Dr Akindele Adekunle: A Birthday Tribute To Osun PDP Capacity Chairman By Sarafa Ibrahim

In the highly sought after book series, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari book series, renowned Canadian writer, Robin S. Sharma, says “Leadership is not about a title or designation. It is about impact, influence and inspiration. Impact involves getting results, influence is about spreading the passion you have for your work, and you have to inspire team-mates and customers.” This endearing concept defines the person of Dr Akindele Adekunle, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Osun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dr Akindele possesses a clarity of purpose, deep-rooted humanity, sense of duty and intellect, qualities manifested in his unmistakable solidity of character and strength of conviction that stand him out among his peers. We can all attest to his humility, purposefulness and resilience in the face of challenge. In a tough situation, Dr Akindele’s self-effacing and unwavering commitment has always helped to turn the tides and return a pleasing outcome.

Members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state have in Dr Akindele a practical politician possessing strong team playing attributes that helped the party to navigate multiple challenges. Before, during and after the recent governorship election, the Caretaker Chairman demonstrated conflcit resolution capacities, brokering many difficult peace deals, visiting many leaders and offering olive branch to the most difficult of antagonists. His clear understanding of dynamics of Osun PDP, his team spirit, his willingness to work with all party caucuses and unwavering loyalty to the party were key qualities in celebrated victory of PDP at the last election. For leading the party to victory under very difficult circumstances, many now called him the “Capacity Chairman”.

Much more seriously, Ondo state and of course the national leadership of the party under Dr Iyorchia Ayu have bestowed a great gift on Osun state. That gift is a product of humble beginning who even without rosy upbringing outgrew his circumstances and emerged a top medical professional in private practice. He was trained as a physician at the University of Benin, and has been in the medical practice for over 20 years. Forgetting the discourse on whether medical doctors make good politicians, in the birthday Chairman is a professional demonstrating the added impact of a professional in the political space.

At a time many professionals are ruminating on whether to plunge into the political terrain, here is a great example of how a professional within the political terrain can bring to bear multiple qualities to redefine the political process. The open mind, the consultative approach, the holistic perspective, the temperament to endure, all combined to make Dr Akindele an invaluable asset to the PDP family.

And what better time is there to celebrate this extraordinary being as he graciously marks a new age this Thursday. In the short time that I have known Dr Akindele, I can attest to the fact that he’s a listening leader, most especially when he is convinced that you are not only passionate about the progress of the PDP but desirous to work for its success.

Dr Akindele is a principled politician, straightforward and highly intelligent. And more, he’s a team player of no equal. Dr Akindele will always emphasize the deep effect of collaborative efforts and how it made his job in Osun a lot easier. It is no surprise that he could brave the odds and deliver, what many had considered an impossible mission.

As he marks a new age, we are grateful for the impressive impacts he has made in Osun PDP and humanity as a whole. It is a thing of honour to celebrate a trailblazer, a man of many parts and more, who has shown the real value of leadership. I join well-wishers, especially leaders and members of our great party, PDP, to pray for him and wishes him many happy returns of the day so as to continue to see him in leadership positions where he can better serve our party and the whole of humanity.

● Ibrahim, a public affairs analyst, writes from Osogbo.