Sends Letter To Gov. AMOSUN & All OGUN Stakeholders
For very many years, the rumour had been in the air that Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (popularly called YAYI) was interested in the governorship race in Ogun State. But he had kept quiet all along, until a few weeks back when he wrote a 2 page letter to all the major Stakeholders in Ogun State informing them of his plans to run for governorship.
He also sent the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun a copy of the letter informing him of his plans despite the fact that he knows that the Ogun Governor does not like him.
Below are excerpts of the letter.
I bring warm felicitations and greet you most cordially as a true patriot and an eminent stakeholder of our dear state.
My name is Solomon Olamilekan Adeola popularly known as Yayi. I was born 48 years ago in Alimosho, Lagos State. My father, Ayinde Adeola Ogunleye of blessed memory, hailed from Onibata compound, Ago Isaga, Pahayi, Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, while my mother, Mrs. Abeni Olasunbo Ogunleye, nee Akinola, also of blessed memory, was from Kilaso compound, Kemta Odutolu, Abeokuta in the present day Abeokuta South Local Government Area.
My parents acknowledged the inimitable value of education; hence they put me on that path early in life. After my educational pursuits, having majored in Accountancy, a discipline I had always loved since childhood, I cut my teeth as a young professional at The Guardian Newspapers where I served with unblemished record for about 12 years in the Accounts Department and rose to the position of Accountant.
I resigned voluntarily from the Guardian Newspaper and worked as an Auditor with Olatunji Omoyeni and Company before establishing my own Accounting/Auditing firm, Sootem Consulting.
To the glory of God, I rose to the Pinnacle of my profession. I am a fellow Chattered Accountant and a member of the Chattered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. I am a Tax Consultant for numerous companies, spanning the length and breadth of Nigeria. I am happily married and blessed with wonderful children.
Based on my positive developmental contribution to my immediate community in Alimosho, I was invited to join politics in Lagos State. Through God’s inimitable grace and overwhelming wish of the people, I was elected a State Legislator for two terms of 4 years each, a member of the Federal House of Representatives for a term of 4 years and as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing the largest Senatorial district in Nigeria in terms of population, the position I am currently occupying.
At the Lagos House of Assembly, I was made the Chairman of the Finance and Appropriation Committee and in league with other members, put in place all the Bills that ensured the success of Lagos State in accessing the much needed World Bank loan at such a crucial period in the history of the state.
Some of these Bills included the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Public Procurement Act and the Audit Act. Also with the support of other members, I was able to put in place a Bill that granted the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service autonomy from the Lagos State Ministry of Finance. In the same period, I served in various other committees of the House. Some of which included Science and Technology, Public Accounts and Health.
At the Federal House of Representatives, I was appointed the Chairman of the only constitutionally recognised committee, the Public Accounts Committee, where I served meritoriously. There, in company with other members, I ensured through a Bill now an Act, the removal of the Auditor General’s office from being an appendage of the Accountant General’s Office, which granted it autonomy to enhance non-interference.
At present, at the Senate, I am the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Contents having previously served as the Deputy Chairman, Senator Committee on Communications, I have also at the Senate, sponsored 17 Bills out of which 2 have been passed and others are at different stages of passage. I have also been conscientious in discharging my duties and supporting people-oriented Bills, especially those ones that could wipe off poverty from the common man’s life.
My dear stakeholder, I have keenly followed successive administrations in the state and I greatly appreciate their immense contributions for which I give kudos. Ogun State is work in Progress and, no doubt, all persons who served this state either as Civilian Governors or military administrators have been instrumental to making the state the current beautiful edifice we all can be proud of. May the efforts of our founding fathers and our past leaders not be in vain.
I also must say that prior to this time, I have always contributed my quota to the development of Ogun State and my people in the areas of empowerment, philanthropy, building community projects, and awarding scholarships. From 2011, however, I began to take an active interest in the politics of the state with a view to contributing in a bigger and more impactful manner to her development.
I, therefore, contributed to build support for the party, ACN, and later APC and the incumbent administration of Ogun State through empowerment and mobilisation activities towards the 2015 general elections. At some points, the idea of contesting for the Ogun West Senatorial Seat was mooted and pursued, but was later dropped in deference to party loyalty and leadership decision.
My fellow citizen, having gathered experiences in the private sector and served in government at different levels, I have decided to bring to bear the rich and diverse experiences I have accumulated, over the years, to the service of my people and my dear Ogun State. A Yoruba adage says: ” Ti Oko ba rokun, to rosa, a pada si ebute” Another one also says: “Ile labo isinmi oko, “I, therefore, see 2019 as that opportunity to come home and contribute at a higher plane to the development of my dear state.
I am back home to avail my bountiful experiences, my luxuriant network of connections and my God–given resources, acquired over the years, to the service of my people and my state. I have embarked on widespread consultations in all the nooks and crannies of the state and the acceptability rate has been irresistible and overwhelming.
I have also commissioned studies on developing the huge resources of the state to increase our capacity, shore up our revenue, fill the huge infrastructural deficit in most parts of the state and ensure uncompromisingly even distribution of resources, among others.
I, therefore, wish to formally inform you of my decision to contest for the exalted position of Governor of Ogun State in 2019 and humbly solicit your valuable and unflinching support in consummating this task. My vision is to serve the people, leading a government that is all inclusive and providing devexlopmental initiatives that are sustainable and positively impactful on the mass of our people.
Indeed, it is time to serve my state and I am totally ready and unwavering in my commitment. I come with a pristine desire for development, a stronger vision of hope, a greater depth of vigour and strength as intermix that would propel our dear state to a more enviable status, an economically viable enclave, a hub of modern development, a haven for investors, an anchorage of prosperity and above all, a place of absolute peaceful co-existence.
As a valued stakeholder and eminent citizen with a far reaching influence in the affairs of Ogun State, I consider your support very crucial in making this vision a reality. Therefore, I most humbly and passionately seek your support in this vision to elevate our dear state to the 21st century space and collectively take her to higher pedestals.
May the blessings of God endure in your life forever and may the Ogun State of our dream be realised in our lifetime. As I look forward for an opportunity to meet with you for further discussion, in no distant future, please find below my contact handles in case of suggestions, advice and strategies on actualising this vision. Attached is my biography detailing my life, history, philosophy, family and my modest contributions so far in making my society a better place.
Kindly accept the assurances of my highest regards for you always.
Yours sincerely.
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, FCA (YAYI) Omo Ogun Ise Ya! Long Live Ogun State.
