Ayomide Awe
The Kemta community in Abeokuta South on Saturday rolled out the drums for their son, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan Yayi, in what they tagged an “official homecoming” to his mother’s source in Kemta-Odutolu.
The event, held at the Adire Mall Market Ground, Kemta-Itoku, was organised by The Bridge Group and coordinated by its Team Lead, Princess Adejoke Shomoye Ewaede and was hosted by the Oluwo of Kemta, High Chief Rotimi Abiodun.
In a symbolic procession after the ceremony, Kemta chiefs and residents led Yayi to the Ake Palace for royal blessings from the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.
Addressing the crowd, Yayi, who is the APC’s 2027 governorship candidate in Ogun State, announced N10 million for traders who shut their shops to receive him and N5 million for Adire marketers, bringing his total donation to N15 million.
“Everyone that closed their shops because of receiving me today, I will give 10 million naira. By God’s grace we will join hands together to turn Kemta to Small London under the leadership of our father, the Oluwo of Kemta,” he said.
“Kemta owns Yayi. My mother is from Kemta Odutolu. There’s a saying that mothers are the owner of a child and with this, I won’t take my mother’s source for granted.”
Yayi said he has lived in Ibara G.R.A. for over 20 years and has facilitated projects across Egba land. He listed over 16 roads and 15 schools under construction, and completed works including the
Kobape-Ojere-Oba Road, Ikorita Meje, Ogun Radio-Adeun Road, Obasanjo Hill-top, Oteyi Road, and classroom blocks at Premier Grammar School, Abeokuta Grammar School, Baptist Boys High School, and Lisabi Grammar School. He also cited the Ijaye Hospital.
He added that new projects had begun on
Saraki-Adigbe Road and Magbon, in front of INEC, which would be tarred “in the next one week”.
The Senator told the gathering that his emergence as APC candidate “is not behind Alake”.
“I heard from him first that I will become APC candidate. I have not come to make manifestoes because campaign hasn’t started. I came home to greet you my fathers and to show that I am your son,” Yayi said.
He added that “By God’s grace, May 29, 2027, I will come back here as Governor. I promise to always do my best to develop Egba land.”
Responding, the Alake expressed joy over Yayi’s homecoming and prayed extensively for him and for a better Ogun State.
Yayi described the turnout as a “wake-up call” ahead of 2027.
“I’m seeing it as a wake-up call. That the people of Kemta are appreciative that their son is going for the post of the Governorship of this state and they are ready to come fully behind him,” he said.
“If elected, I have set the bar. The bar is crystal clear. I am for development so the development will go all round and Ogun State is to witness another tremendous development and consolidate on the vein of the current administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun.”
Princess Ewaede said the homecoming was “significant” because “Yayi’s mother is a native of Kemta which means that Yayi is a Kemta son.”
The event drew Rt. Hon. Speaker Titi Oseni, Hon. Deji Rotimi, Member Ogun State House of Assembly, Abeokuta South II, Hon. Segun Showunmi, Hon. Afolabi Afuape, former Commissioner for Special Duties, members of the National and State Assemblies, past Deputy Governors, the Minister of Health, High Chiefs of Egbaland and Kemta, and members of Kemta kingdom.
Yayi said he would not be drawn into a manifesto now, but insisted: “They said it is Government money. If I become the Governor, it is the Government money that I will be spending. This grace that I have is scarce.”
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