Ogun 2023: GNI, Yayi, Clash As Both Engage In War Of Words Over Ogun West Senatorial Seat

By Akinwale Kasali

Senator Olamilekan Adeola popularly known as Yayi, representing Lagos West Senatorial District at the National Assembly has engaged in war of words with Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, GNI, the Governorship Candidate of the Action Democratic Congress, ADC, at the 2019 election in Ogun State.

Yayi, who has declared interest to run for the Ogun West Senatorial District under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has shifted his Party membership from Lagos State to Ogun State.

This move had over the past few months generated controversy among the APC ranks in Ogun State, but Yayi and GNI have been at loggerheads since the Senator indicated interest to vie for the position he is presently occupying in Ogun State APC.

Yayi had described GNI  as a serial loser, following GNI’s consecutive loss at the polls in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

The Ogun State born Senator Adeola had made this statement through his media aide, Kayode Odunaro, on Thursday, May 5, 2022, saying that elections are not won on the basis of money sharing, but on the credibility and hard work of the candidate.

This was in reaction to a story in Daily Trust Newspaper online of Thursday, May 5, 2022, with the title “2023: Isiaka Accuses Lagos Senator of Monetizing Ogun West Politics” credited to GNI, and published in other media outlets to the effect that Senator Adeola’s consecutive and consistent electoral successes were as a result of sharing money and bribing leaders of ‘Alimosho’ before the election.

The rebuttal by Yayi’s Media said Isiaka’s comments as born out of GNI’s political naivety, sheer inexperience, and frustration.

He said it was the height of political illiteracy for GNI to think that the five consecutive elections he won from the State House of Assembly through to the House of Representatives and the Senate were as a result of sharing money with leaders for endorsements.

Adeola submitted that he won elections based on robust engagement with the people as well as performance in office.

He, however, urged Isiaka to learn how elections are won, saying not fixated on money they can make for losing elections in the name of fighting for the cause of the people.

“The story further accused Senator Adeola of attempting to replicate the model in Ogun West Senatorial District where he is contesting for the senate seat in 2023.

“The Senator would have ignore this as yet another display of political tantrums and naivety born out of sheer inexperience and frustration but for the aspersion on political leaders in Alimosho, Lagos West and Ogun West as people that are easily compromised to arrive at their political preferences and endorsement of Senator Adeola over time.

“It is the height of political illiteracy for GNI to think that the 5 consecutives and progressive elections of Senator Adeola from the State House of Assembly through the House of Representatives and then the Senate is as a result of “sharing money” to leaders for endorsements shortly before election.

“Elementary political knowledge would have inform the mind of Isiaka to know that endorsement alone does not win election or re-elections as has been demonstrated by Senator Adeola. Election and re-election are won on the basis of the credibility and hard work of the candidates as well as performance in office. Senator Adeola has won elections on the basis of robust engagement with the people as well as performance on various mandates reposed on him by the electorate and not just some leaders that GNI want to malign unjustly. Certainly, he does not have the money to buy the leaders and electorate all the time. They trust him based on his peoples oriented approach to politics and demonstrated performance in office.

“But we are not surprised at the reasoning of Isiaka who has a record of serial loser of three elections back-to-back thinking that sharing money is the route to electoral victory. The question to ask is what has he done with all the huge funds raised/donated to him for the three elections he lost in spite of sentiment for a victory?  The answer may account for his loss of many followers in recent times.

“Going forward, GNI and his team should learn the ropes of how elections are won and lost and not be fixated on money they can make for losing elections in the name of fighting for the cause of the people. Having failed in the attempt to exclude Senator Adeola from the democratic contest for Ogun West Senatorial District, this is not the time to mouth insouciant inanities like ‘aberration’, “immoderate ambition” and a nebulous “collective sensibilities” but a time to engage the people at all levels for a changed political narrative that is upon Ogun West Senatorial District with the democratic participation of Senator Adeola.”