The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako has debunked reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola is not from the state, and also has a questionable background.
In an interview on Channel Television’s Politics Today on Monday, a former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Hon. Wale Adedayo, had alleged that Adeola, who is popularly known as Yayi, has is origin from Ekiti State, and that his real name is Sulaimon Ogunleye.
But, Salako used the same programme on Tuesday to disclosed that Adeola is an indigene of Ogun State, from both paternal and maternal sides.
According to Salako, Adeola’s father is from Paayi near Ilaro, while he was born and raised in Ipaja, Lagos State.
The Minister said: ‘Read the history of Ipaja, a settlement of Yewa people, who established it.
‘The Oba of Ipaja is a Yewa man, same as the Oba of Ishaga. Yayi’s father also lived in Ishaga.
‘In his educational certificates, he indicated Ogun as state of origin, even when he worked at The Guardian.
‘His primary, secondary school certificates identified from Ogun State.
‘I knew Yayi in 2000 when he was in the Lagos State House of Assembly as a Yewa indigene. We had the Yewa Awori Youth Leadership Forum.
‘The Oba of Ishaga (Ogun State), which is his ancestral origin, has pointed to the burial ground of his grandfather. His blood sister, who lives in Yewa North Local Government Area, has come out to say he is my brother.
‘The Baale of Paayi, where his great grandfather settled, has said that his grandfather is well known his people. His father, who lived and died in Ipaja, is popularly known as “Oteko”.
‘If you go to Kenta, which is his maternal ancestry in Abeokuta, his root is well known.
‘He changed his name while he was working with _The Guardian_ . He also changed his faith. He decided to adopt the middle name of his father, which is Adeola, and changed his Sulaiman to Solomon, and continued with Olamilekan, which is his middle name. These were well advertised in the newspapers, as required by law.
‘He has been contesting as Solomon Olamilekan Adeola since the bidded for House of Assembly seat in Lagos State’.
Salako further said that a former United States President, Bill Clinton changed his name from Jefferson Blythe III; while the current US Vice President, JD Vance had James Donald Bowman as his birth name, and had to adjust his name several times due to family changes.
Salako said that the APC followed due process in throwing up Adeola as its governorship candidate, adding that he is the most prepared for the office among the field.
He also said that, although the governorship seat had moved between the two major divisions of the state (Ijebu/Remo and Egba/Yewa) since 1979, it had always eluded Yewa.
‘This time, there is a consensus that, since the incumbent is Remo from Ijebu/Remo division, the next governor should come from the Yewa wing of Egba/Yewa’, Salako said.
According to him, what determined Adeola’s choice was the majority with due process followed by the party.
In addition, he highlighted the candidate’s grassroots impact and support.
