If Adeola Yayi Was Not A Senator
Tayo Oyekanmi
It’s time for midterm assessment for political office holders in Nigeria particularly those in the parliament. For us in Ogun West, it has been a time like no other. The intellectual debate of whether it’s the people that make history or history that makes people depending on the circumstances of “history” in question suffice in the present time in Ogun West in particular and State in general. However, one obvious fact is that time and season do present certain individuals to strategically impact or alter the narratives of their generation. Such individual impact often becomes legendary and watershed. Such is that of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola who is widely called Yayi. That Adeola is doing excellently well and making history not just as the Ogun West Senator but also as “Ogun State Senator”, no pun intended, is not in doubt. That he has altered the narratives developmentally in Ogun West ditto for Ogun State in two years of representation is also not debatable. That his footprint is already engraved on the sands of time is definitely uncontestable. That Yayi’s representation has been a blessing to the land and that of generations to come is just an expression of the obvious.
However, the point might not sink in properly if we don’t reflect or try to imagine what could have become of Ogun West and her people if Sen Yayi is not our Senator today.
THE ACTS OF YAYI*
Without historical consciousness, we cannot have a good grasp of the memorable landmarks we are celebrating today courtesy of Yayi. There is no doubt that Yayi faced various lines and an intricate web of opposition before emerging as Ogun West Senator. That he is currently Ogun West Senator is God’s design. Events have proven everyone who opposed Yayi’s senatorial aspiration was wrong.
Now let’s imagine some few scenarios of imaginables if Senator Yayi was not representing Ogun West today:
- The Senate Appropriation Committee Chairman would not be from Ogun State. This is because Yayi got this on personal recognition and capacity not because he was elected from Ogun State.
- The biggest challenge of infrastructure deficit in Ogun West would have worsened and the lamentation would have reached an all time crescendo. However, Yayi is our Senator and the landscape has been redesigned for good. We now have edifice of school buildings, ICT Centers, Hospitals, Police Buildings and market stalls, e.t.c adorning every facet of Ogun West and by extension Ogun State which have been graciously facilitated by an uncommon Senator!
- There would not be 28 roads projects in Ado Odo Ota LG as well as over 20 roads projects completed in Ipokia Local Government as at April. In the same vein, the uncountable roads projects in Ilaro, Owode and other areas in Yewa South, Yewa North and Imeko Afon Local Government Area and other projects ranging from provision of Transformers, Solar light and many more across the nook and crannies of Ogun West wouldn’t have been in place.
- The over 100klm road of Ilara -Ijoun-Oja Odan -ifonyintedo -ilashe that stretches amongst 4 local government areas in Ogun West would still be an archival project known for mentioning when it suits those in authority. However, phased construction is already ongoing courtesy of Yayi. Same thing is happening on the road stretch from Ita Oshin in Ogun Central Senatorial District, ibara Orile-Joga -Imasayi, Ibeshe -Ilaro all in Ogun West. Again, If Yayi was not Senator of Ogun West, the Rounder -Olorunda- Imeko Road Project would still be in a state of despair with no hope in sight for everyone plying that axis. Its gratifying to know that the situation has changed for the better because Yayi’s wonder is already at work!
- There wouldn’t have been periodic ICT, Farmers and Empowerment Trainings of any kind. There wouldn’t have been any support scheme for market men and women; empowerment for Artisans of various classes and grades and Free JAMB distribution for thousands of young ones seeking admission into higher institutions of learning. There wouldn’t have been any Bursary and Scholarship Schemes in the last two years or the fully funded scheme for many individuals to Holy Pilgrimage.
The list of “Acts of Yayi” is inexhaustible. The implications of Yayi not being Ogun West Senator is crystal clear; poverty level would have worsened. Thousands would have sunk deeper into abject poverty. The ripple effects of that could better be imagined.
- Imagine Yayi was not Ogun West Senator, there wouldn’t have been a multi purpose Pavilion in Ilaro which now serves not just as a veritable rendezvous centre but also a heritage for all in Ogun West.
- Without Yayi as Ogun West Senator, the Yewa Unity House in Ilaro wouldn’t be standing today. Of course, the thought of Federal Polytechnics Ilaro ever becoming a University would not have crossed our minds let alone becoming the first of such institutions to be so upgraded in its category. With Yayi as Ogun West Senator, impossibility is just a word.
We now have Federal University of Technology Ilaro (FUTI).
THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL MAN.
- Without Yayi as Senator of Ogun West, Ogun West couldn’t have gained National prominence and recognition as we have it today. The image of Ogun West has improved phenomenally under Yayi. Ogun West now has a member of the Federal Executive Council as Minister for the first time since the advent of the 4th Republic. Yayi has changed not just the physical landscape of Ogun West but also the political landscape in two years.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that no one could have impacted Ogun West and Ogun State in the last two years the way Yayi has done.
Today in Ogun West, we now have a systemic and organic approach to development that is impactful and long lasting away from the haphazard and happenstance way we were used to. That is becoming a thing of the past. Only a Yayi could have pulled that off.
Beyond the Appropriation Committee Chairmanship that many will attribute as a pull factor, there is clear intentionality, resilience, focus, drive, unflinching motivation, high power dedication to change the fortune of a people for good, backed up with proper planning and execution with deliverables to show. Yayi’s substance and style has been the magic wand. He is a rare breed of man. He combines intellectuality with deep political mastery. A man gifted with many capabilities; high mental alertness, staying power and emotional stability. He’s not just a maverick political actor, he’s a good man with a good heart by all standards. Wisdom personified, psychologically balanced, compassionately noble, divinely guided and guarded.
Yayi’s political life, aside from personal fervency, is studded with supernatural interventions. How he finally clinched Ogun West ticket after two previous serious push backs is divine. His political ascendancy is definitely a combination of grit and grace. Yayi has achieved excellence as a leader and people will follow him everywhere if only out of curiosity in line with Gen Colin Powell opinion. Besides, people will naturally follow worthy leaders that promote worthwhile causes. This explains the reason behind cult followership Yayi is enjoying in Ogun State today. He has proven himself to be a worthy leader. He has broken a lot of political myths and set to break one more in 2027 on behalf of Ogun West, God willing. This is because his political trajectory and the success therein read like a script written directly from above. It has the imprimatur of God’s ordination. His journey to Ogun West is metaphorically similar to the biblical story of Joshua taken by the Israelites to the promised land. It was God ordained.
Having said that, the last two years can be likened to the popular English proverb that April showers bring May flowers. With the level of developmental showers going on in just two years, it’s taken that the next two years with Sen Adeola Yayi will be more flowery in all ramifications. For now, it has been two years of miraculous representation. Two years of intentional representation. Two years of transformational representation. Two years of Renewed and Hope rekindled with this kind of representation. Ogun West could not have imagined anything close. May God bless Sen Yayi and preserve him for the bigger assignments to come, not for himself but for the sake of humanity.
Oyekanmi wrote from Ifonyintedo in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
