By Mike Adeyemi
Stewardship is the act of taking care of something that is not your own. In the context of leadership, stewardship means the responsibility of taking care of an organization, its people, and it’s resources. Steward leaders are committed long-term success and are willing to make sacrifices for the good the organization.
Hon. Tunde Fadipe, the immediate past TIC Chairman of Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State, the ultimate steward of humanity’s salvation, exemplifies the importance of selfless service. In stewarding the basic ability of governance at the grassroot, Fadipe sets the example of serving his people with deep love and humanity that mirrored his entire period at the council.
This piece on the administration of former Transition Implementation Committee(TIC) Isin Local Government, Hon. Tunde Fadipe, has put on the front burner his years of stewardship. To admirers, Fadipe’s years of stewardship remains a point of reference for the future generation to comet.
Even after leaving office, Fadipe seems to have burst into similar limelight as people declared their appreciation of having witnessed such an administration during their lifetime.
As we all know that there are times in an environment in a state or nation, which certain things happen that do not happen often. For example, in football since we all watch football, there was a time that Pele happened. And after a long time, Maradona happened and then after another long time, Messi and Ronaldo are happening.
Permit me to add that they do not happen every time. I am happy that in my own time Fadipe happened. Tunde Fadipe happened and it is my prayer that we do not have to wait for too long for another Fadipe to emerge in Isin Local Government or perhaps Kwara State.
Should Mall. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq’s led administration institute an Award for the best performing ousted TIC Chairmen of LGAs in Kwara State, the immediate past council boss of Isin Local Government, Hon. (Engr) Tunde Fadipe would definitely wear the crown.
Checks from all 16 LGAs of Kwara State showed that his achievements superseded that of other TIC Chairmen. Fadipe, a Son of erudite teacher who also doubles as Chief Ajaponan of Oke-Onigbin, a generalissimo of his time, late Chief Samson Abiodun Fadipe, who inherited inclusive political wizardry from his Dad is no doubt one of the best performed Council Chairmen in the State.
Just within few months in office, Fadipe, a graduate of prestigious University of Maiduguri digitalized Isin council. He had also produced enabling environment for investors to come and add value to his area. His major projects includes rehabilitation of roads especially those leading to farmland. The council headquarters (Owu-Isin) is now wearing a new look. The buildings there were renovated to standard coupled with the land scalping work that he did to make the place look so beautiful.
Security situation in Isin Local Government had improved under the headship of the ex-TIC chairman, Hon. Tunde Fadipe. There was a working relationship with all security formations within the council, a feat that has informed peace and stability in the area.
His regime had installed maximum security guarantee in the Local Government by putting all the security agencies, including the vigilantes on the alert as the Chairman and Chief Security Officer of the local government, so that the good people of Isin would always sleep with their two eyes closed.
Today, he had received Awards and praises to the area. Fadipe had brought governance to the grassroot and had also made his people proud through his pedigree of dynamism, philanthropic disposition, political sagacity, equity, fairness, accountability and justice to all.
Tunde Fadipe is a man of the masses. He had completed the face-lift of the age longed dilapidated Secretariat. He has supplied fertilizer to farmers. On his own he has given out money to the less privilege ones. He gave a stipend of N5,000 monthly to over three hundred beneficiaries across the 11 wards.
Hon Tunde Fadipe had succeeded in grading many roads in the following communities, Owu-Isin to Kudu-Owode, Odo Eku to Alla, to Edidi. Oke-Onigbin to Isanlu, Oke-Onigbin Township Road, Edidi Township Road and Isanlu Isin Township Road.
Others are Pamo Isin Township Road, Oke-Onigbin Township Road, Oke-Onigbin to Iji Isin. Isin Kara Market to Oke-Oyi, to Iji Isin. Olokin Township Road, Oke-Onigbin to Igbesi, Oke-Onigbin to Adigun, Edidi to Alla, to Oponda and Odo eku.
In 2021, Hon. Fadipe completed Health Centre at Oke-Onigbin, he completed Edidi Town Hall, he renovated the Secretariat building at Owu-Isin, he completed Oke-Onigbin Shopping Complex. He completed the renovation of Owu-Isin Mini Hall, alongside the completion of Health Centre, Iwo-Odu-Ore. He completed the renovation of Secretariat Hall, and 12 units of Toilets at Isin Secretariat, Owu-Isin.
Others includes, construction of two new Car parks at the Secretariat, repair of Tranaformer/Connection of Electricity at Oke-Oyi, repair of boreholes and connection of pipe borne water to the Secretariat. Electrification and replacement of electric poles to the Secretariat was not left out.
The former TIC Chairman also graded rural and access roads across Isin Local Government Area. He supplied Hospital equipments to Oke-Onigbin Health Centre.
Parts of his stewardship accounts ditto the procurement of Hospital equipments at the Secretariat, purchase of vehicles, and supply of Hospital equipments to other Health Centre, repair of18 non – functioning boreholes across the whole wards and procurement of emergency equipments to six PHC within the Local Government.
At Oke-Onigbin, Fadipe constructed Doctor’s quarters, and Science Laboratory at Pamo – Isin. His tenure see to the grading of all Rural Roads across Isin Local Government.
Between January and February 2023, the workaholic former Isin TIC chairman constructed toilets at Kara Market, Oke-Oyi junction, Dug two boreholes at Oke-Onigbin, dug open well across all Gaa settlement in Isin Local Government. He midwived the conversion of open well to motorized borehole at Kara Market in Oke-Oyi junction.
He renovated staff quarters at Owu-Isin, dug borehole at the quarters, installed solar lights across all 11 wards in Isin and Gaa settlement. He furnished the staff quarters at Owu-Isin.
In July 2023, the eloquent Fadipe completed the renovation of Market stall at Oke-Onigbin, completed renovation of market stall at Edidi, completed renovation of Health Centre at Pamo-Isin, built Health Centre at Sabaja. He provided street Solar light at the Secretariat, dug motorized borehole at Oke-Onigbin, dug motorized borehole at Isanlu – Isin and temporary retaining wall and backfilling(Drainage) at Ijara-Isin.
In November 2023, he constructed Ogbesi Primary Heath Centre, he built public toilets at Igbesi, he constructed Isin Medical Laboratory Centre at Oke-Onigbin, coupled with public toilets in the facility.
The ex-Council boss again constructed Primary Heath Centre in the following communities, Adigun-Iwonle, Eti-Oyi, and Isanlu Isin. He dug motorized borehole in the following communities, Owu-Isin, Oke-Onigbin, Iwo, Igbesi, Oba-Isin, Olla – Isin, Oke-Oyi, junction, and Isanlu-Isin. He constructed drainage at Ijara-Isin and bult new workshop(Works Department) at Owu-Isin.
On human capital development, Hon. Tunde Fadipe sponsored twenty Artisans for different vocation training at IVTEC, Ajase-Ipo. He sponsored two indigent students at Kwara State College of Aviation, he sponsored two indigent but talented students at Kwara State Football Academy(KFA).
Some villages and communities who could not have access to electricity for a decade were filled with joy as he repaired their transformers. Few among these communities include, Isanlu -Isin, Ijara-Isin, Owu-Isin, Iwo, Oke-Aba, Oke-Onighin, Alla,Edidi, Odo-Eku, Oba, Iji,Pamo, Oponda,Ogbesi and Kudu Owode.
It is indeed the fact that Hon. Tunde Fadipe have had his name written in gold in the political annex of Kwara State and posterity will continue to adjudge him right.
In the area of empowerment, Fadipe’s led TIC administration supported over 2,000 residents through the council’s skills acquisition, training and grant programs. He provided access to business capital and work tools like grinding machines, freezers, generators, amongst others. This has catalyzed more self-employment opportunities and better means to generate income for residents in the community, with women representing majority of the beneficiaries as he promotes gender equality.
In the area of Infrastructure development, till last week when the state government devolved the TIC led councils, Fadipe have continued to embark on road rehabilitation projects, structural renovations and provision of essential amenities like water, streetlights, toilets and sanitation facilities, to improve the quality of life of the people of Isin Local Government. It is pertinent to note that when he took over the mantle of leadership as TIC chairman of Isin Local Government, there was nothing left in the council’s purse as the hitherto administration before him milked the council to the marrow. In fact he met a bankrupt council when he assumed office.
Prior now, most people did not know Hon. Tunde Fadipe as a vibrant and diligent leader, but his appointment as TIC chairman had revealed him as a sacrificial leaders, who amidst economic inconveniences, would not give excuses to deliver on his mandate of creative thinking in confront the challenges of the area.
The immediate past Chairman, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State, Hon. (Engr) Tinde Fadipe may have keyed into the ‘superior performance’ mantra of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, having laid solid foundation for visionary leadership within his five years in office.
Away from the bushy area which became a home for reptiles, Fadipe transformed the council’s Secretariat and its environs into a calm ambience, conducive for staff productivity, through timely payment of stipends to casual laborer. He secured improved staff attitude to work through the construction of “a befitting toilet facility and repairs of broken down vehicles” to boost ease of transportation.
The ex-TIC chairman till his last day in office was in constant touch with relevant stakeholders of the area: the traditional institution, elders, youths, and women to ensure smooth sharing of ideas in his service-oriented administration. Hon. Fadipe’s ingenuity has found expression in the philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr, who said that, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Hon. Tunde Fadipe was one of the most popular TIC council chairmen in Kwara state within their period. Mention his name within the political circle in Kwara and you will be surprised how many people will tell you they know him pretty well. This is because the gentleman had makes waves within the Kwara political circle as the most outstanding council chairman in Kwara state. He has amazed everyone, including his political rivals, with his remarkable performances. The quality of the many roads he’d done, the quality of the structures he built, is second to none.
The people of Isin Local Government couldn’t be happier with him. The man is hugely loved by both the young and old in the community. He does not joke about the well-being of his people. He is their son in whom they are well pleased. He has done over 35 roads in across all the wards in just few years with ultra-modern health facilities in the works.
One of the things that have endeared Hon. Tunde Fadipe to his people is the fact that he is extremely accessible. You can meet him walking on the road while monitoring contractors at work and speak to him. The people know he will always go to various sites where construction works are going on because those sites are actually where he runs his office from.
Interestingly, he is unbelievably humble too. This probably explains why he enjoys so much support and affection from the elderly, within and outside the party. Indeed, Hon. Tunde Fadipe knows how to properly wash his hands, so he is eligible to wine and dine with the elders, and this trait is evident in his close associate with his political benefactor and mentor, Mall. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, a symbiosis relationship that made the governor gave him a recommendation letter.
Tunde Fadipe is also a man of style. He dresses well and knows exactly what suits his frame. He loves quality, and this reflected in his work as well. This explains while he has indeed stands as a prototype of His Excellency, Mall. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq in the area of optimal performance.
Mike Adeyemi is a journalist, he writes via mikeadeyemi2001@gmail.com
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