An African proverb precisely of Yoruba origin emphasized on more quest for sucking sweet oranges, they quipped ” Aidun osan l’eeyan NMU kan, t’Osan ba dun eeyan o mu igba, in simple terms the interpretation is that you will suck a sour orange just once but will relish sucking sweet oranges two hundred times minimum”.
I also remember very well some pleasant experiences while growing up, such include the steady unstoppable consumption of Pringles a product of Procter and Gamble very popular among the middle class and “ajebotas” the elite class in the 90s and probably still in the market, the moment you popped the fascinating container of the delicious delicacy, very succulent until the last slice and crumbs are devoured, you can’t stop.
For lovers of some local delicacies like mixed rice and beans, our Nigerian jollof rice, or mixed corn and beans, we won’t stop until we see the bottom part of the pot and that’s the sweetest portion really.
Experiencing the personality of Senator Yunus Akintunde the Distinguished Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District is similar to the above description of relishing delicacies and favorite stuffs.
With absolute conviction and submission on behalf of the discerning minds, good people of Oyo Central Senatorial District, associates and friends we join to celebrate a political colossus, an indefatigable leader, a benevolent and compassionate extraordinary gentleman, distinguished Yunus Akintunde as he turns 63 this year marking his arrival here on planet earth as a rare package to humanity.
“No doubt without bias, prejudice or exaggeration, Senator Yunus Akintunde has surpassed expectations on performances and quality representation in all ramifications and we are all proud of his sterling achievements as his associates friends, constituents and stakeholders.” This is quoting Senator Ayoade Adeseun a foremost, highly respected, notable very principled and forthright Leader and stakeholder within the polity who coincidentally had served in the capacity as a Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District presently occupied by Senator Yunus Akintunde.
Silently but consistently, Dr Akintunde has focused on his commitment to his unique style of engagements on national political participation with the sole purpose of making life better for the people in any leadership capacity he founds himself.
With a rich educational background provided by his parents who cherished quality education, young Akintunde has consistently excelled exhibiting leadership qualities at his early young growing up years. He later earned his first and masters degrees in Physics at the Lagos State University Ojo Lagos and capped his excellent academic records with with a Doctorate Degree in Energy Studies a pioneer record of such PhD in that discipline at the prestigious University of Ibadan.
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Nothing describes a man more beyond his intelligence and brilliance than his characters and attitude.
Leadership for many is natural, acquired and imbibed through trainings and personal development. For Yunus Akintunde! his leadership capacity is both combination of divine endowment and personal capacity building in the realm of what we simply refer as “Abinibi and Ability”.
No doubt, quality leadership is essential to societal growth and development, Oyo Central Senatorial District is divinely privileged to have Dr Yunus Akintunde in the saddle of leadership as a serving Senator while many communities are wailing in distress searching in desperation for political leadership and quality representation.
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.
It is almost difficult to position Senator Akintunde as a first timer within the floor of the Red Chambers as the Nigerian Senate is referred. Though he 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 brilliant and intelligent contributions on the deliberations, his unique style of excellent relationship management with the leadership of the Senate and distinguished colleagues apparently would showcase him standing tall among equals with astounding recognitions thus wielding so much influence and respect within and outside the National Assembly.
His early participation in politics dated back to over four decades serving in different capacities this preparing him ahead for his present status as a serving Senator.
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’s first tenure as Governor of Oyo State where he was a very strong member of the cabinet and a dependable ally, highly respected in the formation and excellent management of matter of governance where several of us witnessed his unparalleled capacity to manage extremely complex and difficult situations too many to recall.
Oyo State people won’t easily forget the uniqueness of Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s first tenure, as a key player and silent participant, the strong impact and benevolence of the likes of Senator Yunus Akintunde among other key actors in sustaining those record breaking landmark achievements in governance can’t be controverted.
Many of us witnessed with admiration how Akintunde played very significant and prominent roles that endeared him to many strong political stakeholders and civil servants in Oyo State till date.
The assessment of his 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 and 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 Ayegun 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”.
It is not difficult for his close associates and constituents to appreciate Senator Akintunde in his capacity, the secrets of his uncommon excellent achievements and sterling performances. They are simply about his divinely endowed capacity, absolute trust and confidence in God Almighty, commitment to the trust and confidence reposed in him by his people, consistent taste and quest for knowledge, an avid reader and deep thinker with unquenchable thirst for knowledge and wisdom with no time for frivolities and wasteful irrelevant matters.
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.
Prominent leaders and many constituents within and even beyond the Senatorial District are emphatic on their position prayers for Akintunde on the several benefits of his return back to the Senate Red Chambers in 2027 even as he under pressure of call to higher responsibilities.
The possibility of him occupying a prominent leadership role at the Senate as a returning Senator, the advantage of his steadily growing sphere of influence in that capacity to bring more dividends of democracy to Oyo Central Senatorial District and Oyo State must be experienced beyond being imagined.
Gauging the feelings of the various stakeholders within and outside Oyo Central Senatorial District on the second term positioning of Senator Akintunde, Alhaji Kamorudeen Adeoye a prominent political leader in Oluyole Federal Constituency simply summarized it, he opined “capturing the mindset of the people, I strongly believe that Senator Yunus Akintunde’s second term and return to the Senate in 2027 is the most reasonable thing for Oyo Central Senatorial District and God will make it a possibility without stress”
While several other politicians are busy in their dreams and desperation for political relevance within the polity, the Oyo Central Senatorial District folks are no longer searching for untested hands, they are simply privileged and satisfied with the Tested, Trusted, Big, Strong and Reliable ‘Tanantanan Yunus’ as he is being fondly called who has surpassed expectations in quality representation and leadership in all ramifications in his capacity as a serving Senator.
We wish the performing Senator a Happy Birthday with lines of greater and pleasant moments falling in places in good health and divine benevolence in years ahead.
Let the good work continue. Senator Yunus Akintunde 2.0 has no rival, assuredly, certainly, divinely guaranteed and consented to by discerning minds.
The people have constantly expressed profound appreciation for the excellent and sterling performances of Senator Akintunde.
He constantly emphasized, ” I am constantly aware of my commitment to God to spend my life to the service of humanity, making life better at all times with impactful decisions and actions that will have lasting legacies beyond time spent as living soul”.
“I shall not be distracted by the noice makers, rather I will simply continue in my strides and commitment to DO MORE for my good people of Oyo Central Senatorial District, the great people of Oyo State and the Nation at large”.
Touching lives is second nature to Yunus Akintunde and those who are privileged to
“One Good Turn Deserves Another” Oyo Central will simply wax stronger 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.
Kunle OLATUNJI writes with the Media Team from Ibadan.
