improve upon. Also areas I need to change, I will change completely,” he said.
Adeola also pointed to the fact that Ogun West had yet to produce a governor since the creation of the state 50 years ago.
He said his emergence represented an opportunity for the senatorial district to occupy the governorship, while promising to use his legislative experience to pursue further development across Ogun.
The APC candidate will face other contenders in the 2027 race, including the Peoples Democratic Party’s Ladi Adebutu.
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