Ogun Guber: Oladele Lauds Egba Group’s Position on Yayi

An All Progressives Congress (APC) leader and member of the Ogun State Caucus of the Party, Hon. Kayode Oladele has expressed great satisfaction with the leadership of “Egba Lokan Agenda 2027 “, a rainbow coalition movement formed to identify and support the emergence of a credible Egba indigene as governor of Ogun State in 2027, for recognizing the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Aremo Solomon Olamilekan Adeola popularly known as Yayi as one of Egba hopefuls to lead the Gateway State.

In a release signed by its leader, Prof. Yemi Oke, SAN, the group states that a number of Egba sons and daughters have been identified and or rumored as likely aspirants for Ogun State Governorship seat in the year 2027 and went further to give a full list of the potential governorship aspirants of Egba origin.

According to Prof. Oke, the Group has adopted an inclusive disposition to define who is an Egba indigene capable of receiving the group’s support in line with Egba culture and tradition. He stated that “for the purpose of our fundamental objective, and in line with Egba’s civilized disposition of equal rights to Egba sons and daughters in reflection of globally acceptable standards, we have been guided as to the definition of “an Egba son or daughter”.

“To this extent, and for the purpose of our inclusive activities and disposition, we restate that An Egba son or daughter is one whose either father or mother is of Egba origin”., he said.

He thereafter, gave a summary of the star studded list of potential governorship aspirants of Egba extraction to include the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Amb. Sharafa Adetunji Ishola, Sen. Lanre Tejuosho, the current Senator Representing Ogun West in the Senate, Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) whose mother is an Egba indigene, son of former governor of Ogun State, Hon. Olumide Osoba, daughter of former President, Sen. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Minister of Finance, Chief Wale Edun, whose interest, the group is yet to confirm. Also listed are the current Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadiri Obafrmi Hamzat and the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa amongst others.

In his reaction to the recognition of Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as an Egba aspirant, Hon. Oladele commended the group for their forthrightness and fidelity, especially when you consider the fact that Egba culture and tradition treat a person whose either mother or father is an Egba indigene equally and fairly.

According to Oladele, “It is a fact that Yayi’s mother was a native of Kemta, a short distance away from the famous Olumo rock in the heart of Abeokuta and not far from the family house of Pastor Tunde Bakare at Sodeke. Kemta has ten sub-sections ( Igaran Mewa) such as Kemta Odutolu, Ita Sodeke, Kemta Oke-Ejigbo, Kemta Olabode etc. Like Itoku, it is famously known for its adire market, an exotic fabric and colorful cultural product of women of Egbaland. It is under Egba Ake, one of the principal sections that make up Egbaland. Others are Owu, Gbagura and OKe-Ona respectively.”

“ By virtue of his mother’s ancestry, Yayi has all the rights and privileges of an Egba indigene. According to a Yoruba saying, you cannot have a father’s family without having a mother’s family. Iya lo lomo. As a result, all the names listed by the group have equal stakes in Egbaland and no one can claim to have a more superior stake.”

“It is therefore, laudable that the Egba Agenda has recognized Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi as one their governorship hopefuls in 2027”.

The current Governor of the State, Prince Dapo Abiodun whose second term expires in 2027 is from Ogun East of Remo extraction, the same sub-group that produced another former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel who governed the State from 2003 to 2011.