Hon. Akogun Olugbenga Omole is one of the young, vibrant and innovative lawmakers in the 9th Ondo State House of Assembly. Akogun as fondly called by his friends and political associates has flair for writing especially on social media platforms and this talent actually accounted for his selection as the South-West Coordinator of Nigerian Social Media Forum. He is a very resourceful youth leader, football enthusiast, farmer and a consummate politician. He passionately loves to read, write and travel. His primary objective in politics is to use all his resources and contacts to develop Oka and this he has been doing in the last couple of years. Omole is the Chief Executive Officer of an award- winning company, Hero Communication and Events Management. He has equally devoted quality time for efficient management of his family’s expansive farming business till date. He was recently honoured with Award of leadership. Recently, City People’s ADEOLA SHITTU, was at the Assembly Complex where (he) Akogun opened up on his life and his political career.
Congratulations on your recent award, for the benefit of our readers, can you briefly tell us who you are?
Thank you very much. I am Hon. Akogun Olugbenga Omole, the lawmaker, representing Akoko South-West State Constituency 1 at the Ondo State House of Assembly. I am the spokes person and the Chairman, House Committee on Information. I was born about 45 years ago to the family of the late Jacobs Oloruntosin Omole of Isunodo, Osan Agba Oka. Though, I am from Oka Akoko, but I was born in Owo town. I had my Primary and Secondary education in Owo. I attended Owo High School, Owo before proceeding to Federal School of Arts and Science, Ondo for my Higher School Certificate and I gained admission into University of Ilorin where I bagged a B.SC degree in Geography and I am an M.Sc degree holder in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.
After my one-year Youth Service scheme, while I was searching for job, I was appointed a Personal Assistant to the late Chief Adebayo Adefarati on Youth and Union Matters from 2001 to 2003. After Pa Adefarati’s administration, I returned to my farming business and along the line, I floated Hero Communication and Events Management. I was later handed a higher responsibility at the Ondo State Football Agency as a Camp Commandant and the Welfare Officer of Sunshine Stars Football Club between September 2009 and December 2011 by the government of Olusegun Mimiko. I am a strong supporter ofAketi movement and I played a prominent role during his 2012 election and the 2016 governorship election. I served as the Education Secretary of Akoko South West Local Government Area and today, I am the lawmaker representing Akoko South West State Constituency.
As a young man who got his political appointment in his late twenties, what inspired you into politics?
Like I said earlier, after I finished my National Youth Crop Service scheme, I was given an appointment as the Personal Assistant to Pa. Adefarati on youth matters. So, I will say I didn’t plan to be a politician, but fate brought me into politics. You see, we are all pencils in the hands of our creator. So, finding myself in the mucky waters of politics was destiny, but at the initial stage, it was not an easy task, but I appreciate God for where he has placed me today in Ondo State politics. During my days at the university, I was a member of Campaign for Democracy (CD) and a member, Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) since 1995. I was a foundation member of Ondo State Youth in Politics (OYIP) and the Publicity Secretary of Ondo State Youth Forum since year 2001. And when Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that later metamorphosed to the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) was founded, I was a foundation member in Ondo State. At a time, I was a member of Media and Publicity Committee of the APC in Ondo State as well as the Ondo State Coordinator of Broom for Every Home. I was the South West Zonal Coordinator of Nigeria Social Media Forum and the South West Zonal Coordinator of Nigeria Youth for Better Democracy. I worked tirelessly as the Chairman of Directorate of Youth Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, Ondo State Chapter in 2015 and I repeated the same feat as a member Directorate of Youth Akeredolu/Ajayi Campaign Committee in 2016.
So, when I found myself in partisan politics in 2012, I regarded it as an opportunity to serve and assist my people because no matter how rich you are financially, you still need the political power or political backing to make things happen. And here we are today.
Do you have any regret so far joining politics?
Hmmmm! For those who don’t know, politics is an interesting game, though it has its ups and downs, but I want to believe that the passion we all have for it, keeps us going. Though, I had my low moments when I just felt like quitting politics, but the thought of what would happen to my supporters because their case would be like sheep without a shepred and it is because of them that people like us are still in politics. So, I will say with God on our side I am coping.
Barely 6 months ago, you were inaugurated alongside other lawmakers at the ninth Assembly, how will you describe the leadership of the 9th assembly?
First of all, I will like to use this medium to appreciate all the 9th Assembly members at the Ondo State House of Assembly for their leadership qualities. When I say leadership qualities, I mean good representation, and our level of maturity is second to none. despite the fact that most of us at the 9th Assembly are first timers, but the like of the Speaker and the majority leader who are third-term members in the House are well equipped for running the legislative arm, because we all know that money can’t buy experience, so I give it to them.
It’s too early to speak on your achievements, but within June till date, what has been your impacts on your people?
Thanks for this question, in as much as I would have loved my people to give you the answer, I will say that immediately we were inaugurated on the 3rd of June, I hit the ground running. Myself and my team partner, a renowned change agent, a United Nations Awardee and the founder of breaking the silence all the way from India came to Ondo State and we were able to create awareness on hygiene through seminars, lectures and empowerment. The awareness was taken to various secondary schools across Ondo State of which my constituency was not left out. It would also interest you to know that even before coming to the Assembly, I have always added value to the life of my people, which I believe is one of the many reasons they voted for me. Within the space of 6 months. I have been able to facilitate a couple of projects in my constituency and in the budget making, we are making sure that projects that would add value to our people would be included.
Also, my annual football competition, which I started before I became a honourable member, has discovered over 100 youths who are skilled. Allow me to say that this year’s edition of the football competition was packaged better than the previous one, because we brought an international Super Eagle ex-player whose presence stood as a morale booster to young stars. And today, I can say that my constituency Akoko South West Constituency 1, has talented and future football players. I believe that in the next 3 to 4 years, we would have no fewer than 20 youths from my constituency at a reputable football academy and they would secure lucrative contracts in and outside the country. So, as a football person, I believe we can empower the grassroots youth in this aspect because all over the world today, football is the only lucrative game that pays more. Again, in the history of my constituency, I appointed over 30 aides who are on my monthly payroll. This selection was carried out across the 8 wards that make up my constituency and very soon, I will be rolling out hundreds of empowerment items that will benefit all. Aside this, I will say our role as a legislators, we would not slowdown in carrying our oversight functions and lawmaking in order to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people who entrusted us with their votes.
As the Chairman House Committee on Information and spokesperson of the House, how have you been able to improve on the level of accessibility of the House by members of public?
Thanks so much, before we were inaugurated much was not known about the Ondo State House of Assembly, but today, we have revolutionalised the Information Committee by making our presence known on all social media platforms and it’s easy for you to get all the information about the ninth Assembly on your finger tips via your smart phone and all our daily activities at the assembly would be on display by twitter and many others. We have also launched our platform on all social media and very soon, we are going to launch our websites, don’t forget that we are in a digital world, so you don’t need to travel down to Ondo State before you get information about us. During our monthly Press briefing, we have commended the proposed “Hate Speech Bill” proposed by a senator. In a nutshell, I will say we have been able to digitalize Ondo State House of Assembly in the interest of the state and the electorate at large.
What are your plans for your constituency in the next 3 ½ years?
Well, I will say I leave all to God Almighty to lead me, but one thing my people are sure of is that I have plan for them. During my campaign, I made promises to them, some of which have been fulfilled. Some are in the pipeline, but one thing I am sure of is that I will leave them better than I met them when I am leaving office. But don’t forget lawmakers are not the executive, but we have to do what we are doing just to complement the work of the executive so that we can bring dividends of democracy to our people.
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