ABEOKUTA — The Chief of Staff to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, Chief Kayode Odunaro, has dismissed insinuations that the senator’s Lagos political and administrative experience amounts to an “invasion” of Ogun State, describing it instead as an asset that would benefit the state if elected governor in 2027.
Odunaro argued that Lagos had historically served as a platform for many successful Ogun-born businessmen and politicians, insisting that Yayi’s experience in the Lagos political environment should be viewed as a strength rather than a liability.
Speaking on a radio programme in Abeokuta on Saturday, Odunaro said several prominent Ogun indigenes, including businessmen and political leaders, built their careers and fortunes in Lagos before making significant contributions to Ogun State.
He cited business magnates such as Chief Michael Adenuga and Otunba Subomi Balogun, as well as past governors of the state including Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, among others, as examples of Ogun people with strong Lagos connections.
According to him, even Governor Dapo Abiodun has strong ties to Lagos, arguing that there was nothing unusual about an Ogun indigene bringing experience acquired in Lagos to bear on the development of the state.
“Every successful businessman and politician in Ogun State has a connection with Lagos. Lagos has always been a platform for Ogun people to thrive.
“So, somebody coming with Lagos experience to Ogun State, particularly somebody like Senator Adeola Yayi who has governance experience and has already demonstrated it in Ogun West, is a blessing, not an invasion.
“If you want to know where good governance is best replicated in Nigeria today, look at Lagos. Therefore, Yayi coming from Lagos with that experience is a plus for Ogun State,” Odunaro said.
He added that Yayi had demonstrated sensitivity to local economic realities by ensuring that contractors handling his projects in Ogun West prioritised direct labour and the use of locally sourced materials.
“He is very conscious of this. That is why he has ensured that contractors handling his projects in Ogun West consider direct labour and local materials sourced directly from the communities,” he added.
Odunaro also defended the emergence of Senator Yayi as the APC’s consensus governorship candidate, describing the process as a product of broad consultation and a deliberate decision to ensure equity and justice among the three senatorial districts.
He said the consensus was supported by stakeholders, including former governors, serving and former lawmakers and other party leaders, stressing that the decision to zone the governorship ticket to Ogun West was intended to address the principle of fairness.
“The consensus was divinely inspired. All stakeholders, former governors, incumbent governor, former and current representatives and senators decided that, for equity and justice, the governorship ticket should go to Ogun West.
“The party, in its wisdom, decided that the governorship candidate should come from Ogun West,” he said.
According to him, unlike the succession battles that characterised previous transitions in the state, the 2027 transition process within the APC had been relatively smooth.
“Sincerely, since 1999, what we have witnessed in Ogun State has been hostile succession, but this time it was a smooth transition,” Odunaro said.
On the governorship ambition of suspended APC chieftain Abayomi Hunye, Odunaro described it as a political dead end, arguing that his suspension from his ward had already undermined his standing within the party before the consensus arrangement was reached.
“Hunye is a joker. His ambition was dead before the consensus because he was suspended by his ward in Tube, Ipokia local government and that suspension was ratified by the National Working Committee of the party.
“Once you are suspended from your ward, you are no longer a party person,” he said.
He recalled that former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had also faced suspension from his ward in Edo State, stressing that party rules applied to all members irrespective of their status.
Odunaro further questioned the legitimacy of the primary election reportedly conducted by Hunye outside the venue designated by the APC.
He said the party had provided an official venue where Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and APC officials were present, but Hunye allegedly organised a separate exercise involving people around him.
To illustrate his point, Odunaro compared the development to a football match conducted outside the venue and without the participation of the recognised officials and opposing team.
“If CAF or FIFA organises a match at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Kuto, Abeokuta, and someone goes to Muda Lawal Stadium with his own team of players without the opposing team, CAF officials and referees, how do you record such an event as a CAF-organised match? That is an automatic walkover,” he said.
Odunaro expressed confidence in Senator Yayi’s chances in the 2027 election, saying the senator’s legislative achievements and experience had prepared him for the governorship.
He also expressed confidence that voters in Ogun West were capable of distinguishing between genuine political aspirations and candidates using elections as a bargaining platform.
“Ogun State people are very enlightened. They know who is in the race and those who are just contesting to negotiate for something.
“Senator Yayi has done so much as a senator. If he can be voted as governor, he would do wonders,” he said.
“If a negotiator gets into government, you know what he is going to do. So, I have that confidence that Ogun West is solidly behind Yayi,” Odunaro said.
Speaking on concerns over declining confidence in the APC among citizens, Odunaro attributed the current economic hardship partly to the difficult reforms inherited by President Bola Tinubu.
He said the president inherited what he described as a “completely broken vehicle” and had embarked on repairs that necessarily came with temporary inconveniences for citizens.
“President Bola Tinubu inherited a completely broken vehicle as a country, which needs some repairs. To implement the repairs, the citizens have to go through some inconveniences,” he said.
According to him, the effects of the exchange-rate crisis, fuel subsidy regime and what he described as excessive naira printing by the previous administration continued to affect the economy even after the change of government.
“The exchange rate, the subsidy and the printing of naira to fund the economy by the previous government have had a trickle effect on the economy before Tinubu came into power,” Odunaro added.
