Senator Akintunde: A Rare Breed of People-Oriented Leadership | By Tosin Alausa
Senator Akintunde:
Providing Responsive, Responsible, Excellent and Quality Representation in Leadership.
The challenge of dearth of responsible and responsive leadership in governance in the global setting is real and not fictional.
While appreciating this situation as a global phenomenon, it is no doubt more pronounced in Africa where many societies are groaning under the heavy weight and burden of typical leaders with selfish and self centered dispositions mostly hated with unimaginable disdain by their subjects.
Professor Patrick Lumumba the Pan-African professor of Law , Economics and Politics have not spared African Leaders in his position on this challenge of dearth of benevolent and people oriented leadership as the bane of growth and development of many African countries.
However, while he copiously identified the dearth of solution inclined and people oriented leadership across Africa, he was quick to make exceptions of a few individuals in the mix multitude who have distinguished themselves with genuine intentions to serve the people. He concluded while delivering a lecture on the invitation of the 8th joint National Assembly of Nigeria that the more we have many of these fine, focused and intentional benevolent leaders in governance and position of authority, then Africa will begin to experience desired prosperity, growth and development in our nations.
In the midst of these hard realities, in the South West of Nigeria and among the rare emerging leaders within the polity, a star among the galaxy of stars is brightly shining with assurances and beacon of hope in leadership.
Precisely at the 10th Senate of the National Assembly in Nigeria parading array of highly respected notable Nigerians representing various Senatorial Districts, the story of Senator (Dr ) Yunus Akintunde, the Distinguished Senator representing Oyo Central perfectly fits Lumumba’s assertions of a few good men in leadership.
Since his inauguration as a member of the 10th Senate in the National Assembly, Senator Akintunde has really distinguished himself, on reflection of him in his unmistakable complete Oyo princely traditional attire during the inauguration ceremony, with his disarming trademark smiles and amiable carriage, earning the admiration of his colleague Senators, little did he know that he was setting the pace of what would later become his recognition as a highly respected and quite influential Senator at the Red Chambers of Nigerian National Assembly today.
His robust understanding of corporate and public governance, rich exposure to the dynamics of management of resources, sincere and genuine commitment to the trust and confidence reposed in him by his constituents, excellent communication and unique relationship management skills, special grace of piety, good nature, kindly disposition referred as Omoluabi ethos in South West Nigeria of Yoruba descent, his birthplace are uncommon virtues that stand him out among equals.
First hand feedbacks from constituents at Oyo Central Senatorial District which he represents at the Senate revealed his true character as a rare breed people oriented solution provider, uncommon politician, these attitudes are evident in his constant drive to provide succour to as many as are in need, efficiently and effectively managing available resources through impactful empowerment programmes thus bringing to bear his experience in resource management through well designed useful and beneficial intervention human capacity development training and empowerment programmes.
This is a total departure from past experiences of generic all comers empowerment events implemented by most political office holders sharing items to beneficiaries without taking into cognisance the relevance of such programmes and interventions to beneficiaries vocational capacities and competencies.
With the assistance of resourceful and dedicated political aides, he developed a unique system of direct engagements with local communities under his Oyo Central Senatorial District where specific needs assessments are regularly carried out to determine on prioritisation of solutions and with comprehensive data on action plans, implementation strategies providing seamless and efficient governance and excellent leadership is a regular experience in all his intervention programmes.
A holder of first and Masters degrees in Physics from Lagos State University Ojoo Lagos Nigeria, while also capping his academic records with a PhD in Energy and Environmental studies at the prestigious University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Akintunde is constantly in search of more knowledge with several professional certifications in Financial and Operations Management.
His landmark achievements on infrastructure development are numerous including rehabilitation of several schools, construction of new classrooms and ICT Centres across the various local governments within the Senatorial Districts, road construction project with Ayegun Oleyo road a first class road infrastructure at Oluyole Local Government, Aroro Makinde and Alabata roads erosion control projects, over 118 solar powered “Omi Irorun” water projects and the largest solar powered light projects that have earned him the sobriquet “Tanantanan Yunus”, the one who brings light.
It is heartwarming that aside several contributions in his capacity as the Chairman Senate House Committee on Environment and Vice Chairman Senate House Committee on Police Service Commission, his two major bills on conversion of Federal Survey School Oyo to Federal University of Geomatics and that of Federal College of Education Special also at Oyo to full Federal University status have passed through the second reading stages and hopefully will return from public hearing Committees for final readings and Presidential assent for implementation sooner than imagined.
No doubt, Senator Akintunde is loved and appreciated by his constituents beyond party affiliations and interests.
Research and public opinion polls among residents showed unusual appreciation, positive appraisal of his excellent performance as a serving Senator.
It is quite interesting that notable stakeholders within and outside his Senatorial District have also acknowledged and expressed positive dispositions on his sterling performances and achievements, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, the current Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, also a former Senator and former Governor of Oyo State recently remarked on the excellent performance and sterling achievements of Dr Yunus Akintunde as a serving Senator confirming such earlier position and remarks from Senator Ayoade Adeseun who had also had earlier eulogised Akintunde during a capacity empowerment programme recently held at Oba Adeyemi arcade in Oyo town.
Senator Adeseun who had also served as a Senator in Oyo Central Senatorial District proudly acknowledged the sterling outstanding performances of Senator Akintunde as a mark of honour and greatness for him and other leaders who have always provided leadership for Senator Yunus Akintunde in the past.
The past two years and few months with Akintunde’s representation at the Red Chambers have been acknowledged as quite satisfactory with elations and joy in the transformation agenda and programmes under the Renewed Hope of Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency which he has widely acknowledged as the platform that has made those achievements credited to him be possible.
When asked about his secrets, he jokingly quipped that his background as a staunch Muslim and communal dispositions have also contributed immensely to his capacity and drive, engaging various stakeholders across the MDAs, his colleagues at the National Assembly, friends and associates while seeking for intervention programmes and warehousing various empowerment initiatives for his constituents beyond party affiliations and interests.
Several accolades greeted his immense benevolence during major religious festive periods including Christmas, New Year, Ramadan, Lent, Salah and Easter celebrations where gift items and monetary benefits are extended to community leaders, religious leaders of CAN, Christian Association of Nigeria, League of Imams and Alfas and Muslim communities, party Leaders and party faithful, constituents, friends and associates who have adjudged him as a truly distinguished and performing Senator.
Surprisingly, he is never the type of leader making empty promises or engaged in controversial and image tarnishing issues, he has assured Oyo Central Senatorial District folks that he is poised to “DO MORE” in the months ahead with unprecedented and remarkable landmark achievements. “
“And honestly, please confidentially between us, I’m aware, like seriously, nkan wa nile” E lo fokanbale, Eru wa plentiful” Akintunde is coming around powerfully again in this second phase of the first tenure so much that everyone can then imagine the benefits of a possible and ideal second term when he will be more prominent holding very important and more influential leadership role at the 11th Senate come 2027 by the special grace of Almighty God.
No doubt, a good turn deserves another, there is no wisdom in changing a “Winning Team” especially the Coach, and this extra sweet oranges must be enjoyed severally, this classical wine in the cellar of Oyo Central provides the best taste and feel of satisfaction in absolutism, very original, genuine and intentional.
Senator Akintunde remains steadfastly committed to the people of Oyo Central Senatorial District, the entire people of Oyo State and the Nation at large.
Readily available in the continuity of his services as leadership beckons again for an “encored performance” which in music parlance means ” Sing the Rendition of Song Again” .
Tanantanan Yunus is finest and unique music to the ears at Oyo Central Senatorial District. Encore!!!!
Tosin Alausa,
Writes from Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency.
