YAYI: The governor of the street and his book of preparation (1)

As Ogun State gradually inches toward the 2027 governorship election, conversations across markets, motor parks, community meetings, religious gatherings, and social circles increasingly revolve around one name: Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi. I am happy as the son of the Ogun West region for the history that was about to entrench equity in the political landscape of Ogun State after 60 years of its creation.

Politics often rewards preparation. While many aspirants emerge when opportunities arrive, a few spend years preparing long before the opportunity becomes visible. That distinction may explain why Yayi’s political momentum appears different from the traditional build-up associated with governorship contests in Ogun State.

The recently published book, The Progressive Yayi, provides a revealing account of a political journey built on deliberate preparation, legislative experience, grassroots engagement, and developmental interventions spanning more than two decades. Beyond being a political biography, the book presents a case study in leadership readiness.

One of the most important leadership lessons is that opportunities favour those who prepare ahead of time. The most successful leaders do not wait for positions before developing competence, relationships, and capacity. They invest years building credibility before seeking higher responsibility. That principle appears evident in Yayi’s political and charitable trajectory.

From his days in the Lagos State House of Assembly to the House of Representatives, through his years in the Senate representing Lagos West and now Ogun West, his public service record demonstrates a pattern of progressively expanding responsibility. The book chronicles his involvement in fiscal reforms, public finance legislation, infrastructure development, educational support programmes, healthcare interventions, youth empowerment initiatives, and community development projects across different constituencies.

More importantly, the preparation was not limited to legislative accomplishments. It extended to people.

In politics, there are governors of government houses, and there are governors of the streets. The first derives authority from office. The second derives influence from the people. The latter often enjoy a deeper emotional connection with citizens because their legitimacy is rooted in direct engagement rather than institutional power.

Today, Yayi’s greatest political asset may not be his position as chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations or his extensive legislative experience. It may be his unusual connection with ordinary people.

Across Ogun West and increasingly across the three senatorial districts, many citizens see him as accessible, responsive, and visible. Whether through empowerment programmes, educational support, market interventions, community projects, healthcare initiatives, or direct personal philanthropy, he has invested heavily in building relationships at the grassroots level. That explains why his popularity appears to transcend conventional political structures.

The lesson for aspiring leaders is profound. Leadership is not built during campaigns; campaigns merely reveal the leadership capital accumulated over years.

The book documents numerous interventions that support this narrative. From educational scholarships and ICT training programmes to water projects, roads, transformers, healthcare facilities, youth empowerment initiatives, and market support schemes, the underlying philosophy appears consistent: create value before seeking greater responsibility.

This may also explain why many political observers believe that an open and competitive primary election would strengthen rather than weaken the eventual candidate of the ruling party.

Democracy functions best when aspirants test their popularity through transparent competition. Primaries provide legitimacy. They allow party members to assess competing visions, compare records, and ultimately make informed choices.

Where a candidate already enjoys significant grassroots support and widespread acceptability, a transparent primary process should be viewed as an opportunity to demonstrate strength rather than a threat to be avoided.

The history of progressive politics in Nigeria has often favoured competitive internal democracy. Strong candidates emerge stronger after testing their popularity. They enter general elections carrying not only the endorsement of party leaders but also the confidence that comes from securing the mandate of party members.

For leaders, there is another important lesson here. Entitlement rarely produces excellence.

When individuals believe positions should be handed to them without competition, preparation becomes less important. Innovation declines. Accountability weakens. Institutions suffer.

Conversely, when leadership positions are earned through performance, preparation, and popular support, governance benefits because the eventual office holder understands that legitimacy comes from the people.

Perhaps that is why the central message emerging from Yayi’s political story is not merely about ambition. It is about preparation.

The pages of The Progressive Yayi repeatedly reinforce a timeless leadership principle: prepare before opportunity arrives.

Whether one agrees with his politics or not, the evidence suggests that Senator Adeola has spent years preparing for larger responsibilities through legislative service, developmental interventions, relationship building, and grassroots engagement.

As the journey toward 2027 gathers momentum, that preparation may ultimately prove to be his strongest political argument. There is no doubt that the PDP candidate, Adebutu, is a credible candidate who gave Governor Dapo Abiodun a run for his money in the last election. However, the current tide with the waves of Yayi’s acceptability in the streets of Ogun State makes no one with a good chance to prevent people from having Solomon Adeola as their governor in 2027. Without an election, he is already the governor of the streets, awaiting the executive mandate to lead Ogun State to the next level.

In leadership, opportunity may open the door. Preparation determines who is ready to walk through it.

 

Babs Olugbemi, FCCA, is the Chief Vision Officer at Mentoras Leadership Limited and Founder of Positive Growth Africa. He can be reached at [email protected] or 07064176953 or on Twitter @Successbabs.