By Akinwale Kasali
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola popular as Yayi has threatened lawsuit against Hon. Abayomi Hunye, the suspended member of APC from Tube, Ipokia LGA and Folake Marcus-Bello of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over alleged libelous and false statements made against him on national television.
The allegations, among other things included casting doubts about where exactly where his state of origin is.
Hunye and Marcus-Bello had granted interviews on Channel Television where they alleged that Senator Adeola is an Ekiti State indigene.
Though, Kayode Odunaro, Media Adviser to Senator Adeola stated that the accusers failed to provide evidence, Marcus-Bello said there was enough evidence in the funeral brochure of Yayi’s father, added to the fact that his mother was buried in Epe, Lagos State when she died.
The former Lagos West Senator has, however, given the duo 24 hours to publicly present evidence of their allegations on his state of origin or face lawsuits.
The statement from Yayi’s camp reads; “I watched in utter disbelief as these characters that I hardly know utter assertive and outrageous lies about my origin without any proof. One falsely claimed on TV that I am from Ekiti and when asked where exactly in Ekiti went moronically blank and could not provide an answer. The other one was lying about the locations of the graves of my parents as if she was part of the undertakers at the burial all in a futile effort to justify an unsustainable falsehood.
“Enough is enough. They should produce their evidence in 24 hours or be ready for my lawsuits ” the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District stated.
Recall that there has been speculations over the Senator’s State of Origin since he migrated from being a Senator representing Lagos to contesting as a Senator in Ogun State. It escalated with his emergence as Governorship candidate of the APC. But Odunaro noted that it failed to prevent the people of his senatorial district from voting massively for him during the 2023 National Assembly Elections.
“This resurrection of the falsehood is pursuant of his seemingly unstoppable move to a victorious outing in the 2027 governorship race in Ogun State.
Responding to Yayi’s lawsuit threat, Hunye through his Media Adviser, Femi Oyewale stated that the disclosure is a patriotic exposure regarding the Senator’s true ancestral origin.
He added that Hunye categorically welcomes the threat of a lawsuit with open arms, stating that he is more than ready to meet Senator Adeola in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Hunye “Interestingly, it seems they are not well informed that the matter is already in court. Threatening us with a lawsuit, therefore, is like a political jamboree designed to make noise in the public.
“For far too long, the political space in Ogun West has been subjected to intimidation, high-handedness, and the suppression of truth through media propaganda and sponsored brickbats. Senator Adeola’s resort to a 24-hour ultimatum and threats of legal action is nothing more than a familiar diversionary tactic, a media gimmick designed to bully dissenting voices and evade public accountability regarding his true identity and eligibility to govern Ogun State.
“The issue of a candidate’s origin and eligibility is a matter of constitutional concern, not a private affair. It touches on the integrity of our democratic institutions and the aspirations of the good people of Ogun State, who deserve a leader whose roots and allegiance are indisputably local.
“We wish to remind the Senator and his media handlers that truth is an absolute defence against libel. Rather than engaging in empty threats and grandstanding on national television, Senator Adeola should save his energy and approach the court immediately.
“We assure the public that we will not be cowed by intimidation or legal blackmail. In court, we will present robust, verifiable facts and documentary evidence substantiating our claims regarding his alleged Ekiti ancestry. The courtroom is where evidence is tested, not the pages of newspapers or sponsored broadcast interviews.
“We urge the good people of Ogun State, particularly the resilient citizens of Ogun West, to remain calm and steadfast. The era of hoodwinking the electorate with superficial political gimmicks is over.
We are prepared to strip bare all falsehoods in the open court of law, where facts, not political titles, will speak”, the statement reads.
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