Our Prediction came to Pass, on Monday,3rd June,2019 as we predicted few days after the State Assembly Election that the next Minority Voice at the 9th Ondo State House of Assembly, ODHA will be led by HONOURABLE RASHEED OLALEKAN ELEGBELEYE,a Member of ODHA Representing Akoko North East Constituency.
Below was our submission as presented for publication to an International Journal with Special Focused on the existence of Minority Voices in African Democratic Settings…
Among the 26 incoming Lawmakers for the 9th Ondo State Assembly, ODHA, only three were the odd men out and these includes the two Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] candidates, the duo of Honourable Rasheed Olalekan Elegbeleye representing Akoko North East Constituency and Hon. Festus .O. Akingbaso representing Idanre Const. while Hon.Tomide Akinribido Leonard representing Ondo West Const.1 is so far the only Zenith Labour Party [ZLP] member.
HIS STRONG POLITICAL ATTRIBUTES:
Without an iota of doubt, Elegbeleye popularly called Omisore or Osoore for short by his admirers has become a phenomenon in the contemporary Ondo State Political Space.
This young but positive thinking and committed young democrat is blessed with razor-shaped grassroots intellect and a startling candour, Elegbeleye since his foray into politics almost three decades ago has proved his mettle and his lustrous pedigree at every political atmosphere he operates.
Elegbeleye is a man whose voice will continue to reverberate beyond his electoral victory in his locality but across the borders of Ondo State for the sake of the minorities, the weak, old and the vulnerable in the society.
HIS RE-EMERGENCE AS PDP CANDIDATE:
Since the announcement of his victory at the poll wild jubilations was held across different quarters in Ikare-Akoko while congratulatory messages have been pouring in from kingdoms far and near.
Elegbeleye polled an overwhelming vote of 13,089 beating the incumbent lawmaker of the All Progressive Congress, APC Candidate, Rt.Honourable Fatai Olotu, a onetime Deputy Speaker ODHA and a second term member of the assembly who scored 11,854 with 1,235 votes to emerge the winner.
Majority of his political admirers who are mostly Youths and women in Akokoland has continued to celebrate a man who will be the mouthpiece of the masses at the 9th Assembly.
The jubilation over Elegbeleyes election victory is not only tied to the fact that he has a strong grip of his grassroots community which gave him the advantage to defeat his opponent.
HIS POLITICAL INFLUENCE & STRENGTH:
But his strength lies in his intimidating resume of goodwill garnered over the years as a man of the people who had been tested and trusted in the past.
Elegbeleye is not a greyhound nor a political neophyte but he is a mature mind astute grassroots politician with credible antecedents.
Splendidly articulated, Elegbeleye understands the specifics of the market place when it comes to taking the right political decision and when to boot, he is in short a great grassroots mobilizer.
ELEGBELEYE POLITICAL TRAJECTORY:
To those who are conversant with the political trajectory of Elegbeleye knows him as an astute politician who really understands the dictate of modern day politicking that led to his re-emergence on the political landscape.
He is known for his consistency and commitment which he had displayed while serving in various strategic political offices and has performed creditably.
It is also instructive to know that lawmaker elect, Elegbeleye did not just start politics when aspiring for the House of Assembly but his political activities date back to when he entered into the center stage of politics in Akokoland.
It was in 1989, when he first found a political expression and identity with the New Breed, one of the political group that aligned to give birth to the People Front of Nigeria before its manifestation into the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
In 1991-93, Elegbeleye served as the Assistant Organising Secretary for Akoko North East Local Government [ANELG].
He emerged as a Councilor in December 1995 to 1997 during the Era of Late Gen. Sanni Abacha’s Zero Party Political Contraption before he became the pioneer Local Government Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in 1999-2004
He became the Supervisor for Health in 2004-2017 at ANELG and he was later appointed as a member of the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission [ODIEC] as Electoral Officer between 2007 and 2009.
Elegbeleye between 2012 and 2014 was the State PDP Youth Leader and he also served as the Senior Special Assistant [SSA] to Governor Olusegun Mimiko on Political and Local Government Affairs in 2015 to 2017.
HIS HUMBLE BUT INSPIRING PROFILE:
The 53years old politician was born precisely on the 16th of May,1966 at Edo Quarters of the ancient Ikare-Akoko town and he started his education at A.U.D School 5 at Isakunmi area in Ikare Akoko beween 1973 to 1979.
He proceed to Ikare Grammar School, Ikare Akoko and sat for his West African School Certificate Examination, Ordinary Level in 1984.
He subsequently attended the Cooperative College, Akure for an 18 month Diploma Certificate in 1987 to 1988 and also had another Diploma from Wolex Polytechnic, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos between 1995 to 1997.
HIS COMMUNAL & SOCIO DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONS;
Elegbeleye immense contribution to the community as a grassroots political activist went beyond political boundaries as his signature is boldly written on many monuments.
As a Supervisory Councilor, Elegbeleye built a very strong reputation for himself by setting a high standard which other occupiers of the positions and offices have not been able to beat.
He single handedly constructed to a standard Football Pitch the AUD Primary School Field as a well building a Library, stocked it with books, stationeries and furniture for the pupils of his Alma Mater, AUD School 5, Ikare-Akoko.
He personally financed the Changing of Uniforms of all the Pupils of AUD.School,5 form primary one to six and he donated 5000 exercise books to over 19 Primary School across the 13 Wards within ANWLG Constituency.
He also established a Health Center at Oke-Igbagbo, Auga-Akoko, recruited nurses and paid their basic salaries before the Local Government took over.
Elegbeleye also empowered hundreds of youths, women and aged as well as he repair a lot of moribund boreholes within the Constituency including the recently donated motorized Deep-Well at the local headquarters of the Ondo State Water Corporation [ODSWC], Awara Dam, Ikare Akoko.
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