By Hon. Dr. Tunde Tella
Strengthening Grassroots Empowerment and Participation
Sen. Adeola understands that development must start at the grassroots. Long before it was fashionable, he held regular consultations with constituents across Ogun West, treating town halls as genuine opportunities to listen and deliver. These meetings have enabled stakeholders to voice their needs and watch projects through to completion. I have witnessed how this approach has engendered community ownership of projects – a far cry from the top-down “see and buy” model of old. Not only does Yayi listen, he acts decisively: in two years he and his team have trained and empowered over 20,000 youths, men and women in vocational skills and entrepreneurship. Each beneficiary left the programs with a startup kit – from minibuses and tricycles to sewing machines, ICT gadgets, textbooks and even solar panels. By investing in people this way, Sen. Adeola has built a generation of empowered Ogun West citizens who trust their senator to deliver. His mantra, “My best is yet to come,” resonates precisely because Ogun West sees him constantly raising the bar.
Building Our State: Infrastructure and Services
These empowerment initiatives are only part of the story. Yayi’s leadership is visible in every community through the projects he has facilitated across all five local governments of Ogun West. To date, 272 infrastructure projects — both completed and ongoing — are lifting our district to a new standard of development. In Imeko-Afon alone, he has overhauled roads that were once impassable. He has built and asphalted key stretches like Afon Township Road, the area 5–Immigration Junction corridor, Idofa Township Road and many more. He even launched the reconstruction of the long-neglected 103km Ilara–Ilashe road, a signature federal project under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Such massive road projects have not just been chalked on maps – they have been delivered under Yayi’s watch, easing transport for farmers and traders across Ogun West.
In addition to roads, Sen. Adeola has spearheaded innovations in power and lighting. He arranged for solar-powered streetlights in Imeko Township, Ilara Market, Owode Obada and other strategic locations, cutting crime and extending business hours at night. His rural electrification program delivered new 500kVA transformers to schools, markets and villages – for example in communities like Ilara Ogudo, Wasimi Okuta, Idofa and Olateju – bringing reliable electricity to thousands. Likewise, education and health have felt his touch. New classroom blocks with ICT centers are rising in public schools, equipping students for the digital age. He has facilitated construction of multiple Primary Healthcare Centres across Ogun West, meaning better access to medical care for mothers and children. Even community safety is a priority: Adeola has funded new police outposts in border towns to help curb crime at its roots. Each of these projects – from roads to schools to hospitals – is evidence that Sen. Adeola is a man of action, not just words. The people feel it: he is already a “household name” in Ogun West, toweringly above his predecessors in performance.
Legislating for Progress and Renewal
Yayi’s effectiveness extends to the halls of the National Assembly. A veteran lawmaker with over 22 years of legislative service, he has used his influence to bring projects and opportunities home. As Senate Appropriations Committee Chair, he has a reputation as a meticulous accountant and a dedicated public servant. Importantly, he has authored and sponsored bills with local impact: he pushed for a Federal College of Geological and Cement Studies in Iselu (Yewa North), and for establishing a Federal University of Technology in Ilaro. The latter bill – to upgrade the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro into a university – has passed both chambers and awaits Presidential assent. In other words, Yayi is turning ideas into laws that will bring higher education and jobs to Ogun State. Throughout, he credits his constituents: as he says, his people “mean a lot to him,” and he has focused on improving their lives and promoting development ever since taking office.
His legislative record shows vision and courage. By securing a future university and college, he’s planning Ogun West’s growth decades ahead. By driving budget allocations for roads, schools, and health centers, he’s translating our aspirations into concrete outcomes. And he does this while aligning with the national direction. Indeed, Sen. Adeola proudly embeds Ogun West’s gains within President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He often notes that he was intimately involved in laying the legislative groundwork for the administration’s reforms. The foundations he helped build are already yielding “first fruits” – evidence that Ogun West’s dividends come from being in sync with the national vision. As he has reminded us, our Senator has “facilitated ... projects in less than 2 years” that our people can attest to, all under the umbrella of Renewed Hope.
A Vision Aligned with National Goals
Sen. Adeola’s synergy with the Renewed Hope Agenda is no accident. He has leveraged federal schemes and partnerships to multiply his impact on Ogun West. At the recent Imeko town hall, he thanked President Tinubu for faithful implementation of this agenda and vowed to continue prioritizing constituents’ interests. This kind of federal alignment has meant more tractors, more grants, more infrastructure for our people – confirming that Yayi is astutely plugging Ogun’s needs into the national engine. His consistent message is that Ogun West should not lag behind: he tells us that a “solid foundation for the Renewed Hope Agenda” has been laid and that by 2027, we should be ready to fully reap its benefits.
I share his optimism. Working with the federal government, Senator Adeola has shown that he can attract big projects (like the Ilara-Ilashe road) and deliver grassroots programs (like the 20,000 skill trainings). He does this not for personal glory but because he genuinely believes Ogun State’s future is brightest with inclusive, forward-looking leadership. It is clear to me that Yayi’s vision for Ogun – one of modern infrastructure, thriving SMEs, safe and educated communitie – dovetails perfectly with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope. He often says he is energized by the trust of Ogun West people, and indeed they have rewarded him by rising to these initiatives. That is leadership built on partnership, not patronage.
Ogun’s Next Governor: A Call to Support Proven Leadership
Ogun’s governorship in 2027 will be a defining moment. The state cannot afford to gamble its future on untested leadership. Today, we have a clear frontrunner who has proven competence, courage and capacity: Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola. His record is not just that of a senator doing a job – it is the record of a visionary leader. Year after year, he has expanded his portfolio of projects and empowerment, always rooted in the needs of the people. Whether delivering new hospitals or new laws, or simply taking the time to listen on the ground, Yayi has shown he is already acting like a governor in the making. Communities across Ogun West trust him because he has honored their trust with tangible dividends. National figures recognize it too: the President’s own minister of state in charge of health recently commended Senator Adeola for delivering “tangible dividends of democracy” to our people.
For me, the choice is clear. If Ogun State’s people want a leader with a heart for the grassroots, a proven track record of results, and a bold vision tied to the national Renewed Hope Agenda, then Senator Adeola (Yayi) is that leader. He has repeatedly said he looks forward to further service for the benefit of his people, his state and the nation. In my view, what we do about Yayi is this: we rally behind him. We recognize that Ogun’s governance deserves the dedication he has shown as senator. We encourage party leaders, stakeholders and voters to support his ambition to run for governor in 2027.
In conclusion, the achievements of Senator Adeola speak volumes. From town halls to classrooms, from roads to bills, he has built a legacy of service in Ogun West. He stands out as a beacon of the Renewed Hope we all seek. As Egun, Yewas, Awori, Ijebu,Egba, Remo and all Yorubas of Ogun unite, let us be pragmatic and visionary: let us back the man who has already delivered on dreams many only talk about. For Ogun State, the future looks brighter with Yayi at the helm. His leadership is not an experiment – it is our next great step forward.
Hon. Dr. Tunde Tella
Ogun State Lawmaker and Advocate for Renewed Leadership
