Whatever efforts the recently inaugurated Oyo Central Senator, Dr. Yunus Abiodun Akintunde put up for the benefits of the Senatorial District and in the overall interest of the people of Oyo State would always receive the support and blessings of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II.
The Oyo Alaafin-born Senator. Akintunde was among the 109 members of the 10th National Assembly in the Red Chamber inaugurated on the 13th of last month and he was in the palace to pay homage to the monarch, who aside being the Olubadan was the occupier of the same Senatorial seat between 1999 and 2003 when the current democratic dispensation began.
In a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, Oba Balogun, who described Senator Akintunde as a dependable and reliable politician that could be trusted with any position going by the father-son relationship that had existed between them over the years.
Speaking through the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, the Senator was said to be a very religious person, who has faith and practices what he professes as a Muslim. “Our Distinguished Senator is destined to go places because he loves giving and full of compassion. Whatever position he is given, the people will enjoy him”, he added.
In his homage, the Senator said he purposely came to the palace to seek for Olubadan’s blessings being a father and his political mentor recalling that he was among those pasting posters for the monarch in 1999 when he (Oba) contested for the same seat he presently occupies in the Senate and said it was his desire to see him before the commencement of work proper in the Senate.
Dr. Akintunde, who hailed the numerous contributions made by Oba Balogun while in the Red Chamber with particular reference to the Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomiso-Ilorin dual carriage way among others which was begun in Year 2000 lamented that as laudable as the project was and still is, it is still under construction, 23 years after.
The new Senator sought for the support and cooperation which he would be requesting for from time to time to ensure that both his Senatorial District and the state at large benefit immensely from the current administration. For instance, he recalled that the road leading to Akure in Ondo State from Ibadan had been under construction for the past 15 years.
“The road needs special intervention and it is our desire to move the project from capital project to Special Intervention Fund, a status being currently enjoyed by the Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin road..I seek for your support on this and other similar efforts. I will be consulting Your Majesty from time to time for robust contributions to national development”, Sen. Akintunde added.
