We all have our roots in Lagos, Yayi tells critics in Ogun

The senator representing Lagos West in the red chamber, Olamilekan Adeola, has said all the democratically elected governors who had served in Ogun State all have connections with Lagos, including the current one, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Adeola, popularly called Yayi, who is one of the governorship aspirants in Ogun State in the 2019 elections, thus rejected the “tekobo” (stranger from Lagos) label placed on him over his ambition by his critics.
His critics had labeled him a ‘stranger’ coming from Lagos into Ogun politics.
The Senator spoke on Monday evening when he alongside his team, paid a visit to Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite in his palace at Imeko in Imeko/Afon Local Government Area of the state.
It was part of his ongoing consultative meetings with stakeholders on his ambition.
He specifically pointed out that former governors of the state, right from the first civilian governor, late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Amosun, had all made headways economically in Lagos before their emergence.
He said, “Your Royal Highness, they have been shouting that I am coming from Lagos. Is there anybody who has governed Ogun State without any root in Lagos?
“The point is this, the amount you require for governorship race can’t be found in Ogun, you can only make such in Lagos.
“Our Baba, Chief Aremo Osoba, he was MD of DailyTimes in Ikeja, Lagos. Baba Olabisi Onabanjo came from Tincan in Apapa, Lagos. Otunba Gbenga Daniel has his office in Maryland, Lagos as well. The present governor, he has his, Amosun and Company in Palmgrove, Lagos.
“Why is it now that it comes to Yewa/Awori’s turn that they are shouting Tekobo (stranger from Lagos?
“Again, if you examine it critically, none of these governors that have emerged without the connection or support of Lagos.
“I put it on record, I am not fighting Amosun. He is my elder brother and present governor of my state.
“The only issue between us is the claim that I am from Lagos. But Amosun was also from Lagos. This to me, however, should not create any issue.
“I was a member of the Lagos House of Assembly. I was at House of Representatives and now at Senate. I was Special Adviser to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. So, I have the credentials to turn around the future of Ogun State.”
He said Ogun West Senatorial District had endured marginalisation long enough since the creation of the state in 1976, adding that “it is high time the zone realised the dream in 2019.”
While thanking former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Amosun and Chief Osoba for their support for Yewa zone to produce the governor in 2019, he cautioned against imposition, adding that the zone should be allowed to present its qualified and competent candidate.
The Senator promised to appoint “100 per cent of his cabinet from Ogun State and ensure that all “neglected communities” were given facelift through the provision of roads, health centres, schools, tourist centres among other amenities.
Responding, Oba Olanite lamented what he called neglect and sorry state of his town, saying “Imeko has been relegated to nothing.”
Olanite recalled that Imeko was a district under Western province, a fall-out of the colony of Southern Nigeria, but expressed regret the area had nothing to show for it.
He promised to support Adeola’s ambition, but he advised him to walk his talks if he eventually emerged as governor of the state.