APC Chieftain Hits Back at Iyabo Obasanjo Over “Opportunist” Claim on Senator Adeola
Akeem Akilo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, has criticized former Ogun Central Senator Iyabo Obasanjo for describing Ogun West Senator and Senate Committee on Appropriation Chairman, Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as an opportunist.
In a statement released on Sunday, Akilo called Obasanjo’s remarks during a radio interview “misplaced and unfortunate,” adding that they were politically hollow and lacked substance.
He pointed out the irony of Obasanjo, who has largely remained absent from Nigeria’s partisan frontline since her failed 2011 re-election bid, seeking to lecture others on political consistency and democratic growth.
“For over a decade, Ogun Central has moved on. New leaders have emerged, and the grassroots she claims to understand have continued without her visible participation,” Akilo said.
Akilo defended Senator Adeola’s record, describing his political career as marked by steady growth and consistent electoral validation. “From the Lagos State House of Assembly to the House of Representatives, two terms in the Senate representing Lagos West, and now representing Ogun West, Senator Adeola’s career reflects continuity, voter confidence, and strategic political expansion—not opportunism,” he added.
Highlighting the dynamic nature of politics, Akilo argued that political migration is common in democratic systems and cited examples from established democracies where politicians have built influence beyond their initial constituencies. He emphasized that Adeola’s move from Lagos to Ogun was legitimate, as Ogun is his ancestral home, and his 2023 electoral mandate in Ogun West was democratically earned.
“Credibility is not measured by radio rhetoric; it is measured by sustained engagement, presence, and impact,” Akilo said. He further suggested that Obasanjo’s attack may be a calculated attempt to regain political relevance, noting her recent e-registration as an APC member in Ibogun, Ward 11, Ifo Local Government Area, and her declared intention to contest the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.
“Senator Adeola’s record speaks through electoral victories across two states and sustained legislative service. That is not opportunism; that is adaptability, strategy, and political durability,” Akilo concluded.
