By Segun Olatunji
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly called Yayi, on Saturday, solidified his status as the frontrunner for the 2027 Ogun State governorship following a monumental homecoming reception in Abeokuta. The Yayi Tsunami gently swept through the state capital, as the ancient city stood still for the APC flagbearer. In one fell swoop, Yayi’s ultimate masterstroke dropped amongst his maternal kinsmen silenced critics and secured the Egba for his 2027 governorship aspiration. He effectively dismantled the “tekobo” (outsider) label that his political rivals had been using to question his ancestry.
The high-stakes event reached its peak when his maternal kinsmen from Kemta formally presented him to the Egba populace, swiftly followed by an official endorsement and royal blessings from the Alake of Egbaland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo. This strategic movement has fundamentally reshaped the political landscape of the Gateway State, blending grassroots fervor with elite traditional approval.
By securing the endorsement of the highest traditional and political authorities in Egbaland right in their heartland, the Ogun All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for the 2027 general election turned a political vulnerability into an absolute routing of his rivals.
The historic day commenced at the vibrant Adire Mall Market Ground in Kemta-Itoku, Abeokuta South Local Government Area. Organised by the prominent KEMTA Descendants and The Bridge Group, the venue transformed into a sea of sweeping banners, rhythmic traditional drumming, energetic dancing and ecstatic political chanting.
Following an earlier emotional family reception, Senator Adeola and his wife, Mrs. Temitope Adeola, were accompanied in a magnificent, horse-drawn royal carriage through the cheering streets of Abeokuta.
On his entourage for the multiple home coming event in Egbaland were two former deputy governors of Ogun State, Alhaja Salmot Badru and Prince Segun Adesegun; Minister of State for Health and Social Services, Dr. Kunle Salako; former Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Titi Oseni Sodunke; Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Ganiyu Hamzat; Ogun state Commissioner for Budget, Hon. Olaolu Olabimtan; Director General, National Sports Commission, Hon Bukola Olopade, and a host of other dignitaries.
The vibrant procession halted at the historic Ake Palace, where the Egba Traditional Council awaited. Leading his maternal kinsmen from the Kemta Odusolu township, Senator Yayi made a historic grand entry into the palace of Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland.
The Alake, flanked by members of the influential Egba Traditional Council, not only offered ordinary blessings, the monarch provided the ultimate validation of the Ogun APC governorship candidate’s deep-seated local roots. The revered traditional ruler openly revealed that he played a pivotal, strategic role behind the scenes during the build-up to Yayi’s emergence as the APC flagbearer.
The Alake gave Yayi the ultimate endorsement by publicly pouring royal prayers and institutional blessings upon his 2027 mandate.
The Oluwo of Kemta, Chief Abayomi Rotimi, took the centre stage to perform the vital cultural presentation, an undeniable cultural proof of Senator Yayi’s maternal lineage. Standing before a massive crowd of indigenes at home and abroad, the monarch officially declared Senator Adeola a bona fide son of the soil.
Within the precinct of the palace walls, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, offered deep spiritual and institutional validations.
Practically making a declaration, the Alake congratulated the people of Kemta for raising an outstanding son, confidently affirming that God has given the state a capable leader and future governor in Senator Adeola. Now, the Alake has spoken, royalty and the masses are now standing solidly behind Yayi for the 2027 election.
The royal blessings from the Egba monarch focused heavily on Yayi’s long-standing public service record, noting that his multi-decade legislative experience makes him fully equipped to steer the state forward.
Overwhelmed by the reception, Senator Adeola Yayi promised the traditional rulers that he would preserve the ongoing peace, protect Yoruba heritage, and execute an inclusive governance model that leaves no zone behind.
Yayi also used the occasion to remind detractors that he has actively identified with his Egba maternal roots for more than 20 years, rendering the “tekobo” outsider argument completely dead on arrival. With the historic Egba outing, Yayi has consolidated power as his golden ticket is now sealed with the Egba’s declaration of total support for his 2027 governorship aspiration.
Now, the game is over for his detractors. With this latest masterstroke, Yayi has permanently erased the “Tekobo” outsider tag using Kemta homecoming as the launchpad for the total Egba alignment. This move is a strategic lockdown that has consolidated bloc votes across major constituents in the state.
The royal seal given Yayi’s 2027 governorship aspiration has also dismantled the “tekobo” myth, a definitive turning point in collapsing the narrative through the highest traditional authority in Egbaland. This groundswell of support for Yayi has shocked his critics who are now left stranded.
With Yayi’s presentation to the wider Egba populace, his maternal kinsmen effectively neutralised the long-standing “indigene vs. outsider” narrative often deployed in Ogun politics. Yayi holds a unique geopolitical advantage: his paternal roots tie him firmly to Yewa land (Ogun West), while his maternal heritage embeds him deeply in the heart of Egbaland (Ogun Central). This dual identity frames him as the ultimate bridge-builder for the ultimate unity of Ogun State.
By securing the absolute backing of the Alake and the entire Egba Traditional Council right in the state capital, Senator Yayi effectively transformed what was once a fierce opposition talking point into an absolute political fortress. Literally, the APC flagbearer is tested, trusted and crowned the next governor of the state. His candidacy has united the Ogun West and Central Senatorial Districts for a total victory in 2027. His Abeokuta conquest has effectively set the stage for his victory in the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State.
This royal reception serves as a critical reinforcement of Senator Adeola’s political authority within the ruling party. The Ogun State APC Caucus previously declared Yayi as its consensus governorship candidate.
The Abeokuta outing demonstrates that Yayi’s candidacy is no longer just a legislative aspiration from Ogun West. By capturing the hearts, minds, and traditional thrones of Ogun Central, his momentum has evolved into a formidable, statewide movement. With the kinsmen’s blessing and the Alake’s imperial approval, Yayi’s path toward the 2027 Government House in Oke-Mosan looks increasingly secure.
Olatunji, a Journalist, Political/Crisis Communication Strategist, writes from Ilaro, Ogun State
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