By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola has refuted the subtle allegation by a former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, that the project he facilitated for the renovation of Ake Pavilion Abeokuta was diverted to construction of a Library at Ewang Estate Extension also in Abeokuta.
The Daily Crucible reports that Amosun had through a statement by his aide, Lanre Akinwale, said that the Ake Pavilion Project was carried out by him from his personal resources, and not a constituency project, expressing surprise that a Library project, facilitated by Senator Adeola had the inscription tagged, “Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and other Facilities, Ogun State.”
Amosun argued that the inscription suggested that there was a budget in the Federal Appropriation for the Ake Pavilion, but diverted to an entirely different thing.
He stated, “Our attention has been drawn to a Library construction project at the Ewang Estate Extension, Abeokuta, facilitated by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (YAYI).
“However, the project board erected at the site of the Library project has a different inscription, tagged,
‘Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and other Facilities, Ogun State.’
Continuing, Amosun said:“What this simply connotes is that there is a budget in the Federal Appropriation for the Ake Pavilion project, which is being diverted to an entirely different project. Otherwise, how could the facilitator of the Library project inscribe a narration, entirely different from what he facilitated?
“To set the record straight, the Library project in question has no connection to the ongoing construction of the Ake Pavilion project by Senator Ibikunle Amosun. The Ake Pavilion project is Senator Amosun’s gift to the entire people of Abeokuta, and it’s being single-handedly funded by him.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is only one Ake Pavilion Project, and it is located at the Ake Palace Ground, Abeokuta. The project was conceptualized and designed as a tourist attraction centre by Senator Ibikunle Amosun during the twilight of his administration as Governor in 2019.
“The actual construction of the multi-functional Ake Pavilion started in 2020, and the project was never part of his constituency projects when he served as Ogun Central Senator (2019-2023).
“The Ake Pavilion project, which is 95 percent completed, contains an impressive 3,000-capacity Amphitheatre with an open performance area of about 3,000sqm, 3 Nos Banquet Halls of varying capacities ranging from 100 to 500, a Museum area showcasing the history of the four quarters (sections) of Abeokuta with shops for artefacts, books, Adire, administrative blocks, and other facilities, all financed by Senator Ibikunle Amosun through his personal resources.
“While Senator Amosun welcomes the facilitation of Federal Government-funded projects to Ogun State, it is essential to ensure that such projects are done with sincerity and without misrepresenting facts.
“We advise Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola to provide accurate information to the people of Ogun State, especially Abeokuta, regarding the Library project he facilitated to Ewang Estate Extension.”
Responding, however, Adeola, popularly called YAYI, said that there was no case of diversion involved, clarifying also that the particular project in question was not confined to Ake Pavilion alone.
He added that given the budgetary terminologies and wordings pertaining to the project, it was obvious that it could include construction of roads, school, library etc in Ogun state as determined by the implementing agency, facilitator of the project in the budget and based on availability of funds.
The Aremo of Yewaland who is also the Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation, offered the clarification through a statement by his media aide, Chief Kayode Odunaro, to erase the unnecessary wrong impression being created by Amosun that the budgetary allocation meant for the renovation of the Ake Pavilion was diverted towards the construction of the completed Library at Sam Ewang extension, Abeokuta.
The Senator acknowledged that there was indeed, a budget inclusion for the renovation of the Ake Pavilion following appeals to him from well meaning sons and daughters of Egbaland to complete the project that appeared abandoned at a time but resolved in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to construct a Library instead.
According to him, this decision to go for the library became necessary when it turned out that the Ake Pavilion under construction was a personal project of Amosun and had pledged to complete it in due course using his resources.
YAYI noted that if he had embarked on the Ake Pavilion renovation project, it would have invariably meant taking any glory from the ex – governor’s good gesture to his community.
Senator Adeola, therefore, reckoned that there was no need for the whipped up controversy on what was meant for the educational development of Ogun State, especially when he had facilitated similar projects at Ijebu Ode and elsewhere in the state.
Below is the statement in full
PRESS STATEMENT
NO DIVERSION INVOLVED IN AKE PAVILION AND LIBRARY PROJECT IN ABEOKUTA-SENATOR ADEOLA YAYI
The attention of Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West) and Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations has been drawn to a statement by Senator Ibikunle Amosun titled “ Construction of Ake Pavilion Project by Senator Ibikunle Amosun: Setting the Record Straight,” where it was implied that Senator Adeola diverted a project he facilitated for the renovation of Ake Pavilion to construction of a Library at Ewang Estate Extension in Abeokuta.
For the records, there is no case of diversion of project as insinuated based on the inscription on the signpost at the completed Library project. As stated in the statement of Senator Amosun, the inscription on the project is “Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and Other Facilities, Ogun State”. For those not conversant with budgetary terminologies the wordings “and other facilities, Ogun State” shows that the project was NOT confined to Ake Pavilion alone. Indeed, it could include construction of roads, school, library etc in Ogun state as determined by the implementing agency and facilitator of the project in the budget based on availability of funds. 
There was indeed, a budget inclusion for the renovation of Ake Pavilion following appeals to Senator Adeola from well meaning sons and daughters of Egbaland to complete the project that was seemingly abandoned for a period. What was not made known to Senator Adeola at the point of appeals was the fact that this was a personal project of Senator Amosun and his pledge to complete it in due course using his resources.
On realization of the involvement of Senator Amosun and the budget having been passed as stated in the project title, Senator Adeola shied away from taking any glory from Senator Amosun good gesture to his community and in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development decided on the construction of a Library in Ewang Estate Extension with the available funds released for the project.
Finally, there is nothing untoward in the inscription at the Library as that is what is contained in the ministry’s budget that was used to fund the project. It would have been otherwise if the signpost was placed at the Ake Pavilion under construction by Senator Amosun.
There is no need for wiping up controversy on what is meant for educational development of Ogun State as Senator Adeola has facilitated similar projects at Ijebu Ode and elsewhere in Ogun state.
Signed:
Chief Kayode Odunaro
Media Adviser to Senator Adeola
31st March, 2025
