Lagos West Senator, Solomon Olamilekan, popularly known as Yayi, will contest the 2023 elections in Ogun State.
Yayi Olamilekan is running for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Ogun West Senatorial District (Yewa/Awori zone), despite the fact that he represented Lagos in the House of Representatives and Senate (two terms).
He says his election was a blessing to the region, which hasn’t experienced quality representation or governance for sixteen years.
The lawmaker shed tears when political leaders, elders and others presented the expression of interest and nomination forms to him on Wednesday in Ilaro.
“In all my years of contesting elections, close to 20 years now, this is the first time I’m getting this kind of gesture”, he said.
Sources in Ogun on Thursday said that the development has caused rancour in the district as the incumbent Senator Tolu Odebiyi, also of the APC, wants to return to the Red Chamber next year.
Odebiyi who was the Chief of Staff to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun is currently Ogun Central Senator and APC presidential aspirant.
The battle line seems to be now drawn between the Bola Tinubu-Yayi camp and the Amosun-Odebiyi camp.
Another person who is interested in the seat is Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI), Board Chairman of Ogun Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and an ally of ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel. He ran for governor under the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and later the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
With the APC primary drawing near, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun is yet to declare who he is supporting.
Yayi has, however, responded to the claim that he is not from Yewa.
“Is it possible for a man to wake up and say, I am from this area? They are not driving me from Lagos either.
“I am going back home because of my people. Ogun has been created for more than 40 years. Our part of the state has been out of the scheme of things.”
The Senator lamented that Yewa/Awori has not produced a governor, adding that his return “should not be an issue”.
“I am going back home to my roots. I have been on this for some years. It’s not just now that I took that decision.”
Yayi further disclosed how party leaders prevailed on him to ignore Amosun but remain in the APC.
“So, I returned to Lagos and I was given the Senate seat. I ran on the platform of APC and I won”, he added.
Alleluia is the Assistant Editor and Content Writer at LagosPost.ng. She is a prolific writer and editor, she has written features and news stories on Lifestyle, Sports, Business, Politics and B2B marketing. She is also an event coordinator, host and social media content creator.
