The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on stakeholders in Ogun West Senatorial District to close ranks and speak with one voice if the zone must finally produce the governor of Ogun State in 2027.
Bamidele, who is the Majority Leader of the 10th Senate, described it as unfortunate that Ogun West has remained outside the state’s top political office for over 50 years, unlike Ogun East and Ogun Central, which have both produced governors since the state’s creation.
Speaking on Sunday in Ilaro during a programme organised by Ogun West Professionals For Yayi, the senator said the long-standing marginalisation of the district was largely self-inflicted, driven by disunity and the inability of political leaders in the zone to agree on a common candidate.
Delivering a keynote address titled “The Power of Internal Coherence in Securing External Support: Roadmap for Achieving Ogun West Gubernatorial Ambition in 2027,” Bamidele pointed to the 2019 and 2023 elections as missed opportunities. He noted that on both occasions, strong governorship aspirants from Ogun West contested on different party platforms, a development he said weakened the zone’s chances.
According to him, Ogun West’s political struggle is not accidental but the result of years of internal fragmentation and structural exclusion.
“While Ogun Central and Ogun East have enjoyed decades of executive leadership, Ogun West has remained politically underserved despite its economic strength and electoral importance,” he said.
Bamidele stressed that the way forward lies in elite coordination, consensus-building, disciplined political messaging, and a shared regional vision.
“If Ogun West leaders rise above personal ambitions and unite, the historical imbalance can finally be corrected. Unity is not optional; it is indispensable,” he added.
The Senate Leader said the district currently has what he described as a “very marketable and tested political figure” in Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi. He praised Adeola as a three-term senator, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and a seasoned lawmaker capable of leading the state.
Bamidele urged the zone to rally behind a single, credible candidate within a strong national political party, noting that once Ogun West achieves internal unity, support from other senatorial districts and even beyond the state would naturally follow.
“At that point, it won’t be rocket science. Fair-minded people across Ogun State and outside it will lend their support,” he said.
At the end of the programme, the forum issued a communiqué endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027. The group also reaffirmed its demand that Ogun West should produce the next governor of the state and formally declared support for Senator Adeola’s governorship ambition.
The forum commended the Federal Government for what it described as unprecedented infrastructural development and political inclusion in Ogun West.
“The gathering agreed that Ogun West has never had it this good in terms of federal presence, appointments, and infrastructure,” the communiqué read.
“As a result, we unanimously resolved to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition. We also unanimously endorsed Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as the preferred candidate for Ogun State Governor in 2027, in recognition of his quality representation, service delivery, and consistent advocacy for development.”
Earlier, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Isiaq Salako, applauded the forum for mobilising support for both Tinubu’s re-election bid and Adeola’s governorship ambition.
Also speaking, the forum’s coordinator, Mr Dapo Oke, said the event was organised to strengthen support for Adeola, whom he described as a committed leader determined to lift Ogun West out of decades of neglect.
The chairman of the event’s steering committee, Dr Yemisi Bamgbose, said it was troubling that Ogun West had remained politically sidelined for half a century, stressing the need for professionals in the region to take the lead in correcting the imbalance.
Bamgbose, who is also the Executive Secretary of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, described Adeola as a selfless politician whose representation has brought visible development to Ogun West, adding that he deserves broad support ahead of the 2027 governorship race.
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