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Olumide Obadele
I have been actively involved in Ondo State politics for a while and I have had to relate with various groups and individuals at certain levels. Again, I have had the privilege of offering media consultancy services for aspirants and candidates of various political parties at different levels of aspiration, even up to the governorship. To this end, I can say that I have sufficient understanding of our political clime and have good rapport with many of the players.
Having heard so much about him and having looked forward to having a meeting with him; I honoured an invitation from Bunmi Tunji Ojo, jumped into the plane and flew to Abuja. Arriving at his house, I met a young man respectfully welcoming me into his house. He appeared so simple with his red Arsenal jersey and khaki short. I concluded him to be an Arsenal fan. No too long, his amiable wife walked briskly into the space to say goodbye to him as she was to go out of the house. She greeted me respectfully which is uncommon with most women of her level of influence and affluence. This registered on my mind.
We sat down and the engagement began, I allowed him to set the ball rolling and few minutes into our discussion, he had delved into so many issues; ranging from politics to economy and of course the Akoko nation and yet did not lose steam. I was flabbergasted at the level of his intelligence, delivery and grit. Undoubtedly, he has the gift of the gab. I saw in Bunmi Tunji Ojo an extremely brilliant young chap and I observed in him a walking library with vast knowledge that cuts across gamut of fields. His depth stirred up mine and I found in him my type of person. I did not need further persuasion to join his dream for a better and prosperous Akoko North Federal Constituency, which he represented at the National Assembly.
Again, I saw in Bunmi Tunji Ojo a giver. He is generous to a fault and I am yet to meet a politician in our political firmament that can square up with him in this regard. In my own opinion as an ecclesiastically inclined person, the voice of his giving (not really his prayers) was what delivered him from the hands of his haters and detractors during the ministerial nomination imbroglio.
Bunmi Tunji Ojo demonstrates the omoluabi ethos. A Yoruba parlance says: ka soro be e, ka si ba be e ni iyi omoluabi. This is literally translated to mean that the dignity of a man is keeping his words. When Bunmi speaks, he keeps his word. I was with him all through the electioneering campaign, preparatory to the last general elections; moving from one vilage to another. In the course, he made two key promises: to pay N50,000,000 as students bursary and another N50,000,000 to empower market women. As at today, he has fulfilled the two promises and others. This is not typical of an average Nigerian politician.
Despite his glowing personality, some individuals still find fault in him. While I am not his apologetic neither do I hold brief for him, I think I want to maintain that as mortals we all have our frailties and shortcomings. The overall judgement is that Bunmi Tunji Ojo is humane, human, kind, generous, reliable, and most importantly amenable to progressive moves.
From the foregoing, I think both the younger and older generations, especially those of the Akoko nation in particular and Ondo State at.large, owe it a duty to support this young man as he navigates the course of destiny and stands as an example of good leadership.
