DMO, the right voice for Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe Federal Constituency

I think I became closer to Opeyemi in Junior Secondary School 2 (JSS 2). He was in Senior Secondary School 3 (SS 3) then. Right from secondary school, Opeyemi was known as a brilliant student and a kind person. As a secondary student, I looked forward to him; I was told how he had won many competitions in Mathematics and Science, even at the national level, which was my desire as a secondary student; I wanted to represent my secondary school and win many trophies for the school.

Moving closer to Opeyemi was one of the right decisions I made earlier in life; he has not only been a motivation to me ever since then, but he is kind and supportive. When he was admitted to study medicine at the University of Ilorin, I was aware of how financially difficult it was for him. But as difficult as getting money was for him as a medical student, Opeyemi was still sending money through his mum (most of the time) to Odo-otin grammar school for the best student just to encourage us to study harder. I was a chief beneficiary of this act of kindness.

Dr Michael Olugbile (DMO) is generous; he paid for my UTME form even though he was still a medical student and had to source for money and even had to do menial jobs to raise money so that he would not drop out of the university. And ever since, he has continued to pay for students’ JAMB’s UTME every year. As a result, more than 350 students across the Ifelodun Local Government Area, Boripe Local Government Area and Odo-Otin Local Government, have benefitted from DMO JAMB’s UTME Sponsorship.

DMO graduated when I was in 200 Level; by the time he started his housemanship at National Hospital Abuja, I was already in 300 Level, and DMO was sending me money monthly (I am not sure if it was N3,000 or N4,000); this went on for about five months. I also enjoyed this from my then-fiancée (now my wife, Mrs Oluwatoyin Atoyebi), who paid me about N4,000 or N5,000 from her Industrial Training (IT) salary throughout our IT program. I was telling a lady in Okuku around that time about how I had benefited from DMO’s generosity. The lady said DMO was sending money to her and some people in her school every month during that period, too. DMO has not stopped this act of generosity; he has continued to support an array of students who would have given up on furthering their education because of lack of funds; through self-funded interventions, he has awarded a scholarship to more than 200 Students in Osun state. He also gives WAEC scholarships to students selected objectively through an assessment exam administered annually.

Many people wait until they have made enough to make a difference through philanthropy; that is not a bad mindset, but in DMO’s case, his act of kindness is a big sacrifice; it is not that he has a big company somewhere making money for him neither does he have access to government resources. He is using his hard earn resources to ensure that children of nobody also become somebody by giving them the most important tool to fight poverty; education. DMO awarded scholarship grants to students in higher institutions across Nigeria. Beyond the money, as a secondary student, knowing that some money will be given to the best students will motivate you to study harder, and even if the student did not meet the requirements to qualify for the DMO scholarship, something has been built in them that will forever be useful for them. The positive phycological effect of the DMO act of kindness cannot be measured.

DMO used his personal money to employ ad-hoc teachers to address the shortage of teachers in public schools. I should not be surprised, but I was actually surprised when he employed teachers for public schools. We cannot estimate the number of families that will benefit from that scheme.

That DMO organizes a free Christmas Party every December in Okuku for children is not to build political credentials; it is part of his desire to see everyone happy, irrespective of their economic status. He did not stop with the children; he partners with NUT every year to motivate teachers by awarding outstanding teachers openly. DMO has been organizing Viewing Centres in some communities for World Cup Football matches since 2014 using his personal money. He just wants everybody to be happy and not feel excluded because of their demographic location.

DMO is authentic and consistent in building human capacity and harnessing talents. I am confident that if he is exposed to more resources and given a larger platform, he will empower more people. I am happy that DMO obeys God by contesting for the house of representatives seat. DMO is the voice the people Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe Federal deserve.

DMO is a selfless, patriotic, charismatic, and ebullient leader that Nigeria needs at a time like this. His talent-discovering abilities and a genuine desire to see others grow to make him the right house of representatives for the Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe (IBO) Federal Constituency. If he can use his personal resources to invite Emmanuel Babayaro aka Da godfather to be part of his football talent hunt across the constituency, then when he becomes the representative of Odo-otin, Ifelodun and Boripe local government area, he will bring more development to the people at the grassroots, discover more talents, and showcase them to the whole world.

DMO desires humans to have a good life and has made lots of sacrifices to liberate the mass. He could have returned to the US with his lovely wife-Mrs Oluwapelumi Olugbile and their children to enjoy the fruits of his labour, but he returned to Nigeria after graduating from Harvard University. This is a big sacrifice. Right from secondary school, DMO has been a source of inspiration to many students and families. When he got to Harvard University for his Master’s program, he called to tell me that if he could get here, then I could also attain any height I wanted to; he spent hours motivating me as usual.

DMO has guided many in the right direction and motivated many to do their very best. He is indeed a wonderful leader. When I wanted to do my IT, and I was busy looking for which organization would pay me a considerable salary, DMO advised me to start building my career by looking for places where I could practice what I had learned in school, which led to me doing my IT in the Osun State Government Secretariat, Abeere, even though I was not paid, it built my confidence. DMO has invested a lot in building his reputation in multiple capacities, and that has always been his advice to people around him. He’s always ready to help anybody grow. I have known DMO for years, and I have confidence that he will give the people of IBO a dividend of democracy.

DMO will work for the good of the IBO constituency and will not embezzle money meant for the constituency. I remember how he used to tell me not to embezzle money anytime we met in Okuku, I was actively involved in student government at the Ladoke Akintola University Of Technology, and he was actively involved in student government at the University of Ilorin. He detest embezzlement. IBO people deserve the incomparable leadership prowess of DMO. If he had been using his personal money to empower people for more than a decade now, even when he was not thinking of politics, he will not misappropriate or embezzle government money when he gets to office.

I was fully involved in his first free medical outreach across three local governments in Osun state more than ten years ago. More than 3,000 people benefited from that outreach. The medical consultation and drugs were given free of charge. Experienced medical practitioners were at the three local governments to provide medical services for the communities for about two weeks. My good friend, Dr. Mrs. Toyin Fijabiyi Olofinluyi was one of the medical doctors who participated selflessly.

DMO is still committed to improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable; beyond the many individuals and families he has supported financially at one time or the other; he is still providing non-interest loans to women to start their businesses. He has used his hard-earned money to support SMEs on several occasions. He is naturally generous; IBO will forever be grateful to God for having him as their representative at the lower chamber of Nigeria’s bicameral National Assembly.

DMO had learned the art of government; he served as senior technical adviser to a state governor. He did not steal government money, did not collect any salary or allowance from the government, and even returned his official car, which was to be a parting gift when the regime ended. He served as vice president of the University of Ilorin student union government and president of the Ilorin University Medical Student Association. He kept being a good leader even after he left Nigeria. While he was at Harvard University, he held different leadership positions. DMO will hit the ground running as soon as he assumes office. He knows his ways and will deliver good government.

Nigeria is at a critical junction, and we cannot avoid making more mistakes this year. We must be intentional about who we vote for. This is not the time to vote for candidates because of the political parties they belong to. We cannot continue to vote based on primitive sentiments of party politics and expect good leadership. We must vote for verified candidates, candidates with pedigree, candidates that have a good history, candidates that people can openly vouch for, candidates that do not have a history of corruption, candidates with traceable addresses, and not just because the candidate is in my political party or because we share the same religious belief or because we are from the same ethnic group. Nigeria needs patriotic, humanitarian, and selfless leaders like DMO.

DMO has a loyal disposition; if you do not know him before, you are free to make further findings about his personality and records. DMO is an accomplished and distinguished reasonable person; he has an incomparable and uncommon leadership prowess that captivates both the oldest and youngest minds. He is contesting under Accord Party, which will be the first on the ballot paper. DMO is the answer to your prayer for good government, don’t stop at voting for him; support him; encourage other people in any of the three local governments (Odo-otin, Ifelodun, and Boripe) to vote for DMO. Explain to somebody in IBO federal constituency that DMO is the answer to their prayers for good representation and tell them to encourage everybody of voting age to vote for DMO as their House of Representative.

To put an end to bad representatives in the IBO constituency, we need hands-on leadership like DMO that will lead from the fore in building a constituency where everybody is a stakeholder. We don’t need an absentee “honourable” that permanently lives in Abuja; we don’t need an “absconditus Rep.” in the IBO constituency, but a selfless leadership that radiates compassion and empathy for the human hood. We need a representative that will elevate humanity through welfare services and human capacity development. IBO need an intrinsically good man of altruism like DMO, the Otunba Atunluse of Adaland, to forge ahead.

Chief Dr Michael Opeyemi Olugbile has the primacy leadership qualities needed to be elected as a member of the House of Reps. He has the capacity to represent the IBO constituency. His stellar antecedents and commitment will continue to push him to deliver good government beyond making laws. He has sound character traits – trustworthy and credible, which has earned him the trust of people. He is enamoured with integrity and sound principles.

In conclusion, Michael Opeyemi Olugbile is a selfless individual who has made sacrifices to help others. He is the voice that the Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe Federal Constituency deserves. I am Atoyebi Samuel, and I am confident that, if given the opportunity, DMO will empower even more people and continue to positively impact the lives of the people in the IBO constituency. Vote DMO. Vote Accord Party.

Your vote for DMO is your contribution to a better Nigeria.