Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly referred to as Yayi, is the All Progressives Congress candidate for the 2027 Ogun State governorship election. Having served as senator representing Lagos West from 2015 to 2023 and Ogun West since 2023, Adeola brings greater than twenty years of legislative enjoy to the race. He outlines his imaginative and prescient for industrialisation, infrastructure, task advent and inclusive enlargement, arguing that Ogun will have to retain extra financial price from companies running inside of its borders. He additionally responds to the talk over his indigeneship and alter of brand name. Wale Igbintade brings the excerpts:
Amid the talk over your indigeneship and the allegations surrounding your exchange of brand name, what verifiable paperwork or authentic information are you ready to make to be had to determine your declare that you’re an indigene of Ogun State?”
Let me say this, I will’t be operating for such an exalted place of business and I will be able to no longer be faced with those demanding situations. People who find themselves doing this know they’re doing it to discredit and wreck my particular person. There’s what is named investigative journalism. The place my father was once buried is half-hour clear of right here (Ikeja), cross and examine. It’s in Almosho, quantity 3, Ogunsola side road, Alagutan, bus prevent, in his space, that’s the place he was once buried. My mom was once buried at Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, there. My grandmother, the mum of my mom, was once buried at Ikeja, the burial flooring is there. My great-grandfather was once buried at Ishaga. So, how can I be operating for a governor’s place of business, and I’ll be having any such large skeleton in my cabinet, and I’ll be relaxed? Having served The Dad or mum, and I resigned, I left, and any person mentioned, “He did exchange his identify.” Sure, I did exchange of brand name, and I did it in The Dad or mum newspaper. I marketed it in The Dad or mum; I notified The Dad or mum newspaper of my exchange of brand name. They don’t perceive, as a result of they have got not anything to combat with. So, they have got to mention one thing to discredit me, and I’m the candidate to overcome. They are able to’t fit me. I don’t need to sign up for problems with them. They’ve not anything to provide. The know Yayi is from Ogun State. What they may be able to do is to wreck Yayi, and people who are from Ogun State have answered, “Let him come from Afghanistan”. We will be able to vote for him.
Now, how did your political adventure start?
My sojourn into politics has no longer been a very simple street, however no less than I controlled to seek out my point. As a result of that was once dated again to the June 12, 1993 combat. Alongside the road, I misplaced my instant more youthful brother to that revolt, and that were given me discouraged. I needed to search for a strategy to step apart and ensure that I don’t get excited about politics once more. I was very disheartened and made up our minds to step apart and pay attention to my paintings. However God has some way of directing one’s trail. It’s one thing He destined you to do. In 2002, I discovered my long ago into politics and contested for the placement of member representing Alimosho Constituency within the Lagos State Area of Meeting. I used to be there for 8 years.
Judging via my efficiency, I used to be inspired to visit the Federal Area of Representatives to constitute Alimosho Federal Constituency, the place I served for 4 years. Inside the ones 4 years, I used to be ready to persuade my constituents and, via extension, the management of the state and the present President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, my father, my chief and my mentor, that I used to be ripe sufficient to constitute the Lagos West Senatorial District within the Senate. Through God’s grace and with the toughen of my constituents, I represented Lagos West for 8 years. Ahead of then, I knew that at the beginning I used to be no longer from Lagos; I’m from Ogun State. That was once obtrusive in all my paperwork and bureaucracy that I crammed. There was once no reason for doubt. I tried to go back house for the primary time, however I met some resistance. Since issues have been running for me in Lagos, it was once simple to go back and contest the Senate seat there, which I did effectively. For the second one time, I tried to go back house to contest for the governorship of Ogun State. That was once additionally met with some resistance, and once more I returned to the Senate from Lagos West. I’m supplying you with this historical past so that you are going to know how I ultimately discovered myself in Ogun State.
What ultimately introduced you again to Ogun politics?
For the 3rd time, that was once when God replied our prayer. When God opened the way in which and the political alternative got here, I used to be inspired to go back house. At some degree, I used to be requested whether or not I’d be concerned with contesting for a Senate seat in Ogun State. I mentioned sure. To begin with, I didn’t wish to run for the Senate once more. My goal was once to finish my two phrases as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after which get ready myself for the governorship. However some other folks insisted that it was once no longer imaginable to attend out of doors the political construction. They mentioned I needed to be able the place I may just stay politically related after which migrate from there to the governorship. It took me a while to planned on it. I by no means knew that it was once the platform God sought after to make use of to carry me to develop into governor of Ogun State. Once I ultimately made up our minds to run for the Senate, I spotted that there was once a large number of confusion and that a number of other folks have been additionally appearing passion. I didn’t realise to begin with that everyone was once galvanising themselves round that platform as a imaginable path to the governorship sooner or later. I made up our minds to throw my hat into the hoop and, graciously, via the particular grace of God, I were given the price tag and received the election. Through the top of that length, I had spent 12 years within the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 24 years as an elected legislator, serving in each Lagos and Ogun states.
What enjoy out of your legislative profession do you consider prepares you for the governorship?
I’ve had the possibility of attending to the zenith of the legislative frame, which is the Senate. I additionally served in quite a lot of capacities. Within the Lagos State Area of Meeting, I used to be Chairman of the Committee on Finance. Within the Area of Representatives, I used to be Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts. That was once whilst I used to be within the opposition celebration as a result of, beneath the foundations of the Nationwide Meeting, the opposition historically chairs the Public Accounts Committee. Within the Senate, I used to be the pioneer Chairman of the Native Content material Committee within the 9th Senate. Within the tenth Senate, I served as Chairman of the Finance Committee. With that have, I consider I’ve what it takes to manipulate Ogun State and take it to the following point. Every other vital level is that my senatorial district hasn’t ever produced a governor of Ogun State after 50 years of our life. I consider that I’ve the enjoy and capability required to offer management at this level within the state’s historical past. Lately, I stand prior to you because the gubernatorial candidate of the APC within the February 6, 2027 governorship election.
You’ve got mentioned your ambition is pushed via a keenness to serve. Why will have to Ogun other folks consider that?
My quest to develop into governor of the state isn’t in line with non-public passion. It isn’t about enriching myself or occupying an exalted place of business merely to be known as governor. It’s pushed via hobby to serve. I wish to serve the folks for just right. This is the reason I’ve selected to have interaction the fourth property of the world and different opinion holders. There are a large number of problems within the political house. You learn one thing about YAYI as of late, one thing concerning the opposition the next day to come, one thing concerning the governor day after today, and so forth. However as of late, this provides you with a first-hand, one-on-one interplay with the person known as YAYI. I would like you to listen to without delay from me what I intend to do for Ogun State.
Your construction schedule puts substantial emphasis on continuity. What precisely do you imply via continuity?
I wish to paintings with any person whose enjoy has led to some point of development to Ogun State. I strongly really feel that the following particular person in line will have to come to consolidate at the features now we have made within the closing seven and a part years as a state.
I make daring to mention that, beneath the management of Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State has achieved exceedingly nicely. I will testify to that. After all, other folks will ask: if the federal government has achieved nicely, why are there proceedings about sure issues? I remember the fact that. No govt can utterly deal with all of the demanding situations confronting a state inside of a restricted length in place of business. Governance is concerning the noticed and the unseen. The noticed are the bodily buildings we see—the roads, hospitals, rail delivery and different infrastructure. The unseen are the insurance policies, financial foundations and different issues that, when put in combination and correctly carried out, ultimately give start to the visual construction. Underneath Governor Abiodun, now we have been ready to determine a robust financial basis. As an example, now we have the proposed $7 billion deep seaport venture in Ogun State, with groundbreaking anticipated in November. If that venture turns into totally operational in the following few years, you’ll be able to believe the multiplier impact it’s going to have at the state’s economic system. There could also be the dry port at Kajola and the proposed rail connection from Apapa to Kajola. The largest dairy farm in Nigeria could also be bobbing up in my native govt space, beginning with about 5,000 farm animals and ultimately expanding to at least 15,000 farm animals to provide dairy merchandise from Ogun State. A significant furnishings production corporate could also be bobbing up. As we talk, Ogun State is probably the most industrialised state in Nigeria. When Governor Abiodun got here on board, our internally generated earnings was once lower than N100 billion yearly. Lately, we’re speaking about round N300 billion a 12 months. There has additionally been oil exploration process. We would possibly, within the close to long term, be known as an oil-producing state. These kind of issues are a part of the basis that has been laid. My duty, if elected, might be to consolidate on those features and be sure that the multiplier results are correctly harnessed for the advantage of the folks.
Does continuity imply you propose to proceed the entirety the prevailing management is doing?
No. I don’t need anyone to misconstrue what I imply via continuity. Continuity does no longer imply that I wish to take the entirety this management has deliberate or carried out and say that I will have to proceed with it. There are spaces I want to proceed; I will be able to proceed them. There are spaces I want to give a boost to upon; I will be able to give a boost to them. There are spaces I want to exchange; I will be able to exchange them. I will be able to introduce new concepts and new projects that may put Ogun State at the trail of enlargement. The essence of continuity is that no matter this management has completed and must be taken ahead is probably not deserted just because there’s a exchange of presidency. Lots of the tasks are nonetheless works in development. A accountable govt approaching board will consolidate and be sure that those tasks come to fruition. That’s what “ITESIWAJU” is ready.
What does ITESIWAJU imply in sensible phrases?
ITESIWAJU is the framework for the type of govt I wish to run. The “I” stands for Infrastructure. The “T” stands for Tourism and Tradition. The “E” stands for Training and Setting. The “S” stands for Safety and Legislation Enforcement. The second one “I” stands for Inclusive Expansion and Smartly-being. The “W” stands for Ladies and Early life Construction. The “A” stands for Agriculture. The “J” stands for Activity Introduction and Industrialisation. The “U” stands for City Bodily Making plans and Setting. These kind of 9 pillars are crucial to Ogun State. None of them will also be handled in isolation.
Whilst you speak about tourism and tradition, as an example, you can’t examine Ogun with Lagos as a result of we’re extra of a rural atmosphere and our tradition is easily favored. There are lots of actions and gala’s that happen in Ogun annually.
The query is: Are we deriving the utmost financial have the benefit of them for the state and its other folks? This is a space we wish to focal point on. We wish to flip our cultural and tourism belongings into financial alternatives.
Allow us to take infrastructure, which is the primary pillar. What can be your precedence?
Infrastructure comprises roads, rail, housing and transportation. On delivery connectivity, we wish to deal at first with interstate connectivity, and therefore intra-state connectivity. I desire a state of affairs the place I will with ease keep in a nook of my space in Ilaro, get to the bus terminal and take a automobile immediately to Abeokuta. From Abeokuta, I will have to be capable of take every other automobile to Sagamu, from Sagamu to Ijebu after which again to different portions of the state. Whilst you take a look at the geographical location of Ogun State, you’ll perceive the problem. Lagos is other. In Lagos, you’ll be able to transfer from one a part of the state to every other inside of a moderately brief length. In Ogun, you’ll be able to spend two hours travelling to the following the city. You’ll shuttle for one hour and 40 mins to get to sure portions of the state. If you’re coming from Ilaro, you’ll be able to spend a number of hours attending to every other a part of Ogun. This is how dispersed Ogun State is geographically. So, we want to have an efficient delivery machine that connects most of these spaces throughout the shortest imaginable time. The street community is one space through which a large number of other folks living in Ogun are challenged. I don’t wish to embark on any street venture that won’t lead us any place. Sure, there are roads that want to be mounted alongside the way in which, however we wish to focal point on roads that may release financial alternatives. For example, from Ijoko in Ota, we will installed position a street that may lead immediately to the Lagos-Ibadan Freeway, with 3 bridges and about one kilometre of street. You’ll believe what that suggests to us as a state. No longer most effective can we open up that hall, however financial actions will spring up round it. You’ll no longer consider the have an effect on {that a} unmarried intervention of that nature may have. There are lots of different examples like that.
What’s your plan for Ogun’s border cities, in particular the ones adjacent Lagos?
The border cities are every other space of passion. Right now, Lagos has an higher hand in lots of the border the city spaces. Whilst you take a look at the Ojodu axis and one of the crucial surrounding spaces, you’ll see that there’s a large number of construction at the Lagos facet. However on our personal facet of the divide, we don’t seem to be competing successfully. If I intend to extend the worth of the state and paintings at the economic system of the state, I will have to paintings at the border cities. This is the reason I confer with city construction, bodily making plans and the surroundings. I will create a brand new Magodo in the ones border cities that belong to Ogun. The land is there. What is needed is the improvement. It’s imaginable. I intend to provide consideration to the border cities and be sure that Ogun offers Lagos a run for its cash on the subject of construction. You’ll believe travelling from the Lagos facet in opposition to Ogun. Whenever you manner the border and get to sure issues, the usual of infrastructure adjustments. That has to switch, and it has to switch straight away.
You’ve got used the situation of the Lagos-Ogun border as an example your environmental considerations. What would you do another way?
If you’re coming from the mainland in Lagos and travelling in opposition to Ogun, you spot a definite point of environmental cleanliness and organisation. You get to the Ogun facet and, in some puts, the image adjustments. You spot trailers parked alongside the street, other folks buying and selling the place they will have to no longer, and actions going down that have an effect on the surroundings and site visitors. Underneath my watch, that may exchange. If there are companies that want to function there, they will have to achieve this in an organised method. You can’t have trailers merely taking up the street. If there’s a designated facility the place a trailer can park and the operator is needed to pay, then this is the place the trailer will have to cross. We will have to carry order to the surroundings. When the surroundings is blank, you’re glad and extra at ease. When I used to be serving in Lagos, I may just cross to a resort and loosen up. You should transfer round and really feel relaxed. That’s what we want to succeed in in Ogun. If Lagos can take care of that point of cleanliness on its facet of the similar street, why can’t Ogun do the similar? A few of us are dedicated to creating certain that our state is blank, organised and higher. I will be able to claim a state of emergency on waste control and assortment. I will be able to additionally claim a state of emergency on environmental coverage. The related companies may have to sit down up. For example, so far as I do know, we do not need an incinerator in Ogun State. We want to take a look at waste control comprehensively. Each and every govt comes with its personal space of focal point. Governor Abiodun has achieved excellently nicely in laying a cast financial basis for the state. My duty might be to consolidate on that basis whilst specializing in different sectors that want consideration. I wish to reposition Ogun State no longer simply as a dumping flooring for industries, however as a spot the place other folks wish to make investments and reside.
You describe Ogun as probably the most industrialised state, however you could have additionally raised considerations about how a lot earnings the state derives from that business base. What’s the downside?
Ogun is probably the most industrialised state, definitely about it. However does that mechanically translate into earnings for Ogun? The solution is not any. The industries are right here, however lots of the firms have their headquarters or regional places of work in Lagos. That suggests the executives and different staff are founded in Lagos. Their salaries are paid in Lagos, and the taxes related to the ones salaries are paid in Lagos. So, what’s the receive advantages to Ogun? How do I intend to deal with it? Quite simple: It’s not that i am soliciting for extra. Carry the regional places of work to Ogun State. If you wish to function a significant trade in Ogun, carry your regional place of business right here. Through that singular motion, you carry middle-level and senior staff to the state. They reside right here, spend cash right here and pay taxes right here. I intend to create a central trade district for industries which might be keen to spend money on Ogun, the place the federal government can facilitate land for regional places of work. If any person approaches me and says he needs to spend money on Ogun State, I will be able to include that funding. But when the funding is considerable and the corporate goes to make its cash in Ogun, I will be able to inspire it to determine its headquarters or important regional operations within the state. Ogun will have to no longer merely be a spot the place you’re making cash after which spend it in Lagos. I consider a portion of that financial price belongs in Ogun, and we will have to devise professional techniques of keeping it. The goal is to be sure that whilst you come and spend money on Ogun, you additionally paintings right here and reside right here. This is the reason I’ve put ahead methods to deal with the surroundings and housing.
You’ve got made a daring projection about Ogun’s financial doable. What’s the foundation in your optimism?
Relating to GDP, Ogun State is already operating an economic system related to that of a few nations. Our GDP is ready $12 billion. We’re ranked some of the main state economies in Nigeria, forward of nations comparable to Togo and Sierra Leone on the subject of the dimensions in their economies. With the correct of management, a targeted govt and backbone, Ogun can transfer from about $12 billion to $20 billion and past. Consider what that suggests for the folks. These kind of issues—industrialisation, the seaport, agriculture, mining, oil and fuel exploration and different investments—can give a contribution to the growth of the economic system. This is the reason I consider that, with the correct management, you’ll be able to believe what Ogun State will seem like within the subsequent 8 years.
Allow us to flip to task advent. How do you propose to be sure that Ogun’s increasing economic system creates jobs for its other folks?
Numerous graduates are popping out of Ogun State with out jobs. We will have to deal with that. It’s not that i am promising that govt will make use of everyone. However govt can create an atmosphere the place jobs are created and too can recruit certified other folks the place there are authentic wishes. If, as an example, we recruit 50,000 other folks via a clear and merit-based procedure, that by myself would make an important distinction. Those that qualify will have to undergo assessments and the vital processes. We even have to take a look at the choice of industries getting into the state on a daily basis. Folks bitch that Chinese language and different international traders are taking up Ogun. I ask: what’s the good judgment? The good judgment is that we want to be sure that our other folks take part within the alternatives created via the ones investments.
Agriculture is every other main element of your schedule. What’s your imaginative and prescient for Ogun’s agricultural sector?
Ogun is an agricultural state. We feed different states. What I wish to do is become agriculture from fundamental manufacturing into agricultural transformation and meals safety. You’ll start to see high-level mechanised farming. We now have already noticed tractors, planters and different agricultural apparatus being supplied to farmers. As governor, I will be able to no longer name myself a farmer, however I will be able to ensure that I run an all-round govt that addresses each sector of the Ogun economic system. We want to paintings with the personal sector and create commodity exchanges. We want to develop into the off-taker from farmers. We want to determine processing zones. Let me come up with an instance from my the city in Ilaro. There’s a farmer who buys cocoa from many cocoa farmers. He has got a good portion of the produce within the space. If one person can establish the chance, believe what the federal government can do with the correct coverage. We will hook up with different cocoa-producing states and determine processing amenities. There will also be what I’d name a cocoa mall or processing centre the place cocoa will also be processed, preserved and ready for the marketplace. Whenever you maintain and procedure the product, you discover a buyer for it. We want to transfer past generating uncooked fabrics and promoting them cost effectively. We want to produce, procedure and marketplace. We want to inspire our youths and other folks most often to enter agriculture. Govt is probably not the farmer. Govt’s duty is to create the enabling surroundings. We want to inspire younger farmers, supply high quality loans and empower them. If any person is inspired to develop into a farmer and is aware of that, at harvest, govt or an organised marketplace is in a position to shop for the produce and pay promptly, that particular person might be keen to farm. It isn’t sufficient to inform other folks to enter agriculture. They want get entry to to land, finance, apparatus, processing and markets. That’s the whole price chain.
Safety is every other pillar of your schedule. What’s your manner?
I consider safety is everyone’s duty. We want to carry industries and captains of trade into the protection dialog. When I used to be serving as a member of the Lagos State Area of Meeting, there was once a transfer to determine a safety consider fund. How will we fund it? You carry in combination the industries and captains of trade and say: come, this can be a safety consider fund. You will be represented in its control as a result of we wish you to peer precisely what we’re doing. We don’t seem to be essentially asking you for money. We will ask industries what apparatus they may be able to supply to toughen safety—communique devices, safety apparatus, automobiles and different vital pieces. There will have to be transparency and responsibility within the procedure.
You additionally discussed the use of earnings from gaming and lottery. How would that paintings?
There’s a gaming and lottery trade that generates important financial process. In Lagos, as an example, the state established a framework for regulating the trade. Everyone excited about gaming and making a bet will have to sign up with the state. Whenever you keep an eye on the field correctly, a part of the earnings will also be directed into the protection consider fund. If 1000’s of other folks take part in making a bet, the trade generates important earnings. The state can legitimately accumulate the correct taxes and levies and channel a part of the proceeds in opposition to public protection. That is among the techniques I intend to toughen safety.
You’ve got additionally expressed toughen for state police. Why?
I’m in toughen of state police. No person understands the surroundings higher than the individuals who reside there. Native safety control calls for wisdom of the terrain, the communities and the folks. This is the reason I toughen state police. I’m additionally glad that the President is in complete toughen of state police and that the constitutional procedure for setting up it’s being thought to be. As soon as state police is established, it’s going to give the state better keep an eye on over safety control. For me, that is a part of true federalism.
What concerning the welfare and motivation of safety group of workers?
We will have to inspire our regulation enforcement group of workers. It isn’t simple. They paintings beneath tough cases and put their lives in danger. We will have to make certain that they’ve the apparatus, communique programs, welfare and toughen required to accomplish their tasks.
Safety isn’t just about giving orders. It’s about giving group of workers the gear and motivation to do the task.
Your ITESIWAJU framework additionally speaks about inclusive enlargement and well-being. What does that imply to you?
Construction will have to in the long run give a boost to the lives of the folks. It isn’t sufficient to mention that Ogun is industrialised or that GDP is rising. The query is: what’s the receive advantages to the odd citizen? If the economic system grows, other folks will have to have jobs. If industries come, native companies will have to receive advantages. If infrastructure is advanced, other folks will have to have higher get entry to to markets and products and services. That’s what inclusive enlargement way to me. We will have to be sure that financial construction reaches odd electorate and isn’t concentrated within the arms of a couple of.
How do girls and younger other folks are compatible into your construction schedule?
Ladies and teenagers are crucial to the improvement of Ogun State. We want to create alternatives for them to procure abilities, get started companies, input agriculture, take part in trade and have the benefit of the virtual and artistic economic system. The federal government will have to create vocational coaching centres and different platforms the place younger other folks can gain sensible abilities.
We will have to no longer have a state of affairs the place a teenager finishes college with none employable ability. If any person is educated in catering, system operations, generation, agriculture or every other vocational space, the federal government will have to create alternatives for that particular person to follow and make money.
Govt programmes and occasions will have to additionally patronise individuals who were educated via such programmes. This is how empowerment turns into sustainable.
In the end, what sort of govt will have to Ogun other folks be expecting if you’re elected?
They will have to be expecting a central authority this is targeted, inclusive and decided to transport the state ahead. I’ve mentioned again and again that I will be able to proceed what must be persevered, give a boost to what must be advanced, exchange what must be modified and introduce new concepts the place vital. I are not looking for a central authority that sits in an place of business and is surrounded via sycophants. I wish to stay attached to the folks. I wish to be at the street and perceive what is occurring within the communities.
On the finish of on a daily basis, there will have to be a possibility to check what has took place, what has been completed and what wishes consideration. Management is ready consistent evaluation. Ogun has huge doable. We now have the land, the economic base, the rural capability, the human assets and the strategic location. What we want is targeted management that may carry most of these benefits in combination.
My ambition isn’t merely to develop into governor. It’s to make use of the chance to construct on what is operating, proper what isn’t running and create new alternatives for the folks. That’s the that means of ITESIWAJU. Ogun will have to transfer ahead.