Ogun West Group Rejects Yayi, Supports Adebutu

A political group in Nigeria's Ogun West Senatorial District has publicly rejected the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, also known as Yayi. The group, identifying as Ogun West Concerned Stakeholders, declared their support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Hon Ladipupo Adebutu, at a news conference in Ilaro.

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We are here to rewrite our story because, over time, we’ve heard people around calling us bastards because some of you do not support the aspiration of Senator Olamilekan Yayi, who happens to be contesting for Ogun State Governor.

The stakeholders argued that candidates representing the region must have "verifiable local roots and a proven track record of community service." Speaking for the group, Mr Hakeem Adetunji labeled Adeola an "imported Senator" and questioned his indigenship. He alleged that Adeola had not been a faithful supporter of the Yewa people in past elections, citing his absence during the 2011 and 2015 governorship campaigns when Yewa indigenes were candidates.

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Yes, we do not support him for a very clear reason. As a person, I challenged those people supporting him and those people calling us bastards that in 2011, when the late Olurin was actually contesting for the governorship in Ogun State, we did not see Senator Olamilekan Yayi around. He was never in our history, nor in our story.

Adetunji stated that Adeola's contribution during the 2019 and 2023 elections was not significant enough to warrant their support. The group, which claims over 5,000 members, emphasized Adebutu's lineage and origin within Ogun state. They declared that they would "not allow a foreigner to govern them," calling Adeola's candidacy a "robbery on the true son of Yewa."

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Today, you are telling people like us to forget where we are coming from, to forget our history. But that is even not enough reason why some of us are actually agitating that we will not support him. The clear reason this time around is the fact that he does not share any historical background with us. He did not really share our history, nor our journey with us. So, how do you expect some of us to align with the vision or the aspiration of such a man? It is not possible.