By Yusuf Adeoye
Without prejudice to qualities that count for co aspirants to the governorship seat in Ogun State, Rt. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade is one among equals and best fit to take the mantle. By a mixture of sheer grit and hard work, Akinlade has risen to become a beacon of hope and a reference point not only in Yewa-Aworiland, but also in entire Ogun State.
Presently, Akinlade is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions. He is also the Baba Adinni of Yewaland, who, undoubtedly stands as the most experienced among fellow politicians in the state vying for the top seat in the Yewa governorship agenda.
It is noteworthy that, in the build-up to the 2011 governorship election after the demise of Otunba Dipo Dina in January 2010, Akinlade, the fourth-term House of Representatives member representing Egbado South and Ipokia Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, almost got the nod to fly the ticket of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He was later prevailed upon by leaders of the party including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, to pave the way for Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was then the protagonist of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in a bid to form a strong partnership to defeat the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Even while he was out of government, the consistency of the erstwhile federal commissioner representing Ogun State in the Federal Character Commission is ever constant. A grassroots politician and humanitarian, Akinlade is a community-focused leader who operates from the bottom-up, combining political engagement with direct service to improve his people’s lives. Rather than focusing on personal gain. His avid drive towards ensuring that youths and women in Ogun State are gainfully employed and empowered, he continues to facilitate federal jobs, supports indigents, builds and commissions infrastructures, among others. He gives to the Jew as much as he does to the Gentile, hence, his appellation of ‘The Man, The Bridge, The Game Changer’.
Akinlade has never hidden his ambition to lead the Ogun State at the highest level. Of course, at the moment, he aspires to take over the baton from the current occupier, Governor (Prince) Dapo Abiodun, yet without desperation.
Akinlade has repeatedly, clamour for the unity of purpose. Recently, he spoke against the backdrop of Yewa politics and regional peace, urging stakeholders to avoid actions that could undermine Ogun West’s collective interests. He emphasized that peace and tranquillity are essential for the emergence of the best candidate.
“For Yewa to get it right, all hands must be on deck to strategize on how a consensus candidate can emerge, rather than individuals working at cross purposes,” he said.
In his own words, ”We have a lot of people who can develop Yewaland. I can authoritatively tell you that, it is only God that gives people positions. And I am assuring you in the name of Almighty Allah, that I will be coming to this same event in 2027 as governor of Ogun State”.
With a cult-like followers, Akinlade has engraved his name in the minds of all and sundry not only within Yewaland but across the state regardless of party affiliations. He has his footprints in technology development, infrastructure, employment facilitation, traditional institutions upliftment, and many more. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, Akinlade took it upon himself to build befitting palaces for all traditional rulers in Yewaland, erecting 16 structures across the district. Little wonder he has been described has the most consistent and pride of Ogun West by the traditional rulers even as they wish he could replicate his wholesome agenda as the helmsman of Ogun State.
Born in 1967 in Owode-Yewa, the notable philanthropist who is the Gem International School’s proprietor, graduated from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and the University of Ado-Ekiti, where he obtained his Master’s in Business Administration. He is also a recipient of an honorary doctorate of the University de Science, Benin Republic. Among others, he is a member of the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration and an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
As the unassuming philanthropist marks his 59th Birthday on Saturday March 21st, 2026, Akinlade will obviously be elated just like millions of Yewa-born wellwishers and those who believe in justice across the state and beyond, to see the realization of his ambition as Ogun-West governor come 2027.
Among his landmark achievements are rural electrification, health, infrastructure, education. They include; CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF A COMPUTER CLASS ROOM ITOLU HIGH SCHOOL ILARO; CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF A COMPUTER LABORATORY IMOTU COM. COM. ACADEMY IFOYINTEDO; CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF A PUBLIC ICT CENTER IDIROKO; CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF A PUBLIC ICT CENTER OJA-OWODE; FULLY EQUIPPED PUBLIC ICT CENTER OKE-ODAN; CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF AN ICT COMPUTER LABORATORY AT COMMUNITY SECONDARY SCHOOL, IPOKIA; CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC ICT CENTER ILARO TOWN; COMPUTER LABORATORY AREA COMM. HIGH SCHOOL OWODE; DONATION OF 110 COMPUTER SETS TO FED. POLY ILARO; MEGA STUDENT CIVIC CENTER; FED. POLY ILARO; FULLY EQUIPPED PUBLIC ICT CENTER ADO ODO; FULLY EQUIPPED PUBLIC ICT CENTER AJILETE; CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION OF A PUBLIC ICT CENTER ALAGBON; RURAL ELECTRIFICATION OF OKO BABA; DONATION OF A 500KVA TRANSFORMER AT SABO OWODE; DONATION OF TWO 500KVA TRANSFORMER AT AFERIKU IDIROKO; DONATION OF TWO 500KVA TRANSFORMER AT 4 CORNERS OWODE; DONATION OF TWO 500KVA TRANSFORMER AT ADO ROAD OWODE; DONATION OF 500KVA TRANSFORMER AT OWONIFARI IDIROKO; DONATION OF 500KVA TRANSFORMER AT ASEKO IDIROKO; DONATION OF 500KVA TRANSFORMER AT GENNERAL HOSPITAL IDIROKO; DONATION OF 500KVA TRANSFORMER AT OWOTEDO AJEGUNLE; DONATION OF 500KVA TRANSFORMER AT OGBOYE STREET OWODE; DONATION OF 500KVA TRANSFORMER AT ILOBI; DONATION OF 500KVA TRANSFORMER TO TIWATOPE COMMUNITY BEHIND ITOLU HIGH SCHOOL ILARO; SOLAR STREET LIGHTS IN; NATIONAL BUILDING RESEARCH INSTITUTE, ONFO ROAD, IPOKIA; BIO RESOURCES CENTER, OWODE; VOCATIONAL CENTER AGOSASA; INCUBATOR TECHONOLOGY CENTER OWODE; NATIONAL BUILDING RESEARCH INSTITUTE VOCATIONAL CENTER, ILARO ROAD; NATIONAL AGENCY FOR SCIENCE ENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURE (NASSENI), OWODE.; FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH (FIIRO) ILARO ROAD; CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD @ IHUNBO ITA-EGBE; CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD @ OKE ODAN; SINKING OF SOLAR BOREHOLE AJEGUNLE; MOTORIZED BOREHOLE @ ANSARUDEEN IDIROKO; EROSION CONTROL AJILETE; EROSION CONTROL IPOKIA; CONSTRUCTION OF IPAKE ROAD; GARRI PROCESSING ARMY BARRACK; MOTORIZED BOREHOLE MAUN2; MOTORIZED BOREHOLE IPOKIA; MOTORIZED BOREHOLE TUBE; MOTORIZED BOREHOLE IHUNBO; SOLAR POWERED BOREHOLE MADOGA; PRIMARY HEALTH CENTER AGOSASA; PRIMARY HEALTH CENTER OKE ERINJA; PRIMARY HEALTH CENTER SABO; PRIMARY HEALTH CENTER IFOYINTED
Others include; Information and Communication Technology centre at Ado-Odo; Sickbay centre at Iganmode Grammar School, Ota; School hall at Area Community High School, Owode, including several others he has facilitated in the last three years. TF
