By Jare Tiamiyu
Rt. Hon. Sulaimon Olasunkanmi Yussuff is not a new name in Osun political arena having served both parties and the nation in different capacities at different times. He’s a known grassroot politician and mobiliser who has contributed significantly to the evolution and development of progressive party.
Born days after the country’s independence, precisely on October 4, 1960 to the very humble background parented by Alhaja Nurat Yussuff and Alhaji Chief Amuda Yussuff of Woru dynasty of Ilobu, Irepodun local government area of Osun State. Lasun grew up from a political elite, as his father later emerged a political leader not only in Ilobu town but in Osun division of southwestern Nigeria generally.
Education Background
While his both parents are unlettered, SL Yussuff benefited from both Quranic and western scholarships, with which he combined Islamic spirituality and academic brilliance coupled with native intelligence as a product of strong parental socialization he enjoyed from his humble background.
Schooled in Ilobu, Eriin, Ifon, Ikare, Ibadan and Ile-Ife where he had his primary, secondary, advanced level studies and University education respectively, he was trained as an Engineer specializing in Mechanical Engineering. While in School, starting from his secondary education, he benefited from federal government scholarship and up to his university education, he did not lose the opportunities of scholarships and academic awards that came with his studious characters.
Following his resounding undergraduate success, he had another Master’s degree in Project Management also from his Alma Mater, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Work Experience
Upon his graduation from the University, he took appointment with the then Oyo State Water Corporation, Ibadan where he worked for only five years and retired to private life and politics.
In private life, he exceedingly excelled as a public transport manager in Lagos; a cocoa merchant in Osun, a big time farmer in Osun and an hotelier with a magnificent edifice known as LAIM Hotels and Suites, Osogbo in Osun State. He is reported to have a construction company.
Political Journey
As a politician, he demonstrated not only being a colossus but an enviably benevolent politician. Rising from political party executive position as a Public Relation Officer of Alliance for Democracy between 1998 and 2002, he become a state wide political leader in progressive political parties including All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria.
He was one of the foremost architects of political victories of Chief Bisi Akande (1999-2003); Prince
Olagunsoye Oyinlola (2003-2010) and Mr. Rauf Aregbesola(2010-2018) governorship elections held in 1999, 2003 and 2007 respectively.
Lasun eventually contested for the seat of House of Representatives, representing Irepodun/Olorunda/Orolu/Osogbo federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2007, but he lost to Hon. Leo Awoyemi. Even though, he challenged his electoral loss to the Court of Appeals.
He ran again in 2011 and won the election to emerge as floor member of the House of Representatives, Abuja. As a floor member, he was a Vice Chairman of House of Representatives’ Committee on Water and members of some other House Committees between 2011 and 2015. In 2015 he secured re-election and became Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria in an historic election held on the floor of the House of Representatives in July 2015, where he assuaged a massive 202 votes out of
358 that cast votes in the House, leading victorious ahead of other contestants for the post.
Thus, Sulaimon Lasunkanmi Yussuff became a Rt. Honorable, the position he held for four years with milestone achievements.
As a Deputy Speaker, he doubled as the First Deputy Chairman of the ECOWAS parliament and the Chairman of the Committee of a Whole in the House of Representatives.
He served in many strategic ad-hoc committees set up by the President of Nigeria and the Nigerian parliament between 2015 and 2019; where he displayed high level of integrity, commitment to national development and brilliancy. Among such tasks were the chairman of the committee set up by President Mohammed Buhari to repair the infected 2016 Nigerian budget that was alleged of illegal and extraneous insertions. SL Yussuff handled the assignment successfully. He was also the chairman of Nigerian Constitution Review Committee of the House.
In 2018, he contested for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress and was defeated by the incumbent Governor, Gboyega Oyetola. He also made an unsuccessful attempt to return to the House of Representatives in 2019.
Lasun, in recognition of his contributions to community development, is a holder of many township chieftaincy titles. He is Ikolaba of Ilobu land; Bashorun of Oba’gun; Agabakin of Ilare-Ijesha all in Osun State; and Ajagunla of Ikare Akoko in Ondo State.
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