The political atmosphere in Oyo state is steadily thickening and the contest is becoming more interesting by the day. With each passing day, we move closer to the election when the people will ultimately make their decision through the ballot. At the moment, the political process is at the stage of formal expression of interest through the purchase of nomination forms.
Of all the aspirants, who are eminently qualified to aspire to the governorship seat, one appears particularly suited for the office. Engr. Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan stands out as the most suitable. He is, by every fair assessment, the most experienced among the aspirants, having spent the greater part of his professional life in the service of the Oyo State Government as a distinguished technocrat who rose through the ranks to retire as a Permanent Secretary.
His career journey began after earning a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He started as a pupil engineer with the Oyo North Agricultural Development Project (ONADEP), later known as Oyo State Agricultural Development Project (OYSADEP).
From that modest beginning, he rose steadily through the service. Over the course of his career, he worked closely with more than ten governors – military and civilian alike. A significant number of the roads and dams that today serve the people of Oyo State were constructed under his watch. He also served as Managing Director of Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSTROMA), during which many additional rural and urban roads across the state were executed under his leadership. After retirement from the civil service, he ventured into politics and later became Deputy Governor of Oyo State.
Since leaving office as deputy governor, especially under the circumstances of his exit, a matter that is still a subject of litigation, he has remained a loyal party man who has continued to invest his time, talent and treasure in the All Progressives Congress (APC). That consistency has earned him broad respect and acceptability . Build-up to the 2023 general elections, he was appointed the Oyo State Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Grassroots Independent Campaign Council (TSGICC), the platform upon which he and other party leaders and stakeholders, mobilized the entire 33 local government areas of Oyo state and delivered overwhelmingly during the last presidential, national assembly and state elections. The love of Olaniyan by his people was the reflection of the House of Assembly elections results of 2023, in which the only 4 members of the APC in the Oyo State House of Assembly, are all from the Oke-Ogun zone of the state, where Olaniyan holds high stake and enjoys a cult-like followership and support of his people. Engr. Olaniyan was the chairman of the governing council of the Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, until he voluntarily resigned few weeks ago, to consolidate his gubernatorial ambition.
Engr. Olaniyan is a devout Muslim, yet he relates warmly and respectfully with people of every faith and conviction. Men and women of diverse religious backgrounds freely gather around him for one purpose or another. He is also a philanthropist to the core. His life philosophy captures the depth of his humanity: “I learn to give. Not because I have plenty, but because I know how it feels to have nothing.” Indeed, he knows what it means to have little. In his formative years, he weathered the storms of poverty. Through humble menial work as an assistant to bricklaying masons, he laboured to earn money with which he paid his own school fees and attended Modern School. Those early struggles shaped his compassion, deepened his humanity and positioned him as a destiny-helper to many.
Engr. Olaniyan is also a true party man with a statewide reach and structure, which he earned during his civil service years when he worked among the people of Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa, Oyo, Ogbomoso and Ibadan over his long years of service. That wide administrative exposure has given him a practical understanding of the diverse realities, aspirations and developmental needs of the different zones of the state. So, such a man with a strong party grassroot influence can be entrusted with the affairs of Oyo State with confidence. He will not gamble with governance. He will bring into public leadership the tested depth of a professional, the discipline of a technocrat, the experience of a politician, the insight of a businessman and the heart of a philanthropist.
Furthermore, Engr. Olaniyan is a God-fearing man who places God first in all that he does.He is a patient listener who believes that in strategic decision-making, superior argument should prevail.
Finally, the people of Oyo State will not regret placing the affairs of the Pace Setter State in the hands of this noble bridge builder, committed lover of peace, advocate of justice and driver of development and visionary leadership.
Adesola Yaqub (Tasoolo) is a graduate of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) and could be reached via sholayaq@gmail.com