OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The Federal Commissioner representing Ogun State at the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Hon. Ogo-Oluwa Morakinyo Akinleye, has described the governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as a long-standing political project rooted in years of preparation, commitment and public service rather than a recent political development.
Akinleye also dismissed claims questioning the Ogun West lawmaker's origin and eligibility to contest the state's governorship, describing such arguments as "fallacious" and "a rude, feather-weight political gimmick."
The PCC Commissioner made the remarks during an interview with members of the League of Yewa-Awori Media Practitioners (LOYAMP), who paid him a courtesy visit at his office in the Federal Secretariat, Abeokuta, on Friday.
He maintained that Senator Adeola's governorship aspiration is fully backed by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every qualified citizen the right to seek elective office.
"The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria empowers every qualified Nigerian to contest for any elective office. That is the fundamental principle I believe in," Akinleye said.
He explained that his support for the senator was not a recent political decision but one built over many years of personal relationship and shared political ideals.
"For me, supporting Senator Adeola Yayi is not something I started today. He is my brother, and this is my project. It is a commitment that has been nurtured over many years," he said.
The commissioner recalled growing up in a politically active family, noting that witnessing his father contest elections exposed him early to the realities of political participation, electoral competition and the importance of effective representation.
According to him, those experiences shaped his political convictions and reinforced his commitment to Senator Adeola's governorship ambition.
"My support for Senator Adeola Yayi is not accidental. It is a project that I have embraced deliberately, and since we started, I have never relented. I cannot relent," he added.
Akinleye further attributed the senator's political journey to what he described as divine preparation for higher responsibility.
Drawing a biblical analogy with Moses, he said the experiences Senator Adeola had accumulated over the years had prepared him for greater leadership responsibilities.
"In the same way, I believe that God has been preparing Senator Adeola Yayi for a particular responsibility. His political journey, experiences, struggles and even the opportunities that have come his way are all part of that preparation," he stated.
Responding to criticisms over the senator's roots in Ogun West, Akinleye insisted that constitutional qualification, rather than political narratives about origin, should determine eligibility for elective office.
"Absolutely, it is a fallacy to use such an argument to deny him the right to aspire. In politics, questions of origin and identity are often raised, but what is most important is the constitutional right of a Nigerian to aspire to elective office, provided he meets the requirements of the law clearly stipulated in the Constitution," he said.
He also cited Nigeria's political history, arguing that several politicians had successfully contested and won elections outside areas initially considered their traditional political strongholds.
"There have been many instances in Nigerian politics where people have contested and won outside places that some people initially regarded as their exclusive political strongholds. That is normal in politics," he said.
Akinleye expressed confidence in Senator Adeola's capacity to govern Ogun State, saying the lawmaker had demonstrated the experience, competence and commitment required for the office.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the senator's governorship aspiration, expressing optimism that the political project would ultimately succeed.
"For me, the most important thing is that Senator Adeola Yayi has demonstrated the capacity, experience and commitment required for the responsibility he seeks. We have supported this project for many years, and we will continue to do so.
"I believe that the opportunity before us is significant, and I remain confident that, by the grace of God, the project will achieve its desired objective," Akinleye said.
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