CELEBRATING OLABIMTAN: AN INTENTIONAL PUBLIC SERVANT @ 68

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CELEBRATING OLABIMTAN: AN INTENTIONAL PUBLIC SERVANT @ 68

By Gboyega Ajayi

Rt. Hon. Victor Adekanye Olabimtan means different things to many people. He has been severally acknowledged as a passionate teacher; an uncompromising labour leader; a unifying community leader; a forthright politician; a dependable party leader; an astute administrator; a sagacious orator; a cherished benefactor; a consummate father; a patriotic statesman and; a pious Christian.

“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.” This quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. encapsulates the struggles, sacrifices, tribulations and conquests of Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan all through the journey of life he started almost seven decades ago.

That Olabimtan is a celebrated household name today didn’t just come by accident but rather, by intentional sacrifice, dedication and commitment to the good and wellbeing of the generality of his people. Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan is like the proverbial gold that must go through fire for its glory to shine. Gold is precious but until it passes through the refiner’s fire, it holds no value. Likewise, every one of us carries an enviable destiny which must be processed through the fire for our real values to manifest. A refiner’s fire does not destroy that which is of value. It only burns up the chaff to expose the real and enduring prize within.

As a way of nurturing the socio-political activism of his root, Olabimtan was the Secretary of the UNILAG Chapter of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) from 1980 – 1981. At the same period, he was also the President of the University of Lagos branch of the Historical Society of Nigeria. The degree of political awareness of Victor Olabimtan was made manifest throughout his University days at UNILAG; particularly when he was the Secretary of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) Students’ Vanguard. His activities and contributions as the secretary of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) Students’ Vanguard brought him to limelight to the extent that he was the unanimous choice of eminent leaders of the party as a member of the delegation of UPN Monitoring Group to Bauchi State during the 1983 Presidential Election. Victor Adekanye Olabimtan has since remained a major determinant of socio-political issues.

His rising political profile, primarily premised upon sound commitment to the wellbeing of his people, did not distract him from concentrating on building an impactful career in teaching profession. He joined the Ondo State Teaching Service Commission in 1983 after completing his mandatory NYSC where he served as Lecturer at the Bauchi State College of Education in 1982 /83 service year. So, as a Class Teacher, Vice Principal and Principal in virtually all notable Secondary Schools across the old Ondo State, (now Ekiti and Ondo States), Olambitan remained focused on his teaching career and his desire to get the best for his people. He retired from teaching service as a principal in 2001.

For Victor Adekanye Olabimtan, his victory in the 2003 Election to represent his State Constituency in the Ondo State House of Assembly was a landmark opportunity to serve his people and develop their lands. To his people and his teeming supporters which included his former colleagues in the teaching profession and former students across Ondo State, it was time to promote him higher. To actualize this, an unsolicited campaign for his emergence as Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly was put together and successfully hatched. Therefore, Rt. Hon. Victor Adekanye Olabimtan was elected the number three citizen in Ondo State on the 30th May 2003. He was later appointed TESCOM chairman in 2007 and a federal commissioner in 2009.

Olabimtan, a man destined never to be deterred by any circumstance to give his people quality representation joined, the All Progressives Congress (APC) as part of his moves to contribute effectively to ensuring more positive change in the society. Faith has always propel, project and position him for leadership responsibilities. He joined the gubernatorial race and contested for the Ondo State governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress in 2016. Though he didn’t clinch the ticket of the APC, he made good his promise to support and work for whoever becomes the candidate of the party, out of the over thirty aspirants of the then APC ticket in Ondo State. He was later appointed the Director-General of Akeredolu Campaign Organization. A role he played impressively well, with the help and support of other stakeholders that resulted in the overwhelming victory of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN as the first APC-led government in Ondo State.

He was a cabinet member of the Akeredolu-led government between 2017 and 2020, as Special Adviser on Community Development, and later as Special Adviser on Political Mobilization. In his usual way of making the best of every given opportunity, he served and delivered meritoriously in these two offices to the admiration of not a few.

At the tail end of the first term of the Akeredolu-led administration and in the wake of the struggle for the re-election of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Olabimtan was again appointed in 2020 as the Director-General of Akeredolu Campaign Organization. A position he held with candour, commitment, dedication and unparalleled loyalty, which again culminated in the resounding victory of Akeredolu / APC in the Ondo State governorship election of 2020.

He is currently the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, in Ondo State; a position he assumed in January 2022 in the government of His Excellency, Rotimi Akeredolu SAN of blessed memory and retained by the incumbent, His Excellency, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

At every stage of his life, Olabimtan has always placed public interest far above his personal satisfaction or aggrandizement. He distinguished himself as a labour leader. He was at various times the Secretary of ANCOPPS in Akoko Northeast LGA and Chairman of NUT in Akoko Northeast LGA of Ondo State. Olabimtan was a Co-founder and pioneer Secretary, National Association of Secondary School Teachers. Thank God today, teachers reward are no longer in heaven. Olabimtan along with others fought to improve the living standard of teachers. He is passionate about education and the welfare of teachers. As an uncompromising labour activist Olabimtan rejected government patronage to make him jettison the struggle and betray his colleagues. For his uprightness he was incarcerated many times and recklessly or ridiculously transferred as punitive measures to make him succumb, but he stood by his colleagues all through.

The hallmark of a great man is measured not in assets amassed but in the number of lives touched. Providence has always positioned Olabimtan to impact lives, restore hope and build future generations. As the chairman of Ondo State Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, he was instrumental to the employment of four thousand (4,000) teaching and non-teaching staff between 2007 and 2009. As the federal Commissioner, representing Edo, Ondo and Ekiti states at the Federal Civil Service Commission, FCSC, he facilitated the employment of over a thousand youth from the 3 states between 2009 and 2014. He recently completed the process of employing one thousand and one hundred (1,100) teachers as the current Chairman of Ondo State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB, board in the government of His Excellency, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Those who have been gainfully employed by his rare commitment to human development and benevolence are countless across Nigeria and particularly Ondo State. Olabimtan has facilitated employment for about two hundred (200) youth from each of the 18 LGAs of Ondo State. On his list are, at least, ten (10) youth in every town of Ondo State that gained employment through him to the glory of God from 2007 till date. The agenda of communal good drawn by Olabimtan for the welfare of his people is still being relentlessly pursued. It is therefore not a surprise that Olabimtan is an household name in Ondo State. He is loved and cherished for how God is using him!

All these attributes do not imply that Rt. Hon. Victor Adekanye Olabimtan is infallible. Despite his imperfections, he has consistently used his privileged positions for the comfort and wellbeing of the downtrodden, and continually shown unparalleled kindness to people around him and humanity in general. A dedicated community leader, kindhearted philanthropist, compassionate humanitarian, astute politician and role-model to this generation who has had a towering impact on many people of Ondo State in particular and Nigeria in general. He is an excellent team player and reliable statesman.

In acknowledgment of these noble gestures, several Corporate Organizations, Societies within and outside Ondo State have honoured Olabimtan, thereby making him one of the most appreciated and celebrated politicians in Ondo State on account of living a life of service for the masses. The personality of Rt. Hon. Victor Adekanye Olabimtan radiates love and hope of a better tomorrow.

As he turns 68, I join families, associates, mentees, friends and well-wishers to celebrate this great man of the people. Happy birthday and many happy returns to Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan; an intentional public servant. May God grant him many more years of impacts with great affluence.

– Gboyega Ajayi is a Senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President. He can be reached through gboyeajayi007@gmail.com