Former Osun State Governor Isiaka Adeleke is 60 today. Olumide Lawal extols the virtues of the grassroots politician who is seeking re-election into the Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senator Isiaka Adetunji Alani Adeleke was born on January 15, 1955 in the coal city of Enugu, Enugu State to late Senator Raji Ayoola Adeleke and Madam Esther Adeleke, both of blessed memory

During the civil war (1967 – 1970), the young Isiaka Adeleke was forced to leave Christ Church School, Enugu to complete his primary education at Alafia Institute, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State. He later attended Ogbomoso Grammar School for his secondary  education, which he completed in flying colours. A man with love for his hometown Ede, Adeleke was employed as a Rate clerk in the then Ede District Council, under the supervision of the late Alhaji Abubakar Adeyemi Alowolodu. This experience enabled Senator Isiaka Adeleke to have a very close rapport with the grassroot people, thus firing his interest in philanthropy and large-heartedness for the less priviledged. His meagre salary of N40 (then twenty pounds), was always made available for those in need to help themselves, without complaining.

The quest for higher education took him to the United States of America, where through doggedness, hard work and studiousness, obtained a Master’s Degree in Criminal Jurisprudence and Public Administration. This prepared him for future higher public service.

No man in Nigeria’s march to democracy has attracted more glamour. None is more charismatic than the first elected civilian governor of Osun State (1992 – 1993). He exudes admirable ai that arouses extreme emotions in friends and foes alike. Isiaka Adeleke electrifies any gathering he finds himself, becoming the cynosure of all eyes. It is God’s doing.

Urbane, upwardly mobile and brightly decorated in every phase of political authority. This profile of courage like an abstract force has settled at the heart of Osun State and held it in thrall. He walked the precise without caving in. He traverses the political landscape like a Colossus.

Senator Isiaka Adeleke is a celebration of antonyms, who uses his wining spirit and streak to emerge the custodian of people sovereignty between 1992 and 1993. Nothing, therefore could stop an idea, which time has come ‘THE GUV’, as he is fondly called by his admirers, also arrive the scene with intimidating credentials – youthful, vivacious, witty and a scion of a distinguished political family, elegantly backed up by hard earned monstrous wealth and a galaxy of eminent friends, who were always there for him at his points of need.

Through hard work, the grace of God and sheer luck, Isiaka Adeleke and his brother Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, set up many business ventures, which today has become a conglomerate, among which is the Adeleke University, Ede, an institution of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Who then, is querying the political authority of Otunba Isiaka Adeleke and his impact on socio-economic development of his fatherland and indeed, Osun State? Because, here is a man, who has given so much to life, asking for little, and indeed offering his wide shoulders for all to lean on. A rare quality, that has stood him out as first among equals. The man of the people in its true sense of it. A politician of note, who has corned many honours both at home and abroad. They are too numerous to mention.

While in office as the first executive governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke achieved the creation of a zone for Ede, which today encompasses, Ede South, Ede North, Egbedore and Ejigbo L.G Areas with Ede as the headquarters. He took Osun State on global reckoning, having put in place, one of the best civil services in Nigeria and this has impacted positively on successive administration in the state. With lean resources during his tenure as governor, he facilitated many infrastructural developments in the nooks and crannies of Osun, inclusive of a buoyant economy for the private sector, a norm that was acknowledged by all and sundry, many years after he left office.

To Asiwaju of Edeland, civility is something that cannot be faked, as it is a frame of the mind that can be cultivated with patience and discipline. Senator Isiaka Adeleke, therefore sees all Ede people and indeed those of Osun West District as his mentors and benefactors, to whom he owes a world of gratitude at all times and will do all within his capability, to promote those things that unite them rather than those that divide.

At 60, Senator Isiaka Adeleke would rather want his people to let them discuss issues that help the less priviledged, which is a way for great people to understand themselves, their characters and values. The greatest birthday gift his people of Osun West District could offer him,is their votes for a return to the Senate, to enable him continue to make life more abundant for them, through well-meaning developmental programme and projects, in addition to the federal government getting the 260 chibok girls liberated.

Be it recalled, that his tenure in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, brought a lot of visible welfare programmes to the people of Osun West District, as evidenced in awards of scholarship to indigent students, comprehensive health centres, I.C.T Library at Federal Polytechnic, Ede, motorized bore-holes in different locations in the Osun West senatorial district, various empowerment programmes for artisans in form of Okada motocycles; Saloon cars, hairdresser salon equipment among others.

In 1992 as the governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke partially solved the water problem in Ejigbo, Iwo, Orile-Owu, Ikoyi and Apomu by putting up mini-water schemes. This is in addition to the up-grade of satellite campuses of Ibadan polytechnic at Iree and Esa-oke to full-fledged polytechnic and College of Technology respectively, while not losing sight of his establishment of the Radio and television stations that are today Osun Broadcasting Corporation with various annexes. The cooperative College Odeomu, was also the brain-child of Senator Isiaka Adeleke as the governor of Osun State.

On coming to office as the governor in 1992, he filled the the vacant Oluwo of Iwo stool, which has been a subject of contention for many years. He gave Iwo people an Oba that made Iwo to grow in leaps and bound.

Having performed so well as a governor, Ede community on January 1, 1994, conferred on him, the prestigious title of theAsiwaju of Edeland (leader of all). He was able to secure appointments for Ede indigenes in the private and public sectors. In Ejigbo, Oba Oyeyode Oyesosin made him the Otunba of Ejigbo, At Ikirun, he is the Oga ‘Nla and at Iree, the Ajagunla. Otunba Isiaka Adeleke’s experience in the Senate between 2007 and 2011 has given him broader focus and clearer vision, which he intends to articulate the more for the benefits of the people of Osun West District on his return to the senate in June, 2015.

The first executive governor of Osun State, as an elder statesman, represents the rare breed of principled and committed politicians, who seeks the good of his people through humanitarian gestures and philanthropic disposition to all and sundry, without let or hindrance, is legendary.

To Isiaka Adeleke, our youths should not allow themselves to be used to destroy lives and properties. They should not allow themselves to make our nation volatile and unstable, because at the end of the day, no gains are recorded.