By Ojedokun Olumide
Engr. Abiola Idowu Olaniyan cuts a picture of a dutiful politician, a trait that is very scarce among many politicians. Unlike many of his colleagues, whose ambition is to get power and use it selfishly or whose interest is what can accrue to their personal purse, Olaniyan has modelled a politics of nobility, where lies his main objective, “service” to the people of his senatorial constituency, Oyo State and Nigeria in general. Generally he’s seen as a frank politician who always puts logic where it’s supposed to be.
Since he joined politics in 2012, he had made a giant stride in touching the lives of downtrodden by being responsible and responsive to the yearning of his people. Apart from being an employer of labour, Olaniyan had severally empowered his people in various ways. One interesting and distinct character of this Ibadan born politician is his loathe for injustice, maladministration
Though he has not been in any elective position before now, Engineer Olaniyan’s senatorial aspiration is not seen as a priority misplaced. He had served in some capacities as a government official. He rose to the position of a Director before he left the public service, thus acquainted with the nitty-gritty of government business and since government is a service delivery, he’s seen to be well positioned to deliver service to his people as a senator.
A member of the ALL Progressives Congress (APC), on which platform he is seeking a ticket to contest the forthcoming senatorial election of Oyo Central district, Olaniyan’s emergence in 2023 general elections would assuredly bring succor to the people of the senatorial district, who in large number have been yearning of real change in their representation at the red chamber.
Many of them see in him a beacon of hope, who has been committed to their cause and had at one time or the other provided leadership in every stratum of the communities that made up the Oyo Central senatorial district. Well connected with his people, Olaniyan believes that disconnecting a leader from the people is like cutting off his oxygen since serving the people is the sole purpose of leadership.
As a successful civil engineer, his sterling performance during his stint as a Director in the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency attested to his indelible commitment to public service.
Besides politics, Engr. Olaniyan is also a businessman; he’s the Chief Executive of De-Aces Hotel and has some business concerns.
Speaking recently on his aspiration, Olaniyan who joined politics after his retirement in 2012 said the government (both at the state and federal levels) contributed to his life development, most especially his education career.
“The government had served me because at every level of my education pursuit, both state and federal government gave scholarships for my secondary and university education. Now I see it as an opportunity to reciprocate the gesture, I want to give back to society because society makes me what I become today. As someone that believes in service, that is another way I can help a lot of people. Most importantly, I am aspiring to join others in making good laws that can improve the lives of Nigerians” he said.
Engr. Olaniyan said his immediate priority in the Senate if he is elected will be to provide his constituency a good representation in the red chamber.
“I will ensure that I attract some infrastructural developments to my constituency. Also, I will sponsor motions and bills, which will propose creation of employment for large numbers of youths in the country. As you can see many people are jobless, so there is a need to create an enabling environment for companies to establish and to operate. If I get to the red chamber, I will sponsor a bill that will allow the government to give companies some tax free years as incentives for them to establish”.
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