•As He Celebrates 40th Birthday
•Tells City People How He Feels
Lagos lawmaker, Hon. Kasunmu is in a very happy mood right now. That is quite understandable. He has every reason to be. He recently turned 40. He also recently won his 3rd term bid, resoundingly. He represents Ikeja Constituency 2. He won a landslide victory at the last elections. So, for him, it has been double victory. He is one of the very active lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
At the sitting of the house last Tuesday, members spoke glowingly about Hon. Kasunmu on the floor of the house. The Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun who chaired the session, on behalf of the Speaker who was away, spoke about how valuable and reliable Hon. Kasunmu is. All those who spoke commended this young honourable, one after the other.
Shortly after the session, City People followed him upstairs to his office to get him to talk about the story of his life at 40. Because of his simple & humble nature, he is well loved by many at the Lagos Assembly. He was the youngest member of the 8th Assembly. He was then only 32, in 2015. He was the first new lawmaker to sponsor 2 Bills at once, in 2016. He is the first lawmaker to be re-elected for a 3rd term in the history of Ikeja Constituency 2, coming after Bayo Odulana (1999-2007), and Lola Akande (2007-2015).
He was educated at King’s College Lagos, University of Wolverhampton, UK, where he studied Law. Popularly called Honourable ARK, (an acronym from his initials), Kasunmu was first elected into the House of Assembly in 2015 on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) at the age of 32, making him the youngest member of the 8th Assembly. From 2015 to 2019, Hon. Kasunmu served as Chairman, House Committee Youth, Sports and Social Development and performed creditably well.
After his re-election for a second term in 2019, he was appointed Chairman, House Committee on Lands, a position he holds till date. In his capacity as the Lands’ Committee Chairman of the House. Kasunmu brought innovation, Versatility and Effectiveness to the process of resolving Land disputes across the state. During his tenure, the Lagos anti-Landgrabbing law came into full effect. Also his oversight functions on the MDAs under purview are superb.
Apart from his sterling performances as a Committee Chairman, Hon. Kasunmu’s other notable attainments include:
(1) Facilitating The Construction of the Ultra Modern Pedestrian Bridge and International Park at Berger Bustop, Ojodu LCDA in 2016 under former Governor Ambode. (2) Sponsorship of a Bill to create the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund in 2017 (3) Sponsorship of a Bill to create the Lagos State Sports Commission in 2017
(4) Facilitating the employment of over 100 Constituents to Lagos State Civil Service and MDAs, including LASTMA, LNSC, LAWMA, LAHASCOM, LG Service Commission, TESCOM, SUBEB, Health Services, Judiciary, CBD and many others..
(5) Sponsorship of ARK 5-Aside Football Competition (6) Sponsorship of thoudsands of Free GCE Registrations for Constituency Students
(7) Sponsorship of Thousands of Free JAMB registration for Constituency students
(8) Provision of Micro Financial Assistance for Small Scale Businesswomen.
(9) Sponsorship of ARK STATEWIDE FOOTBALL CUP in 2018.
(10) Facilitating a Million Naira Financial Empowerment for Persons with disabilities in the constituency 2019.
(11) Provision of a N25M Covid-19 Response Fund to provide massive food palliatives, direct cash transfer, thousands of high quality hand sanitisers, face masks and public enlightenment during the Pandemic in 2020.
(12) He facilitated the rehabilitation of 10 major roads in the Constituency including Aina St, Odozi St, Ogunnowo St, Obanta St, Mojidi St and many others
(13) Provision of Boreholes water with power generator at Ojodu
(14) Provision of Boreholes water with power generator at Yakoyo.
(15) Provision of Boreholes water with power generator at Ipodo, Ikeja.
(16) Provision of Boreholes water with Power Generator at Anifowose Community, Ikeja (17) Drainage Construction to control the perennial erosion a Area G Police station axis of Ogba bustop.
(18) Sponsorship of Youths to Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca and Jerusalem’s
(19) Facilitated Land Space for the construction of Health Centre at Agidingbi community
(20) Provision of Sporting facilities for the Youth in Phase Ogba Estate And many other achievements.
Born into the legendary Kasunmu/Mogaji/Tinubu families of Lagos, Hon. Adedamola Richard Kasunmu remains a notable youth-in-leadership brand who is totally committed to Youth emancipation, inclusion and empowerment.
He comes from a strong political family. He is the grandson of late Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, the late mother of President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. His late mum is President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s sister. That is why he usually calls Asiwaju his father. Both share the same birthday, March 29th of every year.
Last week, City People asked Hon. Kasunmu how he feels turning 40 and he smiled. “I still can’t believe that I am 40. It’s been so fast. It’s been 4 decades of a great journey out there, full of ups, downs, challenges, triumphs, trials, tribulations, a time for Joy, a time for Sadness, a time for peace, a time for anger, a time for love, a time for anguish, care, and concern, all mix of emotions, over the years. I am just thankful for being able to get to this age, because I can tell you for a fact that, before turning this age, death had taken a toll on me like a few times. For me, overcoming that, took the Grace of God and prayers and it took a lot of patience. Really, it’s been a lot of lost time, a lot of achievements along the line, it’s just been God. I just give God the Glory.”
How did he feel the morning he turned 40? “I was going to say, when I woke up I felt this way, but I now remembered that I was up till midnight and beyond. Did I even sleep at all? No. I didn’t. 12am came and calls kept coming in, text messages, whatsapp messages kept coming in, till 6am. I was on call, from my friends, colleagues, family members, loved ones, those in Nigeria, those in Canada, UK, US with their different time zones. My phone was just buzzing with calls, back-to-back. I slept between 6am and 7am when another call woke me up, with wonderful serenades, trumpets here and there, the Ewi, Praise & Worship, organised by my wife, because she knows that is what I actually wanted. I wanted a multiple of thanks and praise. And I got it. So, it was a normal day for me. I went to work. I got here at the Lagos State House of Assembly, and I was surprised by a battalion of youths, loaded in 2 buses. They came to celebrate me as well. Here, I also met men, women, with all the drummers and I danced and danced. We danced so much that one of the drums got broken”.
“After that, I came up here, to my office and my Staff had more surprises for me. Then, I continued with my day and I thought that was all, only to be surprised later on in the evening by my fans, family and friends to a lovely surprise Get-together, put together by my wife & family. Of course, it just made me feel good all through the day. I felt happy that I had people around me who love me sincerely and genuinely. Even though, for every person, you will have those people who love you. Those who dislike you for nothing. You will have those people who hate you for no just reason, not to now talk of maybe a politician. We have a whole lot to battle with. Many of it comes from what the Yorubas call Ilara, (Envy & Jealousy). There is also the spiritual part that you have to battle with. Those that want to take up your position, for one reason or the other or those that don’t want you there. There are too many things to deal with.”
“So, having attained that age, with these major achievements, I just thank God that so far, so good. My pilot, my co-pilot who gave birth to me into this world, I just thank God that they are happy. My great mum is happy where she is. My father is presently very happy and elated to be alive to witness this day. Then of course, my dearest father, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whom I coincidentally share the same birthday with. I am very thankful for his life. I am very thankful for the fact that he is the President elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I know that with this, Nigeria of our time is going to change with his inception. He has done it in Lagos, and he will do it in Nigeria, as a whole, and he will replicate it across the nation. It is just a heart full of thanks. Really. I am overjoyed having gone through these many years.”
-Seye Kehinde
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