“Yunus Akintunde has surpassed our expectations on performances and quality representation and we are all proud of your achievements”
Those were the words of highly respected Senator Ayoade Adeseun a former Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District the position currently occupied by Senator Yunus Abiodun Akintunde while he was a special guest at Oba Adeyemi Arcade, Oyo town where he witnessed one of the several Empowerment Initiatives of Senator Yunus Akintunde.
Leadership in governance is pivotal and critical to societal growth and development.
While many constituencies are groping and groaning in dire search for benevolent and responsible leadership, Oyo Central Senatorial District is privileged to have Dr Yunus Akintunde in the saddle of leadership as a serving Senator at this critical stage of repositioning agenda for national economic growth and development.
Combining the unusual capacity of intellectual prowess, rare intelligence, with political suaveness, years of corporate and public governance exposure and Omoluabi ethos, he has expertly and steadily delivered beyond expectations on both legislative functions and the much expected constituency empowerment programs for his Oyo Central Senatorial District and beyond.
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At the Red Chamber, Akintunde is the Chairman of Senate House Committee on Environment, Vice Chairman of House Committee on Police Service Commission and prominent member of several other notable Committees, his unique style of excellent relationship management with the leadership of the Senate and distinguished colleagues apparently would showcase him standing tall among equals leaving many to wonder if truly he is a first timer at the Senate.
Akintunde wields so much influence with extraordinary confidence and maturity endearing him to many top notch players within the polity both at the National Assembly and within government and professional cirles.
Unknown to many folks, Akintunde has been groomed and prepared for the current assignment while serving in different capacities in governance since the advent of the fourth republic not counting the years of his vibrant youthful participation as a young fellow in the youth wing of UPN led by the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Bola Ige the cisero of Esa Oke.
Yunus Akintunde had served as Commissioner in Oyo State Civil Service Commission during Late Lam Adesina era, Commissioner of Works and later Executive Assistant during Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi where he was a very strong member of the cabinet and a dependable ally, highly respected in the formation of the government during Senator Ajimobi’s first term tenure.
Vintage Yunus has unparalleled academic achievements and you have to be quite very intelligent to relate with him and cope with his vast and fast nature and style of management.
He holds his first and masters degrees in Physics from the Lagos State University Ojo Lagos and hold the first PhD in Energy Studies at the University of Ibadan.
Those are few lines to introduce the man Dr. Yunus Abiodun Akintunde the Distinguished Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District at the Senate.
On the turfs of performance and delivery on his various legislative functions at the Senate, Senator Akintunde has to his credits several bills and readings quite impactful to benefit both his immediate constituents and the nation at large.
The bills targeting the conversion of two prominent Colleges of Education into full fledged University Degree awarding institutions have passed through the second reading stages at the Senate.
In no distant future the Federal College of Education Special Oyo and the School of Survey also in Oyo will be upgraded to Full University Degree status courtesy of the sterling efforts of Senator Yunus Akintunde.
Earlier at the Senate just shortly after inauguration, Akintunde had championed the enforcement of reversal of increase in electricity tarrif to be implemented just immediately after the federal government removed the fuel subsidy which already had created unimaginable initial stress on Nigerians, promptly the Federal Government complied and reversed the decision. At least there was some relief and succor pending when stakeholders did a comprehensive appraisal for gradual reengineering of the electricity sector that has witnessed tremendous transformation and repositioning in recent times.
On job creation, Senator Akintunde has used his strong network and influence to facilitate several appointments for constituents at the Police, Fire Services, Immigrations, Federal Inland Revenue Services among other Federal institutions, he is proud to mention the particular case of a serving officer in the Nigeria Police who led in the overall national recruitment examination, a constituent from Oyo Central Senatorial District. Several appointments are still in the offing in months ahead as Yunus Akintunde is constantly on the move searching for opportunities for his constituents on securing employment wherever there are opportunities.
His landmark achievements in infrastructure development are epoch making and simply awesome.
The Owode Oleyo community in Oluyole Local Government area will forever appreciate Senator Yunus Akintunde for the landmark achievement of facilitating a 17km road captured within the 2024 budget appropriations. The spade of work and progress on that road has been quite encouraging.
The MDG Office at the Presidency also recently facilitated the upgrade of a Health Centre in Oyo West courtesy of Senator Yunus Akintunde.
Several roads within the district are currently undergoing various rehabilitation on erosion control, bridge, culvert repairs and upgrades across the Senatorial District.
His passion for Human Capacity Development in a very unique style has influenced the construction and rehabilitation of several schools in all the eleven local governments that comprised the Senatorial District with four ICT Centres spread across the zones within the district.
He has touched several thousands of constituents with his vocational rehabilitation and engagement empowerment programs. Many artisans in tailoring, phone and ICT related repairs, welders, vehicle mechanics, farmers through AFAN, other associations, religious groups and constituents beyond party affiliations have benefited immensely from the various empowerment programs he has implemented before and after his inauguration as a serving Senator.
Water, they say is the gift of life and nature, Senator Akintunde’s Omi Itunnu’s Water provision program is quite unique, powered with solar technology, every of the 118 wards within the eleven local governments of Oyo Central Senatorial District has at least one borehole located for supply of constant and clean water. It has been stories of joy with elations everywhere within the Senatorial District.
His landmark achievements on provision of sustainable power providing solar powered lights for several communities including notable okada joints, bus stops, medical centres, worship centres of mosques and churches across various denominations, traditional leaders residences, without considering party affiliation bias or prejudice have endeared him to many constituents and have earned him the sobriquet “tanantana Yunus”.
The second phase of the Light Up Oyo Central Senatorial District project will soon commence and that will dwarf whatever has been considered as a great fete second to none among the Senate on delivery on energy across Nigeria in recent times.
Several people have always wondered what the magic wand the Distinguished Senator had in his capacity, the answer is simply about his divinely endowed capacity, absolute trust and confidence in God Almighty, commitment to the trust and confidence reposed in him by his constituents, his unfeigned commitment to the values of hard work, resource and time management, erudition and regular study habit, Dr Akintunde has meticulously observed at least two hours of personal study on a daily basis till date long before he earned his doctoral degree.
Set for a return back to the Red Chambers in 2027 by the grace of God, Yunus Akintunde is no doubt a rare blessing to Oyo Central Senatorial District, Oyo State people and the Nation at large.
The benefits of his return as a second term Senator are numerous.
Beyond the possibility of occupying a prominent leadership role at the Senate as a returning Senator, discerning minds can just begin to imagine the enormity of his sphere of influence in that capacity to bring more dividends of democracy within our growing democratic space to Oyo Central Senatorial District.
Only political neophytes, retrogressive and juvenile minds would ever wish Oyo Central Senatorial District otherwise and God is never a wicked God.
No doubt occasionally, the political landscape can’t be void of such a few inexperienced, juvenile minds with such delusions which won’t allow them even the least of simple reasoning, their sentiments preoccupied only with personal interests and benefits well beyond collective interests. Yet in their desperation they won’t spare efforts at laying waste whatever good humanity offers in other great men.
However, they can continue in their dreams and desperation for political relevance, while the Oyo Central Senatorial District folks are no fools, they can read in-between lines and in their judgement will always appreciate the excellent and sterling performances of the Senator Akintunde.
He once quipped, “we shall not be distracted by the noice makers, we will simply continue in our strides and commitment to DO MORE”.
May Oyo Central continue in the strides of unfettered growth and development riding on the waves of excellence, quality quintessential leadership, with “Unique Yunus” the indefatigable distinguished Senator Dr.Yunus Abiodun Akintunde Omo Sagunmo.
Continue the excellent work. Senator Yunus Akintunde 2.0 is certainly guaranteed by the grace of God.
Ademola Busari
Writes from Oluyole Local Government Ibadan.
