Talks Behind Senator Adeola Yayi’s Appearance At Wedding Of Tolu Odebiyi’s Daughter

On Saturday, July 6, 2024, the traditional wedding ceremony of Ayotola, the daughter of immediate past Senator from Ogun West Tolu Odebiyi and Muktar, the son of business woman Bola Shagaya was held at event centre, Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event attracted an impressive list of who-is-who with Vice President Kashim Shettima as one of the star guests.

What has been widely dubbed a surprise appearance was made by Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, the influential politician informally known as Yayi – who succeeded Odebiyi as the Senator representing Ogun West, was also recorded.

Though from the same area, Yewa in Ogun West and members of the same political party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) they belong to different political structures and have not “had anything to do with each other”, as far as public knowledge is concerned,  since the 2023 election that switched their statuses and “magnified” their differences”.

Information at hand revealed that is why Yayi’s appearance at the wedding of Odebiyi’s daughter is branded a surprise.

Added information, however, revealed those conversant with the Senator’s ways are not shocked.

“He has always adopted a reconciliatory approach that encourages all stakeholders to work together for the common good. Although I don’t know the specific circumstances behind his attendance at the wedding regarding invitation, I am sure his open arms approach was the guiding principle” an insider provided insight.

While Senator Yayi is the leader of one of the most pronounced and grounded political structures in Ogun state, his predecessor – Odebiyi – is part of another equally formidable headed by Ibikunle Amosun, the immediate past two term Governor with his political base in Ogun Central.

Senator Yayi and Amosun – who is also a former Senator – are on “opposing sides” within the APC in Ogun state.

They were both present at the traditional wedding ceremony of Ayotola Odebiyi to Mukhtar Shagaya but at different sections of the hall.

Yayi’s attending the daughter of Odebiyi’s wedding received so much interest that handlers of the Senator representing Ogun East – and leader of the statewide political structure to copy, Gbenga Daniel confirmed it in their listing of high profile persons present – and shared his picture exchanging greetings with their principal. Daniel, a former two-term governor of Ogun state attended the wedding with his wife, Olufunke.

More digs revealed that the widespread interest in Senator Yayi’s presence at the wedding was glared by a development that occurred a couple of days before the who-is-who attracting event.

On Saturday, June 2024, youths across Yewaland engaged their legislators at the national and state levels on how much impact they are bringing to bear.

Sources say that was the first time since the 2023 election that, Senator Yayi and prominents members of the Federal House of Representatives from the area namely Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade -Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency – and Gboyega Nasir Isiaka – Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency – shared a stage and exchanged pleasantries like brothers.

“It was a welcome development because despite being in the same political party (APC) they are publicly known to be at odds and believed to be working on different agendas since the election. And for a political zone mobilizing to have another go at producing the Governor of Ogun state for the first time since creation, that is not good. But now that they appear to have started relating with one another in public, the signs of achieving togetherness are looking good” according to informants.

Ogun state was created on February 3, 1976. Yewa, considered a low-votes area, has not been able to produce a Governor largely due to intra-political fighting that consistently see stakeholders unable to pool resources to produce a united front in lobbying support from other zones.