Prince Dapo Abiodun is set to pass the baton to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola

One of the enduring beauties of a relay is the precision of the baton exchange. From the first stage to the final stretch, victory is not determined solely by individual speed, but also by the fluidity with which each rider transfers momentum to the next. In many ways, governance reflects this dynamic. Our progress and development as a nation is strengthened when leaders understand that borrowed power is not owned and wisdom lies in knowing when and how to return it.

For years, Ogun State’s political landscape has been characterized by attrition: fractious primaries, behind-the-scenes battles, betrayals and, at times, outright brinkmanship. AS Michelle Obama rightly says: “…the current problems of society [exist] because no one wants to abandon leadership; people hold on too long, beyond their usefulness and practicality.

This observation has had a strong resonance in our politics. However, Prince Dapo Abiodun is determined to change the narrative for the better. In a rare and commendable act, for the first time as governor, he seamlessly supported a party succession process characterized by consensus rather than conflict. One that has now led to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 elections.

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Remarkably, this transition has taken place without the turbulence, public discord, factional divisions and prolonged internal disputes of the past. This is a quiet but powerful recalibration of what political succession can and should look like.
True leadership recognizes true leadership
Our people have a popular saying: “a lion is not born a goat”. If roughly translated, it says that authenticity reproduces authenticity; strength recognizes and nourishes strength.
Over the past seven years, the Dapo Abiodun administration has guided Ogun State along a trajectory of measurable progress, anchored on its five pillars of development, code-named ISEYA: Infrastructure, Social Welfare and Welfare, Education, Youth Empowerment and Job Creation, and Agriculture.

The results of this governance philosophy are not merely rhetorical; they are empirical. The state’s economy has expanded significantly, with GDP growing from N3.5 trillion to N18.9 trillion. Internally generated revenue increased by about 270% from N50.9 billion to N194.93 billion, unemployment fell from 16.4% to 8.8% and infrastructure development saw the construction of over 1,200 kilometers of roads. In the housing sector, more than 10,000 upper-middle income units have been developed in the three senatorial districts.

These data, taken together, point to a governance model focused on both scale and sustainability. Yet, beyond these parameters, there is something more consequential: the deliberate effort to institutionalize continuity. By aligning his successor with the existing development blueprint, Prince Dapo Abiodun is not simply preparing to relinquish power; is planning the transfer of a framework for lasting progress.

Now, as he prepares to pass the baton, the choice of Sen Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (alias YAYI) is an investment in continuity, ensuring that the good work done by Dapo Abiodun is not truncated. While others might think about themselves. Dapo Abiodun is interested in fostering a legacy for the people of Ogun State. One who builds on the gains of the present while working towards the future.

As the curtain of Dapo Abiodun’s tenure as governor draws to a close, we must remember that what matters is not how well you start, but how well you finish. In a system often accustomed to chaos, Prince Dapo Abiodun has run his race well and is ready to pass the baton with joy.