OGUN WEST ON THE THRESHOLD OF HISTORY WITH SENATOR SOLOMON OLAMILEKAN ADEOLA, CON FCA

 

By

Chief Samson Olu Oderinde

Ogun West is one of the three sensational districts in Ogun State and its estimated population is two million people (about one third of the entire population of the state). However, the people have suffered near absolute marginalization till the recent times. The socio-economic development activities of the successive governments  in the district, particularly under the military dispensation, is nothing to write home about. The area was treated as the suburb and purely as the rural part of the Gateway state and hence inconsequentially. The people from here were precluded from holding critical positions, except one or two, by providence. As a result of this neglect, the other two districts of Central and East have gone far ahead of it, as several crucial items of modern life were provided for them at the detriment of West. Cheerfully, the situation is changing for the better gradually under the civilian administration, but there is a long river to cross to make a difference from the ugly past. The successive Executive Governors of the state, particularly the incumbent Governor should be praised for their efforts, to bring the people of West out of their muddy and unpleasant socio-economic and political quagmire. In line with the scripture, “though the beginning of these people may be small, yet their latter end will increase abundantly”, the situation with the people of Ogun West is getting better. It is becoming obvious that the ladder of West to greatness is positioned, the ascension of the people to greatness is set and birthed and their illuminating light is ignited. A more purposeful move to great fortunes is now due to be driven; the dew of which is currently wetting the grounds.

God has been gracious to the people, with a Moses and Messiah like figure in their midst at the moment: Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola (YAYI) CON FCA, the senator currently representing Lagos West at the upper house of the National Assembly has been called back home, to his native land of Isaga quarter, Ilaro-Yewa in Ogun West, to represent his people at the next dispensation, mainly to replicate his unimaginable and unequal mass transmogrification  pursuits in the district. Fortunately, prior to his call back home by his people in Ogun State, the Paramount Ruler of Yewa land and President of Yewa Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr.) Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, Ashade Agunloye IV, had initiated a revolution for a solid unity and collaboration amongst  his people, even extending it to their Awori brothers and sisters in the district. This has made the switch of political base of Senator Adeola less cumbersome. The current level of unity, focus and collaboration must be upheld tenaciously by the people. They are enjoined to join their hands together, to push through assertively to victory, which is quite more obvious at this moment, more than ever before. No one must seat on the fence.The tendencies to retardate Ogun West district perpetually, to remain in servitude and at the receiving  end of the other two district in Ogun State; an illogical ideology, orchestrated by some people of old and being nursed and promoted by some contemporary interest groups, must be resisted  swiftly  by everyone in the district, so that the district could attain political, socio-economic and financial heights, which Ogun East and Central districts have attained several years ago.

It should be clear to discerning minds and spirits that there are some advocates of impossibility and anti-change among them, that many may be ready and determined to cause needless friction and fuel discordant tunes, to truncate the noble goals that are being pursued by the people generally. Therefore, all hands must be on deck by the critical stakeholders to thwart such agenda. Every step possible must be taken by the people, including effective mobilization of the grassroots, prayers and other God given endowments for the divine move to their haven and next levels of victories and breakthroughs.

I believe that with God all things are possible and no evil hostility or opposition can obliterate the fruitfulness and triumph of a people whose time of God’s grace is established. However, it is necessary for all the stakeholders in Ogun West to join their hands together to pursue this God’s ordained task; no one should seat on the fence. God has bestowed His grace upon the people for the great walk across the red sea, to their promised land of fulfillment, which God has brought Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (YAYI) to drive. They should support the work of God in his life by voting for him massively for the important Senate seat, so as to have the opportunity to carry out the assignments which God has anointed him to do on behalf of the Yewa/Awori people who predominate Ogun West Senatorial District.

Since Senator Adetola accepted the call by his people in Ogun West district to come home to serve them politically; he has shown his positive disposition, benevolence and great commitment to the development of the area in an irrevocable and unquantifiable terms. Within a year or thereabout, he was able to justify his rating as one of the exceptionally benevolent Senators in Nigeria today, by taking some people oriented steps, some of which are mentioned below:

  Provided scholarship for several indigent students.

  Facilitated the construction of a computer driven library for the Federal  

      Polytechnic, Ilaro (FPI)

He facilitated the construction of a big pavilion christened Oba Ashade Agunloye IV Pavilion, for major socio-economic, political and cultural activities in Ogun 

       West

Sponsored a Bill on the floor of the National Assembly; already passed and waiting  

       for the assent of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to become law, that 

       the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro be uplifted to a Federal University of Technology 

       (FUTech)

Massive empowerment of the poor, needy and unemployed people of Ogun West, particularly the youths in diverse skills, including training and supply of the appropriate equipments and tools, cum the take-off grants.

He sponsored a training scheme for 4,500 unemployed people of the West District in fisheries.

Provided Electrical Transformers to many communities, to boost power supply and ultimately business and social activities and at the same time, he gave those communities a sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) each to energise the Transformers.

Distributed new buses amongst various groups: 

   -The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); to boost religious activities.        

   -League of Imams; for religious activities as well.

     -The Council of Traditional Chiefs (Baales); to aid traditional and cultural matters.

      -Association of Market Women and Men; to boost their activities around the district  

         and so on.

Constructed Tables, Chairs, Desks and Benches for the use of Schools across the 

         Senatorial District

    Embarked on the grading of about 250 kilometers of rural roads around the   

    district, with all the five LGs in the district having a fair share.

    He sponsored the construction of Ota-Itele road, which is worth about A Billion 

     Naira in cost.

    I can go on and on. 

Based on the foregoing, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola; a God sent man of the moment, is attracting so much affection and support in all the mooks and crannies of West district. The stakeholders must ensure that this scenario is sustained as much possible and solidified, moving forward to the much awaited 2023 General Elections.

In addition to the largesse of Senator Adeola chronicled above, he is a current Senator who knows the rudiments of the Senate and National Assembly and verse in legislative activities, having served as a legislator (in various capacities at the Lagos State House of Assembly and National Assembly) for an upward of twenty years: he is conversant with the local politics of the National Assembly. Therefore, he is better placed to represent Ogun West Senatorial District benevolently. A fresh Senator would have to dissipate energy, resources and time to have a full grasp of the architecture of the house, which may last for an upward of two years, to properly integrate. By this, time is wasted and a lot of grounds may be lost. I know quite well that such will stagnate the people. Therefore, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (YAYI) would be the best Senator to be elected to represent Ogun West Senatorial District. 

All the stakeholders however highly or lowly placed, including the Traditional rulers, elites in various fields of endeavours, people of diverse religious and social persuasions and so on, must be involved in salvaging Ogun West District from the precipice. Everyone must take active part in the history making adventure. The time for the elusive liberation is now and it involves the patriotism of every Yewa/Awori people and other Nigerians living in Ogun West. Ordinarily, every vote should be for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (YAYI), to anchor the envisaged movement across limitation and obstruction to greater political and socio-economic attainments. No, one should be a cog in the wheel of progress to Yewa/Awori people. There is great hope that the bell of total victory of Ogun West shall ring loudest soon and very soon.

Chief Samson Olu. Oderinde, JP

Author, Essayist and Analyst

Former Member, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Governing Council.

Ex-S.S.A (Political) to former Deputy Governor of Ogun State.

Former Executive Chairman, Yewa North LG.