“Great occasions do not make heroes or cowards, they simply unveil them to our eyes” – Brooke Foss Westcott
In this piece, I will be writing about a man whose sense of patriotism and belief in the unity and progress of Ibarapa is second to none. He is a man who believes in excellence and has demonstrated that the utopian society, where everything is in perfect condition, can be made real if given the necessary support.
This profound intellectual idea influenced his decision to join the struggle to actualize the lofty dreams of our founders. It is the core motivation behind his stellar career trajectory, from being elected into the House of Representatives twice to his pivotal role as Post Master General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and now, serving as a respected Board Member of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Fellow people of Ibarapa, I am talking about the Board member of TETFUND, Hon. Sunday Adepoju.
Hon. Sunday Adepoju is a bridge builder and a selfless elder statesman who puts the interest of our state above everything else. Generous and kind, Sunday Omoyin is fundamentally a man of the people.
His life and legacy in politics continue to be a source of joy to many. He is a leader, a mentor, and an inspiration, a figure who has ensured that the Ibarapa region of Oyo State, especially Eruwa, remains relevant in political permutations at the federal level.
His characteristic doggedness saw to one of the most significant achievements in the region’s history, the autonomy of the Eruwa campus of The Polytechnic Ibadan, which blossomed into The Ibarapa Polytechnic. It was at this moment that it dawned on many that the region had finally unearthed the true leader they had long needed.
A true leader defines his leadership not by the title he holds, but by the number of people he has empowered and the communities he has transformed. This is the yardstick by which Sunday Omoyin measures success.
The culture of sacrifice, loyalty, compromise for the common good, and selflessness is precisely why Sunday Omoyin is not only relevant but absolutely pivotal to the development of Eruwa today. He registers the highest number of projects done or facilitated by any politician in the constituency. This robust track record is why he is one of the biggest icons of modern-day democracy in Ibarapa.
Sunday Omoyin is arguably the most strategic politician in Eruwa today, having facilitated the highest number of federal employee placements for his people. He doesn’t beg for power; he builds it. He doesn’t follow the noise, he sets the agenda. Love him or hate him, you simply cannot ignore him. The very people who might shout against him today were once built up and uplifted by him yesterday.
When Sunday Adepoju lost the third re-election bid to the House of Representatives, the entire town felt the adverse effects of his absence. Yet, even in this temporary setback, his commitment never wavered. He didn’t stop bringing projects into the Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency. This continuous, unreserved service cemented the understanding that for Hon. Adepoju, his mission transcends an elective office.
Sunday Omoyin may not have been perfect, for no man is, but he has consistently led with unwavering determination, and the people can bear powerful witness to that.
Hon. Sunday Adepoju will contest in 2027, be it a return to the House of Representatives or a deserved promotion to the Senate. The lot is now on the people to support him. His 2027 candidacy should not be treated as a mere election again, but as a loud, collective voice calling back the immense blessing and unprecedented development that was momentarily stalled. The return of Hon. Sunday Adepoju Omoyin is divine, basically for the progress of Ibarapa. We must all answer the call.