Osun 2018: Why Must It Be Oriolowo ?By Oyedeji Abioye

It was the 35th American President, J.F Kennedy,  who gave the vivid axiom that served as an impetus for every patriotic citizen,  who possesses  the requisite strength and acumen to lead not as a politician but as a philosopher king. 

Oyedeji Abioye

According to Kennedy” Those who fail to participate in the politics of their environment end up being governed by their inferiors”.

Without mincing words,  the present political configuration and reality  of Osun State require a manager of diverse backgrounds and wealth of local knowledge and international exposure to sustain the intensity of developmental drive the present  administration has initiated. 

Succinctly,  Engineer Adelere Oriolowo is a perfect match for this description, going by his outstanding professional savvy,  as a consummate professional Engineer of diverse exposure, a meticulous Technocrat and seasoned Administrator of note.  

Oriolowo  was already  a certificated project manager with International Development Project Manager Certificate from QUEBEC, Canada before retiring as a permanent secretary in the State of Osun and the Project Coordinator in the water resources and rural development sector of the State.

His consistent and brilliant performance as an expert on different  International and Development Partners’ projects for the past 32  years remain unbeatable. 

Oriolowo pedigree stands him out and provides rare leverage for him in the political arithmetics of the state at the moment. 

The enigmatic personality hailed  from Oriolowo’s family, Molete quarters in Iwo Local Government of the state, which is in the Osun West Senatorial District. 

He had his primary & secondary education in Iwo, after which he proceeded to study Mechanical Engineering at The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

As result of his  satisfactory performance, and undaunted spirit,  Oriolowo after bagging  Ordinary Diploma in Mechanical Engineering in Ibadan, worked with Nigerian Bottling Company, maker of Coca-Cola brands in Ibadan for One & half year as a mechanical supervisor after which he left  for University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, to study Agricultural Engineering.

A member of COREN and Nigeria Society of Engineers. Oriolowo is a member of Nigeria Institution of Agricultural Engineers,  member,  Nigeria Institution of Strategic Planners, member, Nigeria Personel Managers, and member, Institute of Road Engineers among others. 

As a project manager, he  initiated and implemented a number of projects ranging from FADAMA, he was the Project Coordinator for FADAMA I project from 1990 to 1996, he  was the Focal Point Officer for Food & Nutrition project which was funded by UNICEF, he was Project Coordinator for IFAD programme, that is International Fund for Food & Agriculture Development, he was Focal Point Officer for Mechanisation in the UNDP funded project, he  was Focal Point Officer for water management with FAO, that is Food & Agriculture Organization before his appointment as the  Project Coordinator for Rural Access & Mobility Project; RAMP phase two in year 2004.

He commenced the move for  initiating RAMP II and  have been on it since year 2004.

Oriolowo was part of the UNICEF, European Union projects that is given both bore holes and surface water to the State as a solace to hundreds of communities across the state with passion and great commitment. 

RAMP under the watch of Oriolowo has constructed over 215km of roads with the help of World Bank & well over 580km of roads with the efforts of the State Government. 

Oriolowo and his team have completed 24 culverts and bridges, including the big bridge on Ooye river, the one that links Osun State University to an area in Obokun local government, Ilase along that  area, the long bridge in Ifedayo local government, Oyeadunni bridge, the one  linking Ifedayo to Ila local government and also many others roads and bridges linking Ekiti State.

It is indisputably correct to say that Oriolowo is a genius in the management of man and resources,  going by his achievements in different capacities with great results without blemish. 

Of course, the litmus test of ability to guarantee good governance and enviable leadership is capacity to manage human and material resources without rancour, the strength, Oriolowo has showcased with conviction. 

Oriolowo is a master of core and necessary factors of development in the developing countries,  having combined Technology and Agriculture in his choice of specialization,  and went through strict Civil Service and administrative procedure for decades. 

Point blankly, the man,  Adelere Oriolowo  remains the best for the job of governance in the state of Osun from November 26, 2018, for the purpose of dynamic leadership and advancement of the present development. 

Engineer Oyedeji Abioye,  FNSE,  FNICE writes from Jos, Plateau State.