By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
The Media Adviser to the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, has explained why his principal changed his name from Sulaimon Ogunleye to Solomon Adeola, saying the change followed his conversion from Islam to Christianity.
Adeola’s media aide, Kayode Odunaro, gave the explanation while responding to questions surrounding the politician’s identity and name ahead of the 2027 Ogun State governorship election.
According to Odunaro, Adeola was born into a Muslim family and was known as Sulaimon Ogunleye before later embracing Christianity and adopting the name Solomon.
He said the name change occurred years before Adeola entered politics and was therefore unrelated to his current political career.
“Many people at some point in life have had cause to change their names. Even the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, once changed his name. His original name wasn’t Atiku Abubakar,” Odunaro said.
He explained that Adeola’s decision to adopt Solomon was connected to his change of religion, noting that Solomon is the biblical equivalent of Sulaimon.
“He was Sulaimon Ogunleye, but changing his religion from Islam to Christianity made him change his name.
“Solomon is the biblical name for Sulaimon. His father’s name is Ogunleye and Adeola. He only chose Adeola as his surname,” he added.
Odunaro said Adeola had already begun using the name Solomon Adeola while working at The Guardian, long before he ventured into politics.
His explanation followed recent allegations by a former chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo, who claimed that Adeola was originally known as Sulaimon Ogunleye and was from Ekiti State.
Adeola subsequently demanded that Adedayo and others who had made similar claims provide evidence or face legal action.
However, Odunaro maintained that the senator’s change of name was not evidence of wrongdoing, stressing that people could change their names for personal, religious or other reasons.
He said the explanation should put to rest questions surrounding why the Ogun governorship candidate moved from the name Sulaimon Ogunleye to Solomon Adeola.
