EKITI 2022: As Seye Adetunmbi Throws Hat Into The Ring

A perfunctory look in the field shows a titanic battle of political bigwigs, moneybags, influential professionals and businessmen, people who had made their individual marks in their chosen fields. However, Chief Adebukola Oluseye Adetunmbi, convener of Ekitipanupo Forum, a pre-eminent all-inclusive forum of the best brains in Ekiti -State, stands out.

Seye Adetunmbi was born on July 21st, 1962 in Ifaki-Ekiti. He is a product of Ifaki Grammar School, Christ’s School Ado-Ekiti, University of Ilorin and University of Lagos and holds B. Sc. Hons, PGDE and MBA.

His integrated progressive activities earned him the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Ikole-Ekiti in 2008, and the Eletolua of Ifisin- Ekiti in 2010. His marriage to Mrs. Olabowale Adetunmbi (nee Akapo of Isale-Eko), an Attorney at Law is blessed with four fruitful children. The patrician chief is a dedicated Christian, an Altar Server and a licensed Lay Reader in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

Seye Adetunmbi is the first person in the progressive political camp, APC to formally signify interest in the governorship of Ekiti-State in 2022. He formally declared on March 6th, 2021 which was the 16th anniversary of Ekitipanupo Forum which he convened on March 6th in 2005.

A typical passionate Ekiti indigene, inimitable family man, keen Anglican church man, an advocate of professionalism and a just society, Adetunmbi, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and the convener of Capital Market Round-table (CMR) in Nigeria, started his working career in the capital market in 1990 as a Corporate Finance Executive after his MBA programme.

For over 27 years he worked with various financial intermediary and banking service providers until he established Value Investing Limited in 2008 as the Chief Responsibility Officer. As a consummate investment banker, tested stockbroker and integrated financial market practitioner, he worked at various times as a consultant to Department for International Development (DFID), PYXERA Global, few state governments in Nigeria and a number of other multilateral agencies.

Adetunmbi is a prolific writer, who has over 120 published articles on a wide range of subjects not limited to the financial market, development economics, politics, biographies, lateral thinking, ethics, culture and tradition. As at 2021, he has over ten book titles to his credit. He established Mindscope Africa as a publishing company in 2012 towards building an economy and business around his passion.

In 2005, he convened Ekitipanupo Forum, an indigenous intellectual round-table for the socio-economic and political emancipation of his kinsmen in Ekiti-State of Nigeria. The pre-eminent all-inclusive forum of the best brains in Ekiti-State, provides unequalled multi-party parliament platform for Ekiti people at home and abroad.

The forum hosted its first public lecture in 2007 which was delivered by Dr. Ayo Ajayi, one-time CEO of UACN PLC. The second public lecture was held at ABUAD in 2015 and it was delivered by Emeritus Prof Michael Omolewa. Ekitipanupo also hosted Ekiti Colloquium in 2016 and the guest speaker was Prof. Banji Akintoye.

In his usual character as an organized person with tested disposition to putting his best into every cause he is associated with, he convened Atokeibeirosi Strategy Group (ASG) on March 1st, 2021. ASG is made up of reputable indigenes from virtually all the 138 towns in the 16 local government areas of Ekiti-State. Essentially, the pioneer members of ASG are professionals in various human endeavours.

The response of indigenes to his declaration of interest to govern Ekiti is overwhelming. It is a confirmation of the fact that Seye Adetunmbi is a grass rootman whose character and disposition seat well with the elites and the peasants. It is a further testimonial and endorsement of a unique omoluabi Ekiti who has paid his dues on Ekiti project right from its inception to date.

ASG members broke into committees to develop a blueprint for lasting good governance in Ekiti-State. This underscores the fact that, this is not about a personal aspiration but a collective project for a better Ekiti-State.

By global or every standard, Seye Adetunmbi has raised the bar of governorship aspiration in Nigeria with the manner he has gone about it. He has gone ahead to put his thoughts down on how Ekiti-State will be governed for the benefit of all in a compact and loaded ASG campaign handbook. The articulated manifestos received commendations from everyone who went through it. Apparently, it is first of its kind in the history of politics in Ekiti.

What all these point to is the fact that, Seye Adetunmbi is the only aspirant, who has demonstrated adequate preparedness for the task of governing Ekiti-State in this challenging Nigerian economic and political situation of today. He is got a remarkable pedigree, prerequisite knowledge, intellect, goodwill, wide network, the required character and comportment to steer the affairs of the state. He has made himself available, it is now the prerogative of Ekiti people to send him.

The Ekitipanupo forum hosted its first public lecture in 2007, which was delivered by Dr. Ayo Ajayi, one-time CEO of UACN PLC. The second public lecture was held at ABUAD in 2015 and it was delivered by Emeritus Prof. Michael Omolewa. Ekitipanupo also hosted Ekiti Colloquium in 2016 and the guest speaker was Prof Banji Akintoye.

In glowing testimony, former D-G of Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh describes Adetunmbi as a role model and veteran in the market and a seasoned speaker on economic developments in the country.

Political watchers maintain that his successes in Nigeria’s capital market and economy in general can be replicated in uplifting Ekiti economy.

Source:- Vanguard