Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, has reiterated his commitment to transforming Ilaro and its environs into a “Small London,” declaring that the town is already witnessing significant infrastructural development through projects facilitated during his tenure as senator representing Ogun West.

Adeola made the declaration at a programme organised by Ilaro Parapo for Yayi, themed “Unity, Development and Political Future of Ilaro District,” which attracted thousands of indigenes of Ilaro District in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Addressing the gathering, the APC governorship candidate said his vision of turning Ilaro into a modern urban centre was backed by deliberate efforts to improve infrastructure, healthcare, education, security, electricity and road networks across the community.

He maintained that the developments recorded so far reflected his determination to fulfil the promise he made to the people at the inception of his senatorial mandate.

“I made a promise to turn Ilaro and environs into a ‘Small London,’ and I have worked seriously towards it in the areas of infrastructural development that I facilitated for the town,” he said.

Adeola also highlighted his role in the proposed transformation of Ilaro into a university town, citing the enactment of legislation to upgrade the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, to the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro.

According to him, the initiative would further strengthen the town’s educational profile, stimulate economic activities and create opportunities for residents and businesses.

YAYI TARGETS OVER 60,000 VOTES FROM ILARO

Looking ahead to the forthcoming electoral contest, Adeola urged residents to support him and other APC candidates, describing their votes as an investment in the future development of Ilaro, Ogun West and the entire state.

He expressed confidence that his record of projects and development initiatives would translate into substantial electoral support, setting a target of more than 60,000 votes from Ilaro District in Yewa South Local Government Area.

The senator maintained that continued support for the APC would provide an opportunity to consolidate on the achievements recorded so far and extend development to more communities across Ogun State.

ILARO INDIGENES PLEDGE MASSIVE SUPPORT

In his welcome address, Omoba Segun Adewale, popularly known as OSA, described Adeola as a son of Ilaro, expressing confidence that the community would rally behind his governorship ambition.

Adewale said Ilaro indigenes were prepared to mobilise support for the APC candidate, disclosing that the community was targeting 100 per cent votes from the 80,000 registered voters who had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He said the proposed support for Adeola was driven not only by the infrastructure and development projects attributed to him but also by the longstanding quest for Ogun West Senatorial District to produce a governor of the state.

According to Adewale, the district’s aspiration to occupy the governorship position represents a major political consideration for the people, who believe the time has come for Ogun West to produce the state’s chief executive after decades of waiting.

He, however, stressed that Adeola’s ambition should be viewed beyond the immediate interests of Ilaro and Ogun West, arguing that his development agenda had extended to other parts of Ogun State.

“Voting for Senator Adeola Yayi is not only for projects and development in Ilaro and Ogun West but for all Ogun State, as he has started work in other senatorial districts of the state,” Adewale stated.

ACADEMICS CALL FOR UNITY, POLITICAL CONSOLIDATION

The programme also featured presentations by three academics of Ilaro origin: Professor Tope Popoola, Professor Taiwo Edun and Dr. Mukhail Akinde.

The scholars delivered papers on the theme of the gathering, emphasising the importance of unity, collective political engagement and a shared development vision for Ilaro District.

They also appealed to the people to close ranks and mobilise massive electoral support for Adeola, stressing the need for a united front in advancing the political and developmental aspirations of the community.

Their contributions underscored the central message of the event: that unity among Ilaro indigenes would be crucial to pursuing the community’s interests in the wider political landscape of Ogun State.

TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, APC STAKEHOLDERS ATTEND

Dignitaries at the event included the Minister of State for Health and Social Services, Dr. Kunle Salako; a former Third Republic legislator, Hon. Muftau Ajibola; the Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Latefat Ajayi; and the APC senatorial candidate for Ogun West, Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele.

Others included Engr. Tommy Akintomide and Chief Mrs. Iyabo Apampa, alongside other political leaders and stakeholders.

The gathering provided a platform for political mobilisation, discussions on Ilaro’s development priorities and renewed calls for unity ahead of the next electoral contest.

With Adeola projecting his infrastructure record as a major selling point and community leaders promising substantial electoral backing, Ilaro is emerging as a key constituency in the APC candidate’s efforts to consolidate support across Ogun West and extend his appeal to the wider state.

The success of the mobilisation drive, however, will ultimately be determined by voters at the polls.

The Senate on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution declaring that there is no vacancy in the office of the Senate President, currently occupied by Senator Godswill Akpabio, amid what lawmakers described as political attacks against the leadership of the upper legislative chamber.

The resolution followed remarks by Akpabio during plenary, where he cautioned against the misrepresentation of his comments on a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria.

Akpabio said his contributions to the debate had been taken out of context, insisting that he would not make disparaging remarks about any religion. He also stressed that terrorism should not be associated with any particular religion, arguing that those responsible for destabilising the country should not be defined by religious identity.

The Senate President explained that his comments on the proposed legislation were made in the context of ongoing legislative deliberations and contemporary approaches to lawmaking.

He further disclosed that his aide-de-camp (ADC), who had served him for 19 years, was a Muslim, adding that his personal and professional relationships reflected his respect for different religious beliefs.

Speaking amid the controversy, Akpabio said the offices of President and Vice-President had already been settled, suggesting that the Senate Presidency had become a target of political attacks.

Supporting the resolution, Senator Fasuyi backed a motion moved by Senator Monguno, affirming that the Senate President’s seat was not vacant and would remain occupied by Akpabio.

Similarly, Senator Babangida Hussaini expressed support for Akpabio’s continued leadership, highlighting his contributions to his state and endorsing his return. Hussaini also called for urgent action to tackle hard drugs and substance abuse, which he linked to criminality, banditry and terrorism.

The controversy stemmed from Tuesday’s plenary, when the Senate considered a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide and establish a framework for suicide prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

During the debate, Senator Asuquo, who presented the bill, argued that survivors of suicide attempts should receive medical and psychological care rather than face prosecution and imprisonment.

He explained that the proposed legislation would replace criminal punishment with a coordinated system of clinical assessment, treatment, referrals and follow-up support for survivors.

According to him, the bill would also provide a legal and institutional framework for suicide prevention involving government agencies, healthcare facilities, first responders and communities.

Asuquo maintained that criminalising attempted suicide could discourage vulnerable people from seeking help and potentially compel some to take more drastic measures out of fear of imprisonment.

However, Akpabio was reported to have responded that attempted suicide remained a criminal offence under the existing legal framework, making remarks that subsequently generated public controversy.

The proposed legislation seeks to shift Nigeria’s response to attempted suicide from punishment to prevention, medical intervention and rehabilitation, ensuring that survivors can access appropriate care.

The Senate’s Thursday resolution declaring that there is no vacancy in the Senate Presidency came amid the public debate surrounding Akpabio’s comments, with lawmakers expressing support for his continued leadership of the chamber.

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has described the broad political support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council as an unusual development in Nigeria’s democratic history.

Soludo made the observation on Wednesday, October 14, in Abuja, noting that the participation of political leaders and stakeholders from different party affiliations reflected a significant level of cross-party cooperation around the President’s re-election bid.

In his remarks, the governor, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said his party’s support for Tinubu was driven by shared interests in national unity, security and economic prosperity.

He pointed to the presence of approximately 31 governors at the gathering as an indication of the broad political alignment surrounding the President, while the participation of political figures across party lines underscored the growing dynamics of political cooperation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, also defended the economic direction of the Tinubu administration, describing its policy approach as *pragmatic progressivism*.

Drawing on his background in economics, he argued that the administration had demonstrated a willingness to confront longstanding structural challenges and implement difficult reforms aimed at stabilising the economy and laying the foundation for sustainable growth.

According to the governor, the administration’s economic decisions should be assessed against the structural challenges confronting Nigeria, as well as the broader objectives of fiscal stability, economic recovery and national prosperity.

While acknowledging the wider debate over the impact of economic reforms on ordinary Nigerians, Soludo maintained that addressing deep-rooted economic challenges required difficult policy choices and sustained commitment to reform.

His participation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council inauguration, despite his membership of APGA, further highlighted the evolving nature of political alliances and cross-party engagement in Nigeria.

In a review of the event, the Media and Publicity Team of the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals (FORCEPA) identified Soludo’s intervention as a significant contribution to discussions on economic policy, political consensus and national development ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

FORCEPA emphasised the importance of effective public institutions in translating government policies into measurable development outcomes, promoting accountability and ensuring that credible information on public-sector performance is accessible to Nigerians.

The Forum noted that sustained political engagement and objective assessments of economic policies remain essential to strengthening democratic governance and advancing national development.