Aminatu Abiola, the stepmother of Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has dismissed claims that the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State has any connection to Ekiti State.
Abiola made the clarification in a viral video on Friday while responding to allegations by some of Adeola’s political opponents that he is an indigene of Ekiti.
Adeola, who represents Ogun West in the Senate, emerged as the consensus governorship candidate of the APC in Ogun State. His claim to Ogun ancestry, however, has become a subject of controversy ahead of the election.
In separate interviews with Channels TV in August and September, suspended APC member Abayomi Hunye and Peoples Democratic Party chieftain Folake Marcus-Bello alleged that Adeola is from Ekiti State.
Marcus-Bello claimed that Adeola’s father was buried in Ekiti while his mother was buried in Epe, Lagos State.
Adeola subsequently challenged those making the allegations to produce evidence within 24 hours or face legal action.
Speaking in the viral video, Abiola, who described herself as the first wife of Adeola’s late father, Oteko Ayinde, rejected the claims and said neither Adeola’s father nor mother had roots in Ekiti.
“I’m Alhaja Aminatu Abiola, senior wife of Oteko Ayinde, who gave birth to Yayi. I hail from Iworoko in Ekiti. On these things I’m about to say, if I tell a lie, let the creator of all Ogun people judge me,” she said in Yoruba.
“But anyone that claims Yayi hails from Ekiti, may the creator punish such a person. Yayi is never related to Ekiti.
“I’m the first woman Ayinde (Yayi’s father) married during his lifetime. He first learnt plumbing work during his youth days. Later on, at some point, he married another woman named Mujida from Ijebu as the second wife.
“She was the one that chased me out of our husband’s house. But I gave birth to two children for Ayinde. One is called Ayi, and the second is named Fatima, who is late but left behind some children.
“Ayi, my child, is the first child of Yayi’s father. People also call her Iya Ibeji. So please, anyone that claims he or she knows Yayi’s father’s house in Ekiti should come out and show me.
“Yayi is not related to Ekiti. Neither his father nor his mother hails from Ekiti. Yayi’s mother is from Ogun. Anyone that claims Yayi has any connection with Ekiti other than me, his stepmother, should come out and bring out his proof.”
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Abiola also disputed the claim that Adeola’s father was buried in Ekiti, insisting that the burial took place in Lagos.
“We buried Ayinde in Lagos, not Ekiti. His company’s name is Oteko,” she said.
“His mother is Alhaja Lamlatu, and she’s from Owo. She has two children: Ayinde and Iya Kudi, who died a long time ago.”
The woman further said Adeola’s father died more than three decades ago, when the politician was still young and had not entered politics.
“It’s been over 30 years. Yayi had nothing at that time and had not even joined politics,” she said.
“His birth name is Sule; he was born a Muslim. But he changed his name to Olamilekan when he became a Christian. He is not from Ekiti.”
Abiola maintained that she was prepared to testify if the dispute over Adeola’s ancestry eventually went to court.
“I can’t be as old as this and still be lying. He (Yayi) is not related to Ekiti. He doesn’t have a wife in Ekiti nor school there,” she said.
“Anyone that claims to know his father’s house in Ekiti should come out and prove it to me.
“You that claimed you’re heading to court, anytime you do so, I will bear witness for Yayi. You will tell me who he is and where he hails from in Ekiti.”
She also appealed to residents of Yewa to support Adeola, describing him as a “true son of the soil”.
“People of Yewa, please support me. God will support you. You know what Yayi has done since he came among you. He is not a bastard,” she said.
“It was early death that made Yayi’s father not take all his children home in Ogun state. Yayi is a son of Yewa, while his mother is from Abeokuta.”