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By Adewuyi Adegbite
Senator Hamzat Ayoade Adeseun stands tall as one of the few Nigerian politicians whose public service record is defined by genuine impact, people-centered politics, and enduring legacy. My admiration for him began during his early days as Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Iresa Adu, Oyo State, under the military regime. Fresh from overseas, he brought with him a refreshing sense of purpose and vision, determined to lift his community out of neglect. With meager resources, he laid a foundation of development that remains unparalleled in Surulere’s history.
Those early strides in grassroots governance marked him as a rising political force just as Nigeria transitioned into the Fourth Republic. Aligning with leading political figures such as Dr. Saka Balogun, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, and Dayo Lawal, Adeseun pitched his tent with the All People’s Party (APP), led in Oyo State by the political enigma, Alhaji Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu. He would later become the State Chairman of APP and played a pivotal role in the 1999 electoral alliance with the Alliance for Democracy (AD) that brought Alhaji Lam Adesina to power as Governor of Oyo State.
As recognition of his political acumen, Adeseun was appointed Chairman of the Oyo State Transport Company (TCTC). His transition from party leadership to electoral representation came in 2003 when he was elected to the House of Representatives for Ogo Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency under the platform of AD. Later, when internal crises beset the party, he joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), retaining his seat and emerging as Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation.
His performance in office earned him the nickname “Ayo Solar,” thanks to his widespread provision of solar-powered streetlights and boreholes across his constituency and far beyond. His projects reached every corner of Oyo Central and South Senatorial Districts, particularly in Ibadan and Oyo towns. He was instrumental in influencing the location of key federal and state projects: the Navy Secondary School in Iresa Apa, the federal establishment at Onipanu, the proposed Federal Polytechnic Ayede (which eventually came to fruition), and various mini-stadiums in Ajaawa, Ogbomoso South, and Orile Igbon.
He also facilitated environmental projects such as the channelization of rivers like Ora (Iresa Road) and Nana (Ori-Oke Community High School), saving communities from perennial flooding.
By 2011, Senator Adeseun had moved to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and won election as Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District. I had the privilege of working closely with him during this campaign period. Although his fallout with his former ally, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, was politically significant, it led to the strategic recruitment of sidelined politicians and activists like Hon. Remi Odetomi, Hon. Temi Adibi, Hon. Demola Alalade, Egbon Dokun Alamu—and myself. He organized, mobilized, and generously compensated those of us who supported the ACN cause.
While he couldn’t fully deliver Ogbomoso Zone for ACN, his strategy succeeded in blocking the re-election of Alao-Akala, ushering in the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi. It’s worth noting here, with a sense of bittersweet memory, that Senator Adeseun personally submitted my name to serve on the board of Crown Football Club, Ogbomoso. Though unseen forces removed my name without explanation, I remain grateful for his gesture and convinced he was unaware of this reversal.
The post-2011 political atmosphere within ACN, now dominated by Ajimobi, led Adeseun back to PDP. He contested the gubernatorial ticket in 2019 but was edged out by Engineer Seyi Makinde—victim, many say, of a well-known Ibadan political conspiracy. Yet, even in the face of this setback, Adeseun has remained a formidable figure in Oyo State politics. Today, he stands as a respected chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Why he has not yet been appointed an ambassador or federal appointee in the Tinubu administration remains a question for another day. But his legacy speaks louder than titles. He has helped open up the once-neglected suburbs of Ogbomoso, giving them national visibility and economic growth. Institutions like the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede and the Navy Secondary School, Iresa Apa, have become pillars of development, employment, and pride for the people of Ogo Oluwa and Surulere.
Adeseun’s politics was never about self-aggrandizement. Rather, it was focused on community upliftment, job creation, and poverty alleviation. He has remained a bridge-builder and one of the few politicians who can freely walk into any palace in Ogbomoso without fear or favour. He understands and respects the cultural institutions of his people, a quality that has made him a symbol of unity and peace in Ogbomoso traditional affairs.
In recognition of his service, he was honored in his lifetime with the chieftaincy title of Mayegun of Ogbomosoland by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III. Today, Ibadanland has again recognized him and his wife with the titles of Agbaakin Majeobaje and Yeye Agbaakin Majeobaje, respectively—testaments to a life well lived in service of humanity.
As Senator Hamzat Ayoade Adeseun marked his birthday on August 1, 2025, I join many others in celebrating his life, leadership, and legacies. May God grant him many more years in good health, joy, and continued relevance.
He has done his part. He has served well. Posterity will indeed be kind to him.
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