From Controversy to Commendations: Unparalleled Political Dexterity of Sen. YAYI

By Dotun Oladipupo

I have not seen a politician with so much controversy, hubris, acceptance and unacceptance trailing his introduction or incursion into a state as senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan Yayi.

The southwest political fragments have seen a series of such interstates movement among politicians especially and majorly from the Lagos Bourdillon bloc to Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Kwara with some relative successes and failures as we have with Messers Opeyemi Bamidele, Alh Lai Mohammed, Kayode Fayemi and a few others.

Yayi’s attempt at such porting to Ogun state at first seemed seamless with his staunch support of former Ogun governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun during the build up to his second term election in 2014 where this writer had a first impression of massive mobilisation the then Lagos west senator was capable of.

Mobilizing heavily for the governor from the Ogun west flank where he was intentioned to vie for the seat of the senatorial district.

However, with politicians, you can never say never as in one of those campaign outings especially the one in Imeko in 2014, the massive political show of strength albeit in support of the then governor and in advancement of his own senatorial ambition.

The impression soon turned to a perceived threat as the then governor from that point on begin to mobilize, plot and strategize towards thwarting his ambition and eventual incursion into Ogun politics.

Suddenly, finding alibi in the ancestral controversy that circled Yayi at the time and sentiment of having served nearly 20 years in elective offices in Lagos rising through all the legislative positions to the highest as senator representing Lagos west, the former governor rolled out machineries against him riding on the back of the perception and sentiment rightly or wrongly of usurping the potentiality of very competent and valuable Ogun west sons and daughters who have been playing politics, putting all of their investments, time, body, soul and logistics into rising to the highest position in the state since creation.
This sentiment was strong and altruistic that it gained traction to the extent that the former governor only have to leverage on to that strong dissent that transcends politicians into even Ogun state “neutrals” and fencists who are not here nor there.

This formed the basis of his return to Lagos where he secured and won his first term as Lagos west senator.

He tried again in 2019, unsuccessful but retained his ticket and seat as Lagos west senator at a time Prince Dapo Abiodun won the Ogun 2019 governorship election, a feat some ascribed to the full backing of Yayi in the midst of the APM/APC protracted crisis culminating in the MKO Abiola stadium ‘stones throw’ drama in the presence of the president Muhammadu Buhari.

In 2023, senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan tried again this time amid very turbulent oppositions from everywhere which largely stemmed from question marks on his ancestry and other political considerations which he was able to outmanoeuvred because this time he had the sitting governor’s support who against all odds made him his favourite senatorial candidate for Ogun west.

This, some have described as a stab in the back to other notable Ogun west aspirants who in themselves contribute in no mean measure to his victory and the defeat of the Amosun political machinery but it’s all politics and the players know the rules well enough than anyone else.

The railroading of the Yayi movement and his soaring popularity has earlier been described as patronizing prebendalism; buying of notable individuals, strong politicians and mobilisers, opinion leaders across all walks of life in Ogun west and Ogun state in general because of the financial warchest he boasts of.

Contrary to the above insinuations, the reality in the last two years is different because the man seemed to understand a specific political focus and how to achieve it beyond the alleged “people buying” and has set his eyes to a goal like a man who has a point to prove to disappoint all doubting Thomas convince them that he beyond the “cash politics” has his sights on true development of the region.

This he has demonstrated with numerous empowerment programmes undertaken to success, this writer can confidently say that there were beneficiaries of the ICT empowerment who didn’t know anybody to be so considered even though “Nigeria has happened” to more recent programmes in other climes.

He has also demonstrated his commitment to the Ogun west region beyond his own ambition with the arrays of projects he has facilitated and completed even before he started representing the region in any capacity.

Progressing in that direction since he became Ogun west Senator, he has facilitated some construction projects as well as empowerment programs which of course is largely owed to his influence and longevity in the legislature over the years.

The major one that made even his “enemies” or those who are no fans of his to genuinely commend him is the Dr Isiak Salako’s emergence as a minister of the federal republic of Nigeria that everyone has to give him his flowers and ‘gbe fun’ as they say in street parlance.

Even those who are undecided about where to stand with Yayi are sitting on the fence with their two legs on his side of the fence, that is the impressive influence his actions has had on the people, only a deep seated detractor will not applaud him even in closet.

Dotun Oladipupo writes from Idofa, IALG dotunoladipupo@gmail.com