King Sunny Ade’s evergreen Ęsùbìrì Ę Bò Mí (Multitudes, Cover Me) narrated his uncertainty about the journey of life and his success. By 1975, just a year after the original, he released an update in Mo Ti Mò, where he confidently spoke of his assurance of finishing strong.
There is no doubt that choosing a representative for a constituency is a journey whose success is uncertain. A wrong choice can have life-altering effects for millions of people, while the right choice will create lasting impact for several generations. Thus, the good people of Ibadan North will embark on an uncertain journey at the impending by-election of their federal representative. Just like King Sunny Ade’s song, Ibadan North Federal Constituency must finish strong!
The unfortunate demise of Musliudeen Olaide Akinremi, aka Jagaban created a great lacuna in leadership, but also created an opportunity for the good people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency to make a decision that will shape the future of the constituency yet again. Against all odds, Sarumi, the People’s Democratic Party’s Federal House of Representatives candidate, received over 16,000 votes from the good people of Ibadan North, recording one of the highest numbers by a candidate of the party in the recent election cycle.
Olanrewaju Olamilekan Sarumi may be much younger than the late leader, but as the Yoruba adage says, “Omodé gbón, agba gbón, lafi dá Ilè-ifè” (It is with the wisdom of both the young and the old that the great Ile Ife was built).
Sarumi has consistently shown a commitment to empowering the youth, supporting small businesses, improving infrastructure, and uplifting the community. A leader is not judged by promises but by actions, and Sarumi has proven himself to be a man of his word. He has walked the talk, ensuring that projects don’t end as mere blueprints but become reality. As the saying goes, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
In his personal capacity, Sarumi has provided financial grants to over 100 Small and Medium-scale Enterprises in Ibadan. He has also provided financial grants to widows and the less privileged. Further, he has trained over 150 Ibadan North Youth on skills critical to career progression. It is on record that Sarumi commissioned a building for the benefit of humanity at the Polytechnic of Ibadan in 2023. In addition, he has commissioned the building of an ICT hub at the Polytechnic of Ibadan, which will be unveiled in due time.
Ibadan North deserves a leader who doesn’t see politics as a self-serving tool but as a bridge to unite and build for the future. Sarumi is that leader. His focus is not just on today’s challenges but on ensuring the constituency’s potential is fully unlocked for future generations. We see this from his initiatives, which have impacted education, healthcare, and job creation. His passion for people further confirms his status as an adherent of the Seyi Makinde school of politics.
Now is not the time for half-measures or misplaced loyalty. Ibadan North People’s Democratic Party must position itself to finish strong by choosing Olanrewaju Olamilekan Sarumi—a leader who understands that leadership is not a crown to wear but a duty to perform. With Sarumi, Ibadan North will rise like the morning sun, shining brighter and stronger with each passing day and just like King Sunny Ade concluded in his classic, the journey will be worthwhile in the end.
Kehinde Owolabi writes from Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
