“Ori l’Akin Fijabi ti lo m’oye wa, Ajia Olubadan, Fijabi mi Kilanko, Baba Oloye n’Ibadan o…,”
King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal sang boisterously in a track in his Volume 3 Album entitled flavour, waxed for his friend, Oloye Akinade Fijabi, shortly after he began his ascendancy on the Olubadan line. You think this write-up is about to replay KWAM1’s hit song on the Ibadan Chief, who has risen through the ranks to become the Maye Olubadan. No. It is not about Oloye Fijabi.
It is about his brilliant son and politician of note, Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, the Chairman of the Oyo State at 50 Committee, which oversaw the colourful and golden celebrations that lighted up the state in February. Don’t jump into conclusions; this piece is also not about revisiting the Oyo at 50 success story, which was penned with the Akinade-Fijabi-led Committee but masterfully orchestrated by Governor Seyi Makinde.
So, what is the write-up really about? It is about the two-term lawmaker’s long-term aspiration of uplifting Oyo State. Now, it is time; Saheed Akinade-Fijabi is officially in the race to become Governor of Oyo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)! Strange? It shouldn’t be; Omo Baba Oloye has come on board as a believer in Governor Makinde’s visionary and people-oriented leadership. He has signed on to the continued progress and prosperity of Oyo State, which the Makinde team has delivered for six years and 10 months and which it is poised to sustain into the future.
For decades, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, like his progenitors from Ile Fijabi, Oritamerin, Ibadan, has nursed a burning desire to play an important role in building the society and making it a better place. While Fijabi the father chose royalty, Fijabi the son chose politics. And, for eight straight years, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi bestrode the political landscape of Oyo State as a young political colossus; making unforgettable and indelible impact as a federal legislator.
Elected into the House of Representatives to represent Ibadan North-West/South-West Federal Constituency in 2011, Akinade-Fijabi began a journey of greatness that would not only bring fulfillment to his dreams to build society and impact humanity but also put him on a pedestal to serve humanity and make a difference. And, for eight years, he delivered nothing short of the best in service, governance and pragmatic leadership that puts people first.
Through his years in the House of Representatives, Akinade-Fijabi delivered highly impactful representation, which placed Ibadan North-West/South-West on the international map and also brought countless benefits to its constituents.
It is to his credit that he facilitated employment for scores of residents of the state who are, today, in key positions across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government as well as in the telecommunication sector.
He equally used his opportunity as a lawmaker and later as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunication to the greater advantage of his constituents, residents of Oyo State and Nigerians at large.
His achievements in office included the construction of classrooms, skill acquisition centres, VIP toilets, modern libraries, public toilets at several schools in the constituency including the UMC Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan and Anwaru-Islam, Eleyele, Ibadan, Eleyele High School, Ibadan and the Oyo State Library Board, among others.
He also facilitated the equipment of classrooms and telepresence facilities at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, even though the facility is not in his direct constituency.
Akinade-Fijabi’s service to the constituency also included the construction of boreholes at strategic places in the metropolitan federal constituency, with his passionate commitment to the health and wellbeing of the constituents leading him to sponsor free medical treatment in conjunction with the University College (UCH), Ibadan for about 1,200 beneficiaries including women, youths and the aged while he also regularly distributed empowerment items including vocational equipment and cash to thousands of residents.
As an outstanding lawmaker, he sponsored many bills and motions, including the motion to designate Dr Stella Adadevor as a heroine for her courageous role in curtailing the spread of Ebola Virus in Nigeria, a motion on the abandoned multi-billion Naira Ikere Gorge Dam Project in Iseyin Local, a motion to halt the inhumane handling of accident victims on Nigerian roads by the Federal Road Safety Commission, a motion on the need to address the deplorable state of tourist centers across the country, a motion on the urgent need to develop national plans on prevention and control of cervical cancer and on sickle cell anaemia.
As a reflection of his commitment to youth empowerment and employment, Akinade-Fijabi also led the sponsorship of motions on the need to address the high rate of job loss in the banking sector and a need for financial and bailout assistance for the automobile industry in the country.
It is also worthy of note that Akinade-Fijabi, as one of the youngest National Assembly members in 2011, supported the Not Too Young To Run Bill, which sought to change the dynamics in terms of youth participation in politics.
This is why it is not a surprise that the young lawmaker, who joined hands with others in the advocacy for young people to have a clearer pathway into governance and leadership is now well on his way to becoming the youngest Oyo State Governor in recent times. Akinade-Fijabi’s age sits well within the bracket that Governor Makinde, a true believer in the youths capability to lead and make a difference, once said he believes the next governor of Oyo State should be.
In Hon Saheed Akinade-Fijabi, Oyo State has a young, vibrant politician, who has served at the highest level, garnered immense business and professional experiences in real estate, hospitality and political representation, picking up the gauntlet to serve the people of the Pacesetter State.
Saheed Akinade-Fijabi showed a glimpse of what is to come in terms of serving the state and ensuring its flag of glory, which has been excellently hoisted by Governor Makinde, continues to fly high when he successfully led the committee that planned and delivered the golden jubilee celebrations of Oyo State. Through the remarkable celebrations, Nigerians and the International Community were reminded on why Oyo State has been a Pacesetter and how no state comes close, with other states created around the same period unable to achieve the mileage Oyo recorded.
By joining the race to succeed the highly successful and exemplary Governor Makinde, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi has proven that having learnt from the best and engineer of modern Oyo State, Engr Makinde, he is now ready to deliver on the landmark master plan already created in the last seven years. For him, preparations have met with competence and he is heeding the call to make Oyo State greater, taking it from where the Engineer of Modern Oyo State will stop on May 28, 2027. That is Saheed Akinade-Fijabi in the 2027 scheme of things!
