Youths in the ten wards of Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State on Wednesday expressed support and solidarity for the continuity bid of the serving Speaker of the Ogun State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, and for the candidature of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as Governor of the state.
The youths, under the aegis of APC Odeda LG Datiemo Grassroots Youth Group, emphasized the need to correct the misguided claim of the Youth 'O'Clock group that the constituency seat be given to another person in the coming 2027 election. They cited the need to support and outlined the positive impacts of Rt. Hon. Elemide on the constituents and Ogun State as a whole,as issues that prompted gathering.
The support followed the endorsement of Adebayo Olayemi Sanusi, son of the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was being touted as a candidate for the Assembly seat by the Local Government Youth Leader, Timothy Odedina. Odedina had argued at a meeting on Tuesday that it was time for a youth to represent the local government and called on the Speaker to relinquish the position.
Eight ward youth leaders from the 10 wards reaffirmed their strong support for Rt. Hon. Elemide's continuity while addressing journalists. The Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Oyedele Adebayo, declared that Elemide has demonstrated effective leadership and deserves another term as the constituency's representative. He emphasized that the youths would prefer continuity and experience instead of a neophyte in the State Assembly.
"We are here to show our support for Hon. Elemide as our representative in the Ogun State House of Assembly," Adebayo said. "We do not want the speakership seat to elude the local government. We are also here to denounce any group called 'Youth O'Clock.' They have no locus standi to adopt any aspirant without due consultation with other youth leaders in the local government."
Various youth leaders highlighted Elemide's transformational drive and developmental initiatives in the area, including the rehabilitation of Kila-Olodo expressway and the installation of a transformer in the Odogba community. They expressed optimism that further progress would come through collaboration with Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (popularly known as Yayi).
Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Local Government, SLG Hon. Oyedele Adebayo, described the gathering as a deliberate show of strength and unity aimed at defending the speakership seat currently held by Odeda.
“We are here to show our support for the Right Honourable Oludaisi Olusegun Elemide, the Speaker of Ogun State, to continue his work as our representative in the House of Assembly,” he said.
“Out of the 10 wards in Odeda, we have youth leaders from seven wards present here today, including my deputy youth leader. We mobilised ourselves across the local government to achieve this common goal.”
The youths highlighted key development projects executed under Elemide’s leadership, including rural electrification of several villages, the rehabilitation of Osiele Road, the donation of transformers, and the renovation of a primary school and a primary healthcare centre within the constituency.
During the mobilisation, the youths also outrightly rejected and knocked out any purported endorsement of the Ogun State of one Adebayo Olayemi Sanusi the APC chairman’s son for the House of Assembly seat, insisting that such a move does not reflect the collective will or interest of the youths across Odeda.
Addressing claims surrounding a so-called “Youth O’Clock” agenda, all seven youth leaders;Odeda,Itesi,Olodo,Osiele,Obantoko,Alagbagba present at the programme dismissed the existence of any opposition bloc in the local government.
“They said there is a group calling themselves ‘Youth O’Clock’. We are not ready for that, and we don’t believe there is any ‘Youth O’Clock’ movement anywhere in Odeda Local Government,” they said in unison.
Comrade Oshibanjo Sunday Adeyinka, ward 7 Obantoko youth leader, outlined Hon. Elemide’s positive and impactful stride in the local government as a reason for supporting the speaker.
According to Mr Magbadelo Sunday of Ilugun ward 5 credited Elemide with facilitating developmental initiatives in the area, including the rehabilitation of Kila–Olodo expressway, expressing optimism that further progress would come through collaboration with Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (popularly known as Yayi).
They appealed to APC leaders at all levels to protect Odeda’s existing political gains, stressing that the council already produces a Senator, the state party chairman, and the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“Our fathers and mothers are watching our actions. We appeal to our leaders not to put us to shame by allowing Odeda to lose the speakership seat,” he added.
While appreciating Governor Dapo Abiodun for what they described as opportunities and development initiatives extended to the local government, the youths unanimously echoed the call for the continuity of Rt. Hon. Elemide, insists that Odeda cannot afford to lose the speakership position.
Prominent APC figures present at the mobilisation included E.S. Olaleye, Special Adviser to the Governor; Hon. Banji Olaogun; Olafunke Olaogun, popularly known as the Iron Lady; Mrs Kehinde Iyaoba; Hon. Kola Soberu; Hon. Olalekan Olugba, and other notable political stakeholders in the local government.
Special Assistants to the Governor on Legislative matters and Political matters, Olaleye Oladimeji and Oluseye Somorin, called on party leaders to prioritize unity and consider Elemide's legislative experience and developmental track record when selecting the party's candidate for the Assembly seat.
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