MONOLOGUE
For those who are abreast of the events as they unfold, one may be curious to know the secret behind the perpetual political relevance of a political gladiator with Yewa-Awori origin; Honourable Abiodun Akinlade Isiaq, following his present appointment as Federal Commissioner at the Federal Character Commission from Ogun State at a time when some were presuming the death of his political career. Hence, it will be of great interest to read and know parts of the derns behind his unbeatable template.
PREAMBLE
In appreciation of Honourable Abiodun Akinlade’s political dynamism for laying a formidable foundation for all political adherents in Ogun State (Ogun West especially) which will be a good path for them to trek, the youths in the state, especially Ogun West have conferred on him different appellations like Game Changer, Job Portal, Baba omo keekeke (Father of the younger ones) and so on. In the process of acknowledging his resilience in giving the dividends of politics to everyone and giving hope to the hopeless graduates, many awards and titles have been conferred on him, which ‘Baba Adinni’ happens to be one of the titles he loves so much. This is because the title happens to be an additional golden feather to his glorious cap for his religiosity.
ANTECEDENT
What better proof does anyone need to be convinced that Honourable Abiodun Akinlade Isiaq was born under the proverbial lucky star?
Hon. Abiodun Akinlade is by every means a child of destiny and harbinger of joy considering the circumstances of his antecedent. He will always lead and triumph in whatever he lays his hands on. His secrets are no more secrets to the wise; he has always worked on his philosophy of making people happy to secure the pleasure of his Creator, while his second secret emanated from the transmission of the genetic qualities of his parents (heredity). His late great grandfather was such a leader who selflessly led the people of Isaga Ile and Kuole village to Ado-Odo to escape a brutal attack by Idahomeh Woman-warrior during the Egba-Idahomeh war in 18th century. On the strength of the forgoing, his grandfather, Late Abdul Azeez Akinlade was also a good and enviable leader who diplomatically developed a good relationship among the Awori people of Ado-Odo. A gesture that earned him a charismatic authority among them. This was the reason why he never had opposition in the course of becoming their community cum religious (Baba Adinni) leader. As if that was not enough, his father (Oko Amope) was also made the Baba Adinni of Owode Yewa for his selfless contributions to the development of the community. More fascinating is how Hon. Akinlade was unanimously made to plunge the position of Baba Adinni of the whole Yewa Land for his positive and developmental contributions to Yewa-Awori communities. No doubt, selfless and excellent leadership is hereditary in his wonderful lineage.
OFF NIGERIAN POLITICS
Hitherto, most people misconceive Akinlade’s magical triumph in political realm to be in the confinement of luck. Albeit, Akinlade as said earlier is one of the luckiest politicians Ogun State ever produced, however, his ardency for not just leadership but selfless and quality leadership has started reflecting in him when he served as the Students’ Union Trasurer at The Polytechnic Ibadan where he became one of the best Students’ Union Executives the Polytechnic ever had.
Before Honourable Akinlade went for his Master Degree at Ekiti State University in the year 2000, he was employed as an Account Officer at Automania Nigeria Limited (the firm that pioneered Auto-Fair in Nigeria) in 1993. Going back to his trait, he wonderfully rose to the position of General Manager of the Company within 7 years. This type of feat is the first and the last in the history of the Company. He was indeed born with leadership gene.
BINOCULAR VISION
Unlike most Nigerians in the Ivory Tower, Honourable Akinlade wears a binocular spectacle with which he sees life differently from what most people see. He is able to see the present and the future with his binocular spectacle. This is evident, not only in his demonstration of selflessness, patriotism and benevolent altruism, but also in his determination to make his origin and his people great. In 2001, he, along with other young intellectuals in Yewa/Awori region co-founded Yewa Awori Youth Agenda Forum (YAYAF), a pressure group established to address the socio-political and economic marginalization of Yewa/Awori land.
Honourable Akinlade’s dimensional roles in the Forum gave insight for people to notice his forte which accorded him the privilege of being selected as part of the vibrant young delegations from the Forum to discuss Yewa/Awori’s marginalization and quest for governorship with the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Having realised that to make a change and liberate his people and his region go beyond distanced activism, Honourable Akinlade decided to get involved in partisan politics and resigned from his juicy position as the General Manager of Automania Nigeria Limited in 2002. When Akinlade noticed that his spectacle with which he sees things with, is different from that of those he met in politics, he did not care about his age and novelty in politics, he decided to contest to represent Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency at the age of 36 and he was elected as Member, Federal House of Representatives. Like a stopping car with quest for fuel to start moving, Honourable Abiodun Ishaq Akinlade started making unprecedented impacts in his region and beyond. His resilience made his people to re-elect him and made him to represent them in the Federal House of Representatives for 12 consecutive years.
Jack of all trade, they say, is master of none. Abiodun Akinlade did not promise anybody uninterrupted electricity, neither did he promise anybody good road or security (because they are not under his power) while he was contesting, however, he made a decision to facilitate Agencies that will invariably benefit his region and State and to also search for employments wherever they are in order to give to his people. His people are enraptured to see him facilitating Federal Government Jobs for the hopeless graduates. Since the area he chose is liberation (of his people and region), Akinlade did not limit his kind gestures to the educated ones, he also extended his tentacles to the uneducated ones by empowering them in diverse ways. Surprisingly, Honourable Akinlade Abiodun has done all of these (even when he was not holding any elective position), still doing them and has promised to continue doing more. Thus, we can conclude that Akinlade came into politics because of his people and his region.
PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE
Honourable Akinlade’s philosophy can be best discussed under two branches of philosophy; Metaphysics and Logic.
In a nutshell, this God sent political gladiator has intelligently interpolated the two branches of philosophy to satisfy the duo of his political camp and the masses.
“If I don’t get you federal job, would Government add your salary to my salary?” (Akinlade).
His adventurous voyage in search of jobs for people is such a herculean task that cannot be perpetual except for he who is sent and committed to doing it. As severally said by Honourable Akinlade, he loves to see reflection of joy on the faces of his people and that is why he is committed to empowering people in diverse ways.
More fascinating is his love to move and work with downtrodden youth and not limit himself to the elite of his caliber.
Honourable Akinlade’s philosophy of winning and dinning with the people of his origin is another thing that distinguishes him from other politicians. He has never been seen boasting of the type of schools he attended but always proud of the community primary and secondary schools he attended.
By implication, his philosophy about life has been working and pushing him into the climax.
MENTORSHIP
The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves” (Steven Spielberg). Honourable Akinlade is a type of mentor who allows his mentees to see the hope inside themselves. He has long realized that spoon feeding, in the long run, teaches nothing but the shape of the spoon. To eschew all forms of hyperbole, Honourable Abiodun Akinlade has built more than One Hundred potential future permanent secretaries and directors of various federal government ministries and agencies.
Politically, Akinlade has set a formidable template in the region where he hailed from.
He has become a mentor to a lot of people (far and near) who want to pitch their tents with Nigerian political paradigm.
CALL TO ACTION
The most dangerous woe that can befall a nation is when the good people in that nation are not allowed or refuse to be in the position of leadership. Deductively, Honourable Akinlade is well known for his simplicity in pursuing his political career. He is ready to forgo anything that seems too cloudy at the expense of his desire, especially when forgoing it will still favour his region. However, we cannot afford to toy with our future at a time when the delicacy of political offices is becoming higher. Honourable Akinlade should note that one of the penalties of refusing to take the post of leadership is that you end up being governed by your inferiors (excerpted from Plato’s quote). We also want Honourable Akinlade to realize that he is a leader and we still want him in the position of leadership; “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader” (John Quincy Adams).
It is on this stance that youth of Ogun West call on Honourable Abiodun Akinlade Isaq to remain resolute and come out to represent his people at the Upper Chamber during 2023 general elections. We have the conviction that your representation will not only help Ogun West but Ogun State and Nigeria at large.
EPILOGUE
Politics was once upon a time perceived to be a wealth acquiring machine by some of us, however, Honourable Akinlade came to the limelight and changed the narratives. We did believe that hoping to get any benefit from Federal Government is a mirage until he appeared and he continues to keep a lot of hopes alive. This is the rationale behind the people of Ogun West yearning for his representation at the Senate.
Distinguished reader, with all sense of solidarity and patriotism, I present to you Honourable ABIODUN AKINLADE ISAQ as a befitting candidate with rich biography and outstanding performance to represent OGUN WEST at the SENATE in 2023. He is tested and trusted, he sleeps and wakes up around his people, he doesn’t buy a house and live in Victoria Island despite the fact that he can afford it, he knows the problems of his people, he is aware of the wants of his people, he is experienced and endowed with maximum integrity and simplicity. Let us all support his aspirations for the progress of our dear region.
Dear progressive minds, we need somebody like this to go there and pave way for us to ply to get what we want.
I hope to see my region as part of those who contribute positively to the growth Nigeria.
May God Almighty spare the life of this fantabulous gem and guide him with divine guidance to be able to do more.
Egunleti Fatai Olalekan writes from Alagbon, Yewa South, Ogun State.
