The absence of Senator Yayi at the 2025 Ojude Oba Festival reveals a complex mix of political interests, miscommunication, and cultural tensions as factions clash over chairmanship decisions
Senator Yayi absence at Ojude Oba has stirred intense debate following the revelation of intricate political tensions, logistical setbacks and unresolved factional rivalries that ultimately kept the Ogun West senator from attending the prestigious 2025 cultural event in Ijebu-Ode.
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Sources close to the festival’s planning committee disclosed that the original intention of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, was to invite either President Bola Tinubu or First Lady Remi Tinubu as the chairman of the event.
However, the monarch’s recent ill health reportedly disrupted this outreach, leaving the organisers without their preferred choice in the final days leading up to the celebration.
In a bid to maintain the event’s stature, a notable monarch within the region proposed Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, also known as Yayi, as a worthy substitute.
Nonetheless, the committee hesitated, banking on a last-minute recovery from the Awujale to engage the presidency directly.
This delay opened the floodgates to political jockeying that would unravel publicly. Three influential blocs began asserting divergent positions.
The first were Yayi’s loyalists within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who saw the opportunity as a way to consolidate influence ahead of future elections.
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The second group, sympathetic to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), quietly resisted the senator’s elevation due to his perceived advantage over their own political figure, Ladi Adebutu.
The third bloc, known as the Ijebu Lokan group, was unequivocally opposed. Made up of Ijebu elites pushing for a homegrown governorship bid in Ogun State, they perceived Yayi’s prominence as a political threat.
Initially divided, the PDP sympathisers and Ijebu Lokan elements reportedly found common ground when posts on social media prematurely announced Yayi as the confirmed event chairman.
The announcement, which was not officially ratified by the committee, was seen as presumptuous and alienating.
Tensions escalated further when a write-up from Yayi’s supporters defending his suitability was perceived by some as inflammatory, further entrenching opposition among the Ijebu Lokan leaders.
The situation was further complicated by the continued absence of the Awujale’s direct intervention due to his health.
The official event programme, printed and distributed days before the festival—reflected this uncertainty, bearing no reference to the President, First Lady, or Senator Yayi.
Also read: Ojude Oba 2025: How an outgoing governor usurped Awujale’s traditional role over politics
According to one insider, security sources advised the senator to avoid the event entirely, following credible intelligence that some disgruntled elements had orchestrated plans to publicly embarrass him.
With no formal invitation extended and the risk of confrontation growing, Senator Yayi reportedly opted to stay away to preserve the festival’s dignity and avoid inflaming existing political divides.
“This was not a decision taken lightly,” a source stated. “But it was clear that his presence would have deepened the division and perhaps even disrupted the peace of the gathering.”
This unfolding saga mirrors a broader political dynamic playing out in Ogun State, as traditional celebrations like the Ojude Oba and Lisabi Festival increasingly become stages for power struggles, succession debates, and regional aspirations.
In the end, Senator Yayi absence at Ojude Oba may have saved the day from open discord, but it has also exposed the fragile alliance of culture and politics in one of Nigeria’s most culturally vibrant states.
Source: Read more at thecable.ng
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
