The people and traditional leadership of the Kemta townships in Abeokuta South, Ogun State, on Saturday staged a colourful homecoming for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, publicly presenting him as one of their own in a ceremony steeped in culture and tradition.
The event, organised by the Kemta communities, was in recognition of Adeola’s maternal roots, with community leaders saying his late mother hailed from Kemta Odutolu in Itoku, Abeokuta.
The ceremony began at Kemta Odutolu, in front of the Adire/Kampala Mall in Itoku, where Adeola was warmly received by members of the community, including the Oluwo of Kemta, traditional chiefs, members of the Bridge led by Adejoke Somoye (popularly known as Ewaede), and leaders of the various Kemta townships.
The gathering marked the commencement of the grand homecoming organised by the community in honour of the senator, whose late mother hailed from Kemta Odutolu.
From the Adire/Kampala Mall, the Oluwo of Kemta led the chiefs, community leaders and hundreds of residents in a colourful procession to the Alake’s Palace at Ake.
Adeola rode on horseback while decorated chariots, cultural troupes, drummers and singing residents accompanied the procession through major streets of Abeokuta, drawing cheers from onlookers who lined the route.
At the Alake’s Palace, Chief Abiodun Rotimi, on behalf of the Kemta townships, formally presented Adeola to the Alake of Egbaland as a son of the soil, explaining that the senator’s late mother hailed from Kemta Odutolu in Itoku, Abeokuta.
The presentation, led by the Oluwo of Kemta, symbolically affirmed Adeola’s maternal ancestry and his acceptance by the Kemta communities.
Residents said the elaborate homecoming was organised to celebrate Adeola’s ancestral ties to the community through his late mother and to reaffirm his place among the sons of Kemta.
It was gathered that the cost of organising the event estimated at about N100 million.
The homecoming featured traditional music, cultural performances and massive participation by residents, who turned out in large numbers to witness what many described as a historic reception for the senator.Responding, the Alake expressed joy over Yayi’s homecoming and prayed extensively for him and for a better Ogun State.
Yayi described the turnout as a “wake-up call” ahead of 2027.
“I’m seeing it as a wake-up call. That the people of Kemta are appreciative that their son is going for the post of the Governorship of this state and they are ready to come fully behind him,” he said.
“If elected, I have set the bar. The bar is crystal clear. I am for development so the development will go all round and Ogun State is to witness another tremendous development and consolidate on the vein of the current administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun.”
Princess Somoye said the homecoming was “significant” because “Yayi’s mother is a native of Kemta which means that Yayi is a Kemta son.”
