A philanthropist and deputy gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressive Congress speaks with THE INFORMANT247 on his educational background, his service to the community over the years and reasons for participating in politics.
Q. Can we meet you sir?
A. My name is Abel Olatunji Atanda Joel.
Q. Your educational background?
A. I attended Ekwa LSMB Eleshin Metta, I proceeded to Government Technical College Jebba where I obtain and did my sitting exam certificate, I performed well, I was the best student in my class then among our mate, my secondary school education was at omi aro here in ifelodun, I have to rethink that being a product of technical school, you can’t go to either university or polytechnics, I started business when u couldn’t get admission, I went to university if Lagos where I did business administration because as at that time I had become successful in my business.
Q. Can you briefly share your contribution(s) to your immediate community with us?
A. As a young man I have contributed a lot to my community, In our community in ayekojo our primary school was established in 1982, They have only one teacher then but I volunteered to be a teacher.
Also when I become very successful in my business I single-handedly graded our road almost about 30KM From Marafa to Kuumi close to Yaro our ward headquarter of igbaja 3 in the year 2006.
Q. Now moving to politics, what positions have you held in the past?
A. I have been playing local politics to make sure i get the dividends of democracy to our people, for instance when Bukola came in 2003 I registered our people in Nigeria and diaspora to make sure thier vote count, our village is sharing boundary with Ilorin east, I also have influence there, I’m well known here in Ifelodun, Eleshin Metta, Budo Oba and others they all know me there. We Remain very close with Ilorin east.
I have been consistent in politics, I am a party man to the core as I have always advocated for progressive politics in Nigeria and Kwara in particular.