By his declaration for the governorship position in 2011, Abdulfatai Akinade Akinbade, immediate former Secretary to the Osun State Government, has indeed drawn the much  awaited battle line. By this he lived up to the expectations of his supporters who believe he has what it takes to occupy the number one seat in Osun State.

The venue of the event was Osogbo, the state capital. While the activities  lasted, there was no dull moment. Supporters from far and wide across the state, both  young and old, danced to the traditional drums and political songs by party men who eulogized and celebrated the sterling qualities of Akinbade , the  man of the people.
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is faultless records and rich experience in Osun, both at party  and in government levels, were regarded as his unique selling points unequalled by any among those who have shown interest to occupy the number one seat so far. For more than sixteen years, he has been in the  government of Osun  State. He worked with three military administrators successively and under Oyinlola’s government for almost eight years without either soiling his hands or having difficulty with any of them. In office , investigations in the state revealed he  combined  subtle diplomacy with democracy.

This feat demonstrated his workmanship and unbeatable human relations both which  endeared  him to the civil servants and   grassroots as well.

With this  edge, Akinbade is believed to have  created  unbeatable network in the political terrain, with almost all the Local Government chairman in the state sharing his political philosophy of making life better for the less privileged in the society. “His humility is unmatched by any politician in the state. He is just another Omoluabi like the present governor`, a party man noted.

It is the function and responsibility of the SSG to integrate and implement all matters of state policies.  This role, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade played with a high sense of commitment, team work, candour and humility that baffles even his opponents.  He comes out as an SSG who has cut off arrogance from political power.

In the process, he has succeeded in demonstrating to Nigerians how to gain political power like a giant but never to use it as a one.  He strikes many as a boss who speaks less and acts more, talk less but listens more. With these attributes, he has succeeded in endearing himself to the young and the old in Osun State.  To say the least, the people love, admire and respect him for this obvious reasons.  His humility, his approach to life and leadership style have combined to bestow on him as well as earned him greatness.  This astute and unassuming politician was once a board member of the Delta Steel Company Aladja, Delta State, where he served the board as the Chairman, Finance and Multipurpose Committee.  Alhaji Fatai Akinbade was the politician of the year 2003 Award Winner of the OSBC Chapel of NUJ and NTA Ife Merit Award 2004.  In the same  2004, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade was at a meeting of all elected and other stakeholders of PDP in Iwo Zone selected as the leader of the Party in Iwo Federal Constituency.  He was admitted into the prestigious hall of fame of Osun State Council of NUJ in September, 2004.  Fatai is a special breed of philanthropist who want to assist people without making any publicity of it.

Like many people in the world today, he was never born with silver spoon in his mouth. Fatai, just like many of his age group then, joined the trade of his father - drumming.

The young Fatai was so versed in the art of drumming that within a short period of time, he became a household name in Iwo and its environs.

However, despite the seeming instant success and the attendant accolades from the trade (drumming and singing), the ever calm Fatai refused to be carried away by the gusto of the rollicking drum.  Rather, the frugal talking Ogbaagba born prince, was determined to have formal education.  Like Bishop Eboda, Fatai believes that “the difference between success and failure is commitment”.   And so as he was still junketing about with his drums, his education was equally going on unhindered.  His zeal for education saw him attending St. James Anglican Primary School,  Ogbaagba, between 1964 and 1969 and Catholic Commercial Secondary Modern School, Iwo, between 1970 and 1973 and later Catholic Technical College, Ile-Ife between 1975 and 1978.

In the years 1973 and 1974, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade was in Lagos in search of job.  He was to be employed as a factory worker in one of the industries at the Ikeja Industrial Estate but his inability to “grease” the palm of those in charge of recruitment with a sum of N6.00 cost him this job.  This made him to venture into salesmanship (marketing drugs) inside molue buses in Lagos.  He started this job with the intention of using it as a platform to raise the N6.00 needed for gratification to secure a job in the factory.  The high returns from drug marketing made him to stay put on the job for almost two years.

However, the situation changed before long, Pa Akinbade, the father of the former Secretary to the State Government on a visit to Lagos to see to the welfare of his child.

Though, the old man was impressed with his performance over the short period he had been in Lagos, he still believed that there was need for the young Fatai to further his education. The old man’s perception and experience was that education is the only legacy  well meaning parents can bequeath to their children.  The old man, therefore, persuaded Fatai to return to Ogbaagba to continue formal education.

Alhaji Fatai Akinbade is the only credible and unbiased person who has all it take in terms of experience, credibility and goodwill among party men and women and generality of people both within and outside Osun State to take Osun to greater heights.

Adetunji sent this piece from Osogbo.

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