- Ondo 2020: Senator Kunlere as Solid, Sound Gubernatorial Option
By TRIANGLE Magazine
Now that Ondo is preparing to choose a new leader for its gubernatorial office for another four years single term, it is very obvious the political firmament has become so loaded with aspirants for the top job from across the various political associations.
Different characters have thrown their hats in the ring, and each man believing that he has just what it takes to make a difference with the office. From the Central Senatotorial district to the South, and from the far northern part of the state, different shades and shapes are up for the job, all doing the campaign with huge assurances while serving the citizenry with all forms of talks and tales.
Of this many men, only a few can truly make a difference, only quite a few has what it takes to turn the affair of the state around, and among this few, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere, lawyer and veteran politician whose luster is illuminating the nooks and crannies of the state, simply stand out.
The man Senator Boluwaji Kunlere is one notable political force to be reckon with, not only in the political spave of Ondo State but even in the nation’s. He is no doubt a veteran whose knowlege of politics is rich and firm, and he is one distinguished political leader who has done so well in this trade and has affected many lives for good.
A genius with great impacts, Boluwaji Kunlere was born in April 1960 in the Igbotako Okitipupa Local Government area of Ondo state. He studied Law at Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), Ago Iwoye and became a barrister. As a young man with immense political endowments, he put to work his political sagacity among his people, making his constituents to identify him early enough as a worthy leadership material.
It was not a suprise therefore that he represented his people quite remarkably as a member of the State House of Assembly and as Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government, the positions he maximised to the benefit of the people of his constituency so well that they continue to sing his praise up to now.
A former state Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo state, Senator Kunlere ran for election to the Senate for Ondo South in April 2007 on the Labour Party platform, but was defeated by Hosea Ehinlanwo. In March 2009 he was appointed Special Advisor to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Political Affairs and Legal Matters. In August 2010 he resigned from this position so he could compete for the Ondo South Senatorial District.
Amiable Kunlere contested with former Governor of the state, Olusegun Agagu in the April 2011 election for the Ondo South Senatorial seat, running on the Labour Party platform and defeated the former governor in a fiercely battled outing, and it is on record that his tenure as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria brought very significant chances to the politics of Ondo South.
As senator, he did well to touch all the local governments in his district, and the achievements continue to radiate even now: A block of classrooms at Community Primary School, Laposipo; A block of classrooms at St. George’s Primary School, Ile-Oluji; A block of classrooms at Community Primary School, Abojupa-Okeigbo; A top of the range Toyota Hilux for Ile-Oluji Division of the Nigerian Police;
Moreso, A top of the range Toyota Hilux for Okeigbo Division of the Nigerian Police; Provision of 2 motorcycles for LG office of the State Security Services(SSS); Installation of Transformers near Gold line Oil, Ile-Oluji; Installation of Transformer at Bamikemo Road, Ile-Oluji; Erosion Control at Lota Road, Ile-Oluji; Sinking of Borehole in front of Oba’s Palace, Bamikemo, Ile-Oluji; and Sinking of Borehole at Ajegunle, Okeigbo, among other great deeds.
Such is the splendid nature and leadership style of Barrister Boluwaji. He is not just popular, he is famed for his progressive politicking and impactful leadership which continues to endear him to the minds of his many followers across the lenght and breadth of the Sunshine State.
Of a fact, Senator Kunlere cares for all constituents. Across the six local governments under this constituency, he influenced worthy projects, including those he did in Ilaje the local government: A block of classrooms at LA School, Ode-Ugbo; A block of classrooms at Ilaje Grammar School, Atijere; A block of classrooms at LA Primary School, Agbala-Obineyin; A top of the range Toyota Hilux van for Igbokoda Division of the Nigerian Police; Sinking of Hand pump borehole at Ode-Etikan; Sinking of Solar Powered Borehole at Aboto.
No doubt, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere (SBK) raised the bar of leadership and governance in Ondo South Senatorial District at the red chamber of the National Assembly during his time between 2011 and 2015. For Irele LGA: A block of classrooms at Comprehensive High School, Ode-Irele; A block of classrooms at Community Primary School, Gboroye-Oko; Toyota Hilux for Ode-Irele Division of Nigeria Police; Toyota Hilux for Ajagba Division of Nigeria Police;
Toyota Hilux for Akotogbo Division of Nigeria Police; Provision of 2 motorcycles for the LG office of the SSS; Sinking of Borehole at Ago-Isobo; Sinking of Borehole at Broads Street, Ajagba; Sinking of Solar Powered Borehole at Iju-Osun; Sinking of Solar Powered Borehole at Iyansan.
Ondo State is not only lucky to have such an incredible and fantastic citizen showing up on the political firmament to affect lives through the office of a governor, it is luckier to have a man who is tested and known for his innate thirst for effective governance.
As the popularity of Senator Boluwaji Kunlere continues to rise among the people of Ondo State, he is not ceasing to express those distict but brilliant ideas, which if voted as governor of Ondo State, would be expressed through the instruments of the office of governor in the overall and best interest of all residents in the Sunshine state.