Ogun Ministerial Nominee: Re-writing the Narratives

By Malumba Oyedele

One of the news items last week which expired last Saturday, July 15 was the emergence of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola-YAYI as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation  at the 10th Nigerian Senate. 

When the news grapped the headlines, there was a babel of sort. Goodwill messages flew from the East to the West; North to South, and justifiably so, on account of the cut-across personality of the Senator representing Ogun West at the Red Chamber. 

Beyond parochial reason of sentiments, one is of the considered opinions that majority of the goodwill messages were born out of his vast legislative experience, which the senders are sure will rub-off positively on his new assignment, the Yewa Youth Assembly (YYA) is no exception in this belief. From within and without, felicitations flew in. A galaxy of dignitaries, notably the Governor of Ogun State, Omooba Dapo Abiodun, CON;  former Governors of Ogun State; Olusegun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel congratulated the Senator. 

The endless list is not the drift of this piece. However,  an unusual trend that caught our fancy the most was the coalescence from the Ogun West Senatorial district NASS members. 

Those who don’t know the symbolism of names will ask you what is the big deal in a name. (The collective congratulatory visit is a big deal) Someone’s name reflects everything that predates his birth, circumstance, even the child’s parents, among others factors. To that extent, the fusion of focus by the trio of the House of Representatives members for Yewa South/Ipokia, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade; Yewa North- Imeko-Afon, Prince Gboyega Isiaka and Ado-Odo/Ota Federal constituency, Engr. Tunji Akinosi, meant a lot to the people of the Ogun West Senatorial district.

 The Yewa Youth Assembly  (YYA) relishes this togetherness and prays it continues to wax stronger and stronger. “Aikowo rin ejo ni i seku pawon” when snakes slither together, it is impossible to extinguish them. Need we say that former Senators Akin Odunsi and Kola Bajomo, Advertising and Accounting prodigies of all time also felicitated with YAYI amongst other personalities. The implication of that togetherness will mean accelerated progress for a S

Senatorial district that has ever been a shadow of itself- a shamble of a sort. A sorry story in terms of infrastructure. And this is not minding the fact that it (Ogun West) is the geese that lays the golden egg for the enhanced Internally Generated Revenue which is being used in unfavorable skew (to us) for the development of other senatorial districts!  What an oxymoronic situation and contradiction!  

But because “we are only strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided,” according to the British Author and Philantropist; J. K. Rowling, it is expedient to challenge our representatives in the National Assembly, namely: Adeola-YAYI, GNI, Akinlade and Akinosi, to work collectively as strong as they are united to bring the Ogun State Ministerial slot to Ogun West, at least to begin the long journey of redressing the imbalance of decades running. 

Since the birth of the running fourth Republic in 1999, clearly 24 years on the other senatorial districts of Ogun East and Central have been exchanging the ministerial baton without minding who has been receiving the short end of the stick, ages back. 

As supporters and admirers of these  Ogun West National Assembly members relish this bond amongst their representatives, the YYA pleads to remind us of the rich Ethiopian proverb which says: “When Spiders unite, they can tie down a lion”.

Nothing is unachievable with unity of purpose which our NASS Reps have unfolded. This may just be the time that the other senatorial districts will manifest genuine camaraderie by heeding the admonition of All time French literary icon and politician, Victor-Marie Hugo by showing that the Ogun West people are loved.

“The supreme happiness of life consists in the conviction that one is loved”. Do these brothers love their borderline brothers from Ogun West? If they do, great. In case they do not, the YYA is tasking our NASS members to unite, lobby, strategize and bring the ministerial slot to Ogun West under the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidency, at least to create a semblance of common patrimony which Ogun State is supposed to be for all of us.

Long live Nigeria!

Long live Ogun State!

Long live Ogun West!

Signed: 

Omooba Malumba S. Oyedele

National Coordinator 

YYA.