The reason some dissatisfied individuals are still disseminating unfounded information about him is merely due to the fact that he is contesting the state‘s governorship election against their preferred candidate
By Ajiroba Dapo Oke, FCIA, fisn, MNIM
I am surprised that some individuals continue to spread falsehood while discussing Yayi’s lineage despite an avalanche of available information and historical evidence concerning his family history in Yewa and Egba regions. I would like to reiterate emphatically that there is no unresolved issues regarding the ancestry of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.The situation unfolding is due to the fact that Yayi, a well-known and highly successful politician, decided to join the political race from Lagos. His prominence in politics and success have led many to wonder why he would choose to contest for the most significant position here in Ogun. Even when considering animals, a wandering dog will inevitably encounter other dogs in the vicinity, leading to potential conflicts. This is a natural occurrence even among birds, as they will inevitably struggle internally.
I was also among those who initially raised questions when he first entered the Ogun West Senatorial race in 2015, having been misled about his personal background to believe that he is not from Yewaland. However, all these matters were conclusively resolved after conducting a comprehensive investigation into his family history in Ishaga and Pahayi in Ilaro. I would like to inform you that till date, there is no single individual from Ishaga and Pahayi who has expressed disapproval of him, claiming he is lying, or that he is not from Ishaga and Pahayi. The esteemed Kabiyesi, along with the distinguished chiefs, and all the residents of Ishaga and its diaspora, are well aware of his status as their son, originating from the renowned Pa Ogundimu’s family among the early settlers in Pahayi, Ilaro. As a community historian and committed indigene, I have had the privilege of visiting Ishaga and conducting interviews regarding his lineage in Ishaga. I had the pleasure of meeting with the esteemed Kabiyesi, who kindly informed me that it was he who had initiated contact with him. They are aware of his lineage connection to Ishaga, and they are well acquainted with his father, Pa Abdulgafar Adeola Ogunleye, also known as Otecko, and the family compound in the ancient community. Regrettably, those who have engaged him in his acclaimed Yewa ancestry have not delved further than their social media critiques of his family lineage.
I have also had the opportunity to hear a narrative about him. There was a period in 2013 or thereabouts, when we were hosting our Diocese synod (Anglican) in Owode. We had the honour of inviting Senator Olamilekan Adeola as our distinguished guest. When it was his turn to be introduced, the current Dean of the Cathedral Church of Christ in Ilaro, Venerable Ladipo Ajayi, a former Managing Director of LASACO, the insurance company owned by the Lagos State Government, said he had known YAYI to be an Ishaga person since 2009 during his first term in the Lagos House of Assembly. He held the esteemed position of chairman for Public Accounts while his agency had the honour of presenting their accounts before his committee in the House of Assembly. He narrated how another honourable member of the House introduced him to Yayi as his brother from Ishaga and that since that time, he had come to know Yayi as his brother and they have been maintaining a brotherly relationship till date. This was in 2009, a time when he was not discussing the prospect of returning to contest anything, but rather, he was fulfilling his duties as an Ishaga man.
The reference to Ekiti remains an elusive pursuit, with no definitive answer as of now from the critics. Despite extensive efforts, no one has been able to pinpoint the exact town in Ekiti – whether it is Igbajo Ekiti, Ayede Ekiti, Ado Ekiti, or any other – to date. No single individual can identify a specific compound in any Ekiti community as his place of origin. At least, it is anticipated that if you have achieved success in another town and your community is aware of your existence, there would have been one or two invitations either for chieftaincy or other community interests. How many years have passed since he began his political endeavours in Lagos and now in Ogun State; no one has come forward to say, “He is from our community or we are his kinsmen and we wish to honour him with chieftaincy titles.” Of course, we are all aware of the esteemed honours and Chieftaincy titles that he has been bestowed with in the Ishaga community, Ilaro, Yewaland, and also in Aworiland.
I was also among those who initially raised questions when he first entered the Ogun West Senatorial race in 2015, having been misled about his personal background to believe that he is not from Yewaland. However, all these matters were conclusively resolved after conducting a comprehensive investigation into his family history in Ishaga and Pahayi in Ilaro. I would like to inform you that till date, there is no single individual from Ishaga and Pahayi who has expressed disapproval of him, claiming he is lying, or that he is not from Ishaga and Pahayi. The esteemed Kabiyesi, along with the distinguished chiefs, and all the residents of Ishaga and its diaspora, are well aware of his status as their son, originating from the renowned Pa Ogundimu’s family among the early settlers in Pahayi, Ilaro. As a community historian and committed indigene, I have had the privilege of visiting Ishaga and conducting interviews regarding his lineage in Ishaga. I had the pleasure of meeting with the esteemed Kabiyesi, who kindly informed me that it was he who had initiated contact with him. They are aware of his lineage connection to Ishaga, and they are well acquainted with his father, Pa Abdulgafar Adeola Ogunleye, also known as Otecko, and the family compound in the ancient community. Regrettably, those who have engaged him in his acclaimed Yewa ancestry have not delved further than their social media critiques of his family lineage
Despite assertions that he has been serving in Lagos, it is evident that he is not the only politician with such a political background. In reality, we have observed the presence of Aregbesola, Raji Fashola, Bamidele Opeyemi, Dele Alake, and even the current Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu. These individuals are also not originally from Lagos, but they have made significant contributions to the political landscape of the State. I’m sure you also know that the present leader of the Senate, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, is a former commissioner in Lagos; many of them played politics in Lagos and they returned to their respective states for further political activities. YAYI is not the only politician who would be returning home after being successful in the politics of Lagos.
It is likely that you have come to know that Yayi’s father was a Muslim, have you observed how many Muslim families in Ekiti? Would it not seem like a double coincidence too that his parents chose to settle in the Alimosho area, a community known for its high concentration of Yewa settlers? What about the information regarding his maternal relationship with Egba from Kemta? They have ignored the facts. I had the opportunity to visit the residence in Baye Lane, Kemta, and we had the pleasure of meeting with family members during a documentary project on YAYI in 2018. I would like to inform you that we encountered the immediate junior sister of his mother, and we also had the chance to meet an elderly man, who claimed to have brought YAYI’s mother to Lagos, where she subsequently met Pa Abdulgafar Ogunleye, her husband. The documentary is still accessible on YouTube to this day.The residents of Kemta have repeatedly honoured YAYI, and they can all identify his family compounds, much like those in Ishaga and Pahayi.
Therefore, even if these critics assert that there is any issue with the Yewa ancestral story, what about the Egba Kemta side of it? Politics, as we know, can be contentious, and until recently, some individuals still believed that Chief Olusegun Oshoba originated from Osun State, specifically from Osogbo.They mentioned that Daniel hails from Delta, and that Baba Obasanjo is of Igbo descent, asserting that his father was Obi of Onitsha. You can therefore see that it is not solely about YAYI; in the past, individuals have fabricated tales about other political figures in the state.
I assure you, and I affirm it, that Yayi is our son from Yewaland, and we are also aware that his mother is from Kemta Oguntolu in the Ake section of Egbaland.
. Ajiroba Dapo Oke writes from Ilaro Ward 1, Yewa South Local Government, Ogun West Senatorial District of Ogun State
