Adebo Ogundoyin is the youngest Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly. He is married to Olamidun, who is the founder of Sooyah Bistro, and the immediate past Country Director and currently a global advisory board member of Nexford University. They tell BLESSING ENENAITE about their careers, marriage, family and other issues
What influenced your decision to join politics?
After my foray in the entertainment industry, which was successful, I started a farm with my partner, Sola Ladoja, in Ibadan, Oyo State. When I was on the farm, I began to understand the challenges of the people in the grassroots, because the farm was situated in my federal constituency, which is close to my state constituency. I joined politics for that reason.
I joined politics from the ward level and people saw my dedication. The elders in the community saw my seriousness, and they encouraged me further to run for the State House of Assembly to represent them. That was how everything started in the last quarter of 2017.
What are the challenges you face in your position and how do you surmount them?
The challenges are mainly about conflict resolution, especially between the House of Assembly, when one has to deal with 31 other members of the House. We have to resolve conflict, and ensure that the 31 members are efficient in their duties, including myself. I have to ensure that everything we do is according to the law.
Another challenge is the understanding of the roles, functions and limitations of the powers of the House of Assembly and each member, and how to apply that to ensure better governance for the people we represent.
The challenge altogether is how we harness what we have to attain our objectives. Also, (to resolve) the conflict between the legislative and other arms of government, and the conflicts between communities, be it land, political, party, or even zonal issues. We also have the challenge of managing scarce resources to achieve our objectives.
Who are the people that helped you get to this level in your career?
My mother, siblings and other members of my family supported me. My wife also supports me on a daily basis. She has supported me for everything I have achieved, including to become the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers. Also, the leaders and people in my community and the state at large have supported me.
Also, I have to specially thank Rasheed Ladoja (a former Governor of Oyo State), who is like a father figure to me. He was instrumental in me going into politics.
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, is a personal mentor to me as well. He supported me in every way to become the Speaker, and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers.
There is a notion that politics is a dirty game. Did you at any point nurse any fear when you decided to join politics?
Before I joined politics, I heard that (politics is a dirty game). However, the people I am surrounded by, and those who supported me to join politics in the first place did not give me that impression. So, I did not have that fear in terms of violence, diabolism, and pretence up till today. Maybe I have been lucky to have good and God-fearing leaders at the local, state and federal levels.
I have had no reason to compromise myself in any way for politics or any other thing. Politics has evolved. We are in a new dispensation now, and things are done differently. The media – conventional and social— has exposed us to know that there are different ways of doing things, and achieving objectives.
It is assumed that one needs to have a godfather to excel as a politician. What is your experience in that regard?
Things have changed and they will continue to change, because the media has come into play. But, it is important to have a mentor. Even in other fields, either in private or public practice, a good mentor is important.
Can you tell us a bit about your family and educational background, and career trajectory?
I was born on February 17, 1987, to the family of the late philanthropist and industrialist, Adeseun Ogundoyin, and late Justina in Eruwa, Oyo State.
I lost my dear father to the cold hands of death on June 18, 1991, when I was just four years old. But, like Samuel in the Bible who was destined for greatness, through the grace of God, discipline, dint of hard work and resilience, I am fulfilling my destiny and pursuing my dream and vision of making a positive impact in life.
My political activities started at the prestigious Vale College, Ibadan, Oyo State, where I participated in the Students Representatives Council election. Upon graduation from the school, I proceeded to Babcock University, Remo, Ogun State, where I bagged a degree in Agronomy.
After my university education, I had a brief stint on the farm. I established a farm and became an ‘agripreneur’. I also ventured into a bit of entertainment.
I decided to join active politics in 2017 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party; and on June 2, 2018, at the age of 31, I won a keenly contested by-election to become a member of the eighth Oyo State House of Assembly, representing Ibarapa East State Constituency.
In 2019, fortune smiled on me again as I won the Ibarapa East State Constituency seat for the second consecutive time. This marked the beginning of my outstanding and historical feats in politics.
Just like a golden fish that has no hiding place, I emerged the Speaker of the ninth Oyo State House of Assembly on June 10, 2019, at the age of 32. By this, I became the youngest occupant of that position in the history of Oyo State and Nigeria.
As expected, my youthful vitality and versatility came to bear in my new role, and at the expiration of the ninth Oyo State House of Assembly, the legislature under my watch broke past records of achievements in the state in terms of number of bills, motions, resolutions and matters of urgent public importance.
I am also the first to establish a state-of-the-art media studio for the House of Assembly where all its plenary sessions are live streamed, among other groundbreaking feats.
Like the saying goes, history is written by the winners. On March 19, 2023, I was declared the winner of the Ibarapa East State Constituency seat for the third consecutive time. With that victory, I became the highest ranking lawmaker in the historical records of the Oyo State House of Assembly.
Consequently, when it was time for the 10th Oyo State House of Assembly to elect its Speaker, the onus again fell on me to lead the Assembly for the second consecutive time.
Propelled by my innate will to serve, I expressed interest to lead the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, and on September 16, 2023, I set another record by becoming the youngest and the first member of the opposition to emerge as the Chairman of the Conference.
What have you been able to accomplish so far in office?
A few of what I have been able to accomplish so far include a well furnished primary health care centre at Lagaye, a mosque for the Oloro community as demanded, a secondary school in Temidire community almost completed, a primary school in Ojonamo community almost completed, a cold room for butchers at New Garage abattoir, and the completion of the Eruwa Youth Movement office.
Others include the installation of solar-powered streetlights at Aborerin, 15 motorised boreholes that are ready for commissioning, seven facilitated motorised boreholes, donation of 15 new motorcycles to security outfits in Ibarapaland for surveillance and patrol, 21 brand new motorcycles for constituents in Eruwa, 14 brand new motorcycles for constituents in Lanlate, 12 generating sets to constituents, 10 deep freezers to constituents, and cash support to 100 constituents to boost their economic activities.
Also, we have been able to accomplish the facilitation of Industrial Training Fund training and empowerment (electrical engineering and furniture making) for the youths of the constituency, purchase of JAMB forms for youths, sponsorship of mathematics competition for secondary schools, payment of bursary to 500 indigenous students, facilitation of admission for students of Ibarapaland descent, facilitation of First Bank’s training on solar panel installations for youth in the constituency, facilitation of employment opportunities for constituents, distribution of educational materials (notebooks and chalks) to primary and secondary schools in the constituency, and many more.
Some of the bills and motions sponsored by me include the bill to rename Ibarapa Polytechnic as Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic with complete accreditation of all its courses. That solved the crisis that had enveloped the institution.
Secondly, I sponsored the bill to rename Lanlate College of Education to Oyo State College of Education with complete accreditation. This was widely applauded by the people of Ibarapaland.
There was also the Anti Open Grazing Bill which sought to address the farmers/herders crises and clashes in Ibarapaland and other zones in the state; and the Amotekun Bill which brought about Amotekun Corps, which assisted in addressing incessant kidnappings, armed robberies, and Fulani excesses in Ibarapaland, among others.
What form of recognition have you got for your works so far?
In January 2020, I was bestowed with a royal award and recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential Young People in Africa by the Royal African Young Leadership Forum. I am a Fellow of Personality Development and Customer Relationship Management, Nigeria; and a recipient of the Senior Fellowship Award of the Chartered Institute of Public Resources Management and Politics, Ghana.
I have other outstanding awards for good governance, quality representation, and youth inclusion in politics, among others.
What are your other aspirations in politics?
Aspirations will always be there but we will have to leave it in the hands of God and make sure that whatever capacity we are in, we do our best and ensure that we give it 100 per cent. We will be very dedicated and committed to the cause. I also believe it is very important to be self motivated.
