A colossus is 55 today
By Babajide Obafemi
Years back, Hon. Funsho Olumoko, just like the biblica David, was tendering to the sheeps of his businesses, when fate beckons on him and dropped the barton of leadership right in his hands; having started preparing for such roles early in life with his activities with different students’ union bodies, he bravely took up the challenges of leadership and plunged himself into achieving success, when he was saddled with the hideous task of overseeing a complex local government where there are arrays of intelligetials and huge numbers of influential entities.
By the dint of divine proviso and the favour from political gladiators at that time, Hon Olumoko became the Caretaker Chairman for Ijumu LGA. His one year reign was characterised with an unparallel and unprecedented progress.
From his security interventions, which saw to his building security posts across the local government and mobilising well armed and well prepared vigilantee men to man those posts and help shore up the safety of the local government, to his charge on agricultural extension to stem down food insecurity and hunger in the land, to the beautification of the local government by giving it a needed face lift, introducing perimeter fencing and moving the educational sector of the local government to its present location, an abandoned building that use to be the SDP secretariat, which was left to rot away and also houses miscreants. And to his administration’s intervention on housing and rural electrification, all within twelve calendar months. Hon Olumoko rolled up his sleeves and buried himself in making life suitable for his people. Even at the risk of sounding overly pompous, one will still have to reiterate that his record as a Caretaker Chairman of the local government has not been broken by any chairman that ruled after him, as debatable as this may sound, the records are there for all to see.
Moving on, he became the SSA to the governor at another time before he was briefly brought back to the local government as a liason officer (a Caretaker Chairman again) for the second time, again he brought back his steeze, candour, and can-do spirit, he made heads turn again, and he performed excellently.
Honourable Olumoko returned to his businesses afterwards, but as a professional in politics that he is, he couldn’t totally look away from politics. Having tremendously helped campaign and secured victory for President Mohammadu Buhari during his first term election in 2015 and also did same during Audu/Faleke campaigns that brought GYB, eventually, Hon Olumoko was rewarded with an appointment as the SA and technical adviser to the MD/CEO of NAIC, Mrs Folashade Joseph, a position he held until he he was called upon to first lead Ijumu in the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential campaign, later to lead Kogi West as the DG campaign of Ododo/Joel’s gubernatorial ambition. He did all these successfully and recorded landslide victories in all campaigns. Having proven himself to be invaluable, he was appointed as the Chairman of the recently upgraded College of Education, Pankshin, Plateau state.
Olumoko is blessed with a good aura. He creates an ambience for progress and conviviality wherever he finds himself, he brings hard work, tenacity, and vigour to any office that he works in. He also has an infectious luck running in his blood vessels, and that is always evident in the quantum of successes he achieves. A good example is the upgrade of Federal College of Education Pankshin in Plateau state to a university after he took over as the board chairman.
Honourable Olumoko’s handsomity is top-notch. He is always looking take away. A good dresser, a trailblazer, an orator, and a cerebral administrator who is hardly caught unawares with any topic, subject of any kind. His smile, swag, and style are contagious. He is an ardent listener, a giver, and a great family man.
55 hearty years to Honourable Olumoko Funsho Ekundayo, cheers to a great tomorrow, sir!
