IFE OYEDELE TO RESCUE ONDO STATE FROM POOR GOVERNANCE
By Kayode lawal
The worrisome issue cornering the resources of Ondo State by the immediate and extended family members of Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu has in recent time necessitated the concerns raised by Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele recently. Chief amongst the concerns raised by Oyedele is the fact that a few individuals have hijacked governance in Ondo State and as a result cornered the state’s resources to the detriment of the suffering masses.
The Okitipupa born Oyedele has also raised concern over the unimpressive and mediocre style of governance by Arakunrin Akeredolu as well as the decaying public infrastructure in Ondo State. He also expressed worry over the drop in quality being witnessed in the educational and health sectors of the State. The fact that no novel project has been commissioned by Governor Akeredolu in the last three years and the worrisome issue of undue privilege given to people of other extractions over and above the indigenes of Ondo State have continued to give Ife as well as the citizens of the State serious cause for concern.
However, Engr. Oyedele who is believed to be a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Congress has vowed to rescue the Sunshine State from the firm grip of poor governance, lack of initiative in governance and reverse the steady decay of untilies and public infrastructures. The Executive Director, Engineering &Technical Services of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company has made it known that the long suffering masses of Ondo State cannot afford to gamble with a non-performing governor for another four years.
Oyedele who took advantage of his office, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) to restore electricity to Ondo South Senatorial District after almost 10 years of being thrown into compete darkness is indeed a performer. He has achieved tremendous success in his effort of power restoration by handing over the largely completed project to Benin Electricity Distribution Company (Benin DISCO) to enable it undertake customers enumeration and subsequent reconnection of the area to the national grid. The exercise has commenced in earnest.
Here is a vastly experienced and awesomely competent individual who is without doubt a tested and trusted person. Oyedele is not just a super performance, he is also known for his penchant to always walk the talk. He is reputed to be a perfectionist. He has demonstrated his ability to be a better governor of Ondo State having achieved huge success in the task of restoring electricity to Ondo South Senatorial District. It should be noted that this was the same task in which two successive governors of Ondo State could not even figure out a solution. A man that has taken maximal advantage of his position as an Executive Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company is sure to create an eldorado if he becomes a governor.
Without doubt, Ifeoluwa Oyedele evidently stand out as the obvious best to take charge as the next governor of Ondo State. He is reputed as a man of integrity whose watchword is competence. He is a man with extreme goodwill and someone whose time has come. Aside being of uncommon brilliance and impeccable integrity, Oyedele is a seasoned technocrat and committed party man who has paid his dues in politics and truly deserves to be the next Executive governor of Ondo.
Oyedele is evidently a man of extreme humility that also shares
character similarities with President Buhari as far as integrity and honesty are concerned. He is a man whose honesty and commendable level of transparency can never be denied. He is clearly different from an average Nigerian politician that sees political offices as opportunities to amass wealth at the expense of the populace. Ifeoluwa has the enviable reputation of being a stickler for integrity, accountability, transparency and orderliness. More than anything he is a committed team player.
The 60 year old gentleman was a member of ACN/CPC Merger Committee that negotiated the merger of the legacy parties that eventually metamorphosed into the All Progressive Congress (APC). He had prior to the merger talk served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He was also a member of the APC Constitution Drafting Sub-committee as well member of APC Constitution Review Committee.
Ifeoluwa has to his credit the honour of designing the logo of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and he was indeed one of the 15 gentlemen that began plans for the emergence of General Buhari as the Presidential Candidate of APC in 2014, shortly after the party was registered. He was thereafter appointed as the Ondo State Coordinator of the Buhari Campaign Organization when GMB became the APC presidential candidate. It is noteworthy that Oyedele was the first person to open a State Campaign Office/Secretariat for General Muhammadu Buhari in August, 2013.
He was the Secretary of the Buhari Campaign Council in Ondo State in the run up to 2019 Presidential election. The political organizing skills of Oyedele as well as his active involvement in Ondo State politics were seen displayed during the 2019 presidential election when he joined other Party faithful to rally support for the candidates of the Party when the power that be in the State sponsored candidates against his own Party candidates in the Presidential/National Assemby elections. That act by the renegades was responsible for the shock loss incurred by the APC in the Presidential and National Assembly elections. It is worthy of note that he made substantial donation to all the candidates that contested on the platform of APC in the 2019 general election. APC candidates that benefitted from this substantial donations included the Senatorial, House of Representatives and all House of Assembly candidates of the Party. Meanwhile, it is apropos to point out that APC could have woefully lost the same election in Ondo if not for the active involvement of thoroughly committed party men like Ifeoluwa Oyedele.
Ifeoluwa Oyedele has over the years built a robust career that cut across engineering management, manufacturing, construction, venture finance, governance and engineering consulting from 1982 till date. He has evidently proven his mettle in both the public and private sectors.
The unapologetically detribalized Oyedele is the Executive Director in charge of Engineering and Technical Services at the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited. He was appointed into this position strictly on merit in August, 2016. He had earlier been appointed and served as the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of Gambil Builders Nigeria Limited and Rikmor International Limited. In his capacity as the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Oyedele was responsible for mapping out strategic business agenda, negotiating contracts and ensuring that quality as well as standard of jobs were maintained.
The highly respected Ifeoluwa had earlier worked as the Head of the Sales Department of Dynapower Nigeria Limited for two years. He thereafter consulted for Edison Group and Partners where he strictly designed electrical engineering projects and services in accordance with clients’ briefs and terms and also supervised the execution of projects.
Engr. Oyedele began his career with DAFEC Consultants as pupil engineer with responsibilities to design and prepare tenders for rural electrification projects. His responsibilities also included supervision and monitoring the implementation of projects. He later joined Oyo State Ministry of Works and Transport on the recommendation of the then Governor of old Oyo state, late Chief Bola Ige due to active service during the 1983 General elections. He worked at the Ministry for two years with similar career responsibilities in his previous jobs.
The fearlessly honest 1982 graduate of Electrical Engineering from the University of Lagos is a Fellow, Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE( and a Registered Chartered Engineer. He has also earned Fellowship of the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria (FRMN) and the Institure of Public Administration of Nigeria. (FIPA) The career feat of Ifeoluwa as an accomplished engineer has been recognized and rewarded by many reputable professional organizations within and outside of Nigeria. He was inducted into the Construction Industry Hall of Fame in 2019. Of particular mention is the Award of 10th Ondo State Man of the Year conferred on him in 2018.
Oyedele has striven to effectively balance career development with politics and social engagements. He unwinds by getting involved in sporting activities, chief of which is golf. He is a member of the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938, Smoking Hills Golf Club, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State and IBB International Golf Club, Abuja. He has been a member of the Institute of Director for 24 years. He has also served in several positions, including Club Secretary and Club President in International Association of Lions Clubs amongst others. He is a responsible father, loving husband and someone that is committed to family values.
Engr. Oyedele is no doubt a brand that all and sundry in Ondo State should be proud of. He has quietly brought himself into the consciousness of everyone in the state through his open display of honesty, humility and charitable giving.
The people of Ondo State cannot afford to gamble with their political destiny for another four years. With the unfortunate ongoing debased quality of governance, decaying untilities and public infrastructure plus cronyism in Ondo State, only the best, brightest and someone with global connection to attract much needed development like Ifeoluwa Oyedele should be given the chance to preside over the affairs of the Sunshine State.
Kayode Lawal, Akoko