Ahead of the Osun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election, meet Fatai Akinade Akinbade, one of the governorship aspirants, is a name that needs no introduction in Osun political arena, having served in different capacities before now.

Akinbade is a certified Civil Engineer and politician with emulable virtues in mind and deeds.

Fatai, a Prince of Agbowu, was born on 2nd April, 1955 in Ogbaagbaa in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area of Osun State. He is of Owu extraction and in fact, the current National President of Royal Union of Owu People (ROUP).

The values of honesty, hardwork and service that later propelled him to success in his chosen career in engineering and vocation of politics, were lessons he picked from his growing years when poverty and ills in the society nearly deprived him of education. His story to stardom therefore is a triumph of hardwork and determination.

He attended St. James’ Anglican School, Ogbaagbaa between 1964 and 1969 and Catholic Commercial Secondary Modern School, Iwo between 1970 and 1973 and later Catholic Technical College, Ile-Ife between 1975 and 1978.

The frugal-talking Fatai, obtained his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) both in Civil Engineering from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, in 1984. Driven by his desire for more academic letters, he proceeded to the prestigious Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) where he earned a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Civil Engineering, in 1989. The easy-going Akinbade is almost through with his Master’s degree programme(Msc) in Civil Engineering from the same reputable institution.

He is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigerian Association of Technology Engineers, Osogbo Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture; Nigerian Institute of Building among others. Aside from having vested interest in AKFAT Nig. Ltd. and Agbowu Commercial Ventures, he also has interest in some other business ventures, such as hospitality, transportation and real estate, among others.

A successful professional and a complete family man, Akinbade is happily married and blessed with promising children. As a matter of fact, two of his children have bagged doctorate degrees; one in Law(Corporate Governance) while the other did his doctoral programme in Civil Engineering. Almost all his children have graduated with Master’s degrees in various fields of study. In the same manner, his second and the younger wife, is almost done with her doctorate degree in Nursing,(Public Health)

CAREER PROJECTION

His desire to earn his living using his talent and God-given ability started in 1973, when he went to Lagos in search of a white-collar job.

Turn of event compelled him to take up a menial marketing job and would not easily let go off it but for his father and his love for education.He later returned to his hometown,Ogbaagba, to take up a teaching appointment at the Methodist Primary School, Isero (now in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area of Osun State). He soon left the teaching job for the Catholic Technical College, Ile-Ife in 1975, where he studied Bricklaying and Masonry. It was in this college that his talent began to manifest as the school provided for him, the opportunity to put into practice, what he learnt in the classrooms.He was involved in several building projects and despite being a field man, he led his class throughout his school days in the academic engagements.The brilliant Akinbade passed all his final papers in distinctions.

On completion of his course at the Technical College, Ile-Ife, he left for Kaduna State for employment, a state he had always visited for vacation jobs during his school days at the Catholic Technical College, Ile-Ife.

It was with ease, therefore, that he got employed as a full-fledged Supervisor by the then BenFobil Construction WA Limited, Kaduna, where he always had his vacation jobs.The company deployed him to Jos where he supervised to completion, the Plateau State Police Headquarters and also handled another major construction work at the Nigerian Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research Centre in Vom near Jos.

His quest for education and professionalism made him to resign from BenFobil Construction Company to seek admission in The Polytechnic Ibadan where he first had his OND in Civil Engineering.On completion of this course, he joined Adold Engineering and Construction Limited, Lagos, there, he was deployed to Ilorin to complete the CBN quarters. He later worked with EFEL, Nigeria Limited, also in Lagos.It was while working with this company that he returned to The Polytechnic, Ibadan for his HND programme which he completed in 1989.

It is interesting to note that as Fatai was doing all this, his latent interest in party politics was equally growing.As such, he was at different times, in the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), National Republican Convention (NRC) and the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN).

POLITICAL JOURNEY

As youth activist, Akinbade used his talent and resources to advance the course of his community.

Consequently, between 1979-1983, he was made the Chairman, Youth Wing, Iwo North Local Government of the NPN and later the Chairmanship candidate of the NRC in Ola-Oluwa Local Government in 1990.

In 1994, his credentials in efficient job delivery and adherence to the dictates of professionalism in the field of civil engineering was noticed. He was appointed Osun State Commissioner for Works, Transport, Lands and Physical Planning by Navy Captain Anthony Udofia (rtd) in 1994 and was the only Commissioner retained by Colonel Anthony Uzoma Obi (rtd) when he took over from Udofia in 1996. Similarly, Colonel Theophilus Oladapo Bamgboye (rtd), again retained Fatai as a Commissioner in the state.Therefore, Akinbade, successfully served three military administrations in the state, spanning a period of four and a half years as a Commissioner.

Those four years could be described as the needed verve that brought to the fore, Fatai’s political astuteness and managerial ability. He utilized the then World Bank Assisted Road Projects of the military administration to lay very firm foundation of the first class inter-city and inter-state road networks which Osun enjoys till date. Specifically, under the World Bank Assisted Road Projects, sixteen (16) inter-state/inter-city road projects were satisfactorily executed and completed.

In 2001, he was elected the Chairman of PDP in Osun State and later between 2003 and 2010 he was appointed the Secretary to the Government of Osun State. As SSG for seven years, he integrated and implemented all matters of state policies. Akinbade was a board member of Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Delta State.

GUBERNATORIAL AMBITION

Fatai is not a rookie in the art of politics; he has truly paid his dues, having calculatedly gone through the mills of tutelage.His involvement in the governance of Osun State and his experience in both private and public jobs, has prepared him for the great task of governance.Therefore, his desire to govern Osun State for the benefit of the people since 1996, is a progressive desire that has basis in capacity and fulfilment.He is service-driven and not inordinately ambitious as some cheap-minded fellows may want to infer.

In mid-2010, shortly before former Governor Rauf Aregbesola was pronounced winner of 2007 governorship elections in Osun State, Akinbade was a leading contender to succeed for Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, under who he was serving as SSG. But the eventual overthrow of the government meant that he has to wait for another four years.

In 2014, he left the PDP for Labour Party to contest governorship election after he realized that his chances of becoming the party candidate was near zero. He came distant 3rd in the August 9, 2014 elections with some votes above 18,000.

In 2018, having returned to the PDP, he threw his hat into the ring again to contest for the topmost job in the State. He was one of the four candidates that made it to the primaries but lost to Senator Ademola Adeleke. Not satisfied with the outcome of the primaries, Akinbade left the then main opposition party to join Action Democratic Congress being led by his former boss, Oyinlola. He came 5th in the election with over 7,000 votes.

Author: Jare Tiamiyu (Excluding Headline)

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