Growing Acceptance of Yayi Unsettles Opposition- Oladele
The growing acceptance of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola porpularly known as Yayi has become a big worry for the opposition party. This was stated by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Kayode Oladele, adding that the oppositions of Yayi are more focused on stopping his 2027 governorship bid than presenting an alternative agenda for Ogun State.
Oladele, a former Chairman of the House of Representatives on Financial Crimes said the growing acceptance of Adeola across the three senatorial districts had unsettled the opposition, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“The truth is that Yayi’s opponents, have nothing to offer Ogun State. They are intimidated by his growing popularity and the unprecedented acceptance he enjoys across the three senatorial districts.
“Rather than present a credible alternative, they have made stopping Yayi the centrepiece of their politics. Beyond attacking Yayi and opposing virtually everything associated with his candidacy, what new vision have they presented to the people?
“Where is their development blueprint? Where is the record that persuades anyone that Ogun State will be better in their hands?” he asked.
Oladele said the 2027 governorship election should be based on competence, experience, performance and the ability of candidates to provide effective leadership.
The US-Nigerian international lawyer noted that Adeola’s record in public service and his interventions in education, healthcare, roads, electricity, water, markets and economic empowerment across the state should be subjected to public scrutiny rather than playing to the gallery that the PDP has embanked upon.
“The question before our people is straightforward: who has demonstrated the capacity to deliver? Who has touched lives? Who has facilitated projects that people can see and use?. “These are the issues that should define the election,” he said.
The former acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) further alleged that some opposition elements were planning to discredit projects associated with Adeola after failing to diminish his popularity.
“We are aware of their next line of attack. Having realised that they cannot successfully challenge Yayi on performance, they now want to attack his projects and discredit the good works that the people themselves can see and feel.
“That strategy will surely fail. You cannot convince a community that the road it travels on does not exist. You cannot tell students who have benefited from educational support that they received nothing. The evidence is there before the people,” Oladele said.
He challenged the opposition parties to present their records and programmes to the electorate instead of making Adeola the focus of their campaign.
“The oppositions cannot build a campaign simply around stopping Yayi. Ogun State deserves more than that. If you want the people to entrust you with their future, tell them what you have done, what you intend to do and why your proposition is better”. Oladele concluded.
