Hon Odunleye Odunjo, the Director General of Ogun Vissionaries for Yayi celebrates his 60th birthday with giving thanks to Almighty God for spares his life.
In an interview, the respected politician reflected on his humble beginnings, early struggles, and the long journey that shaped his political career. According to him, the road to success was never smooth, but rather rough, tough, and demanding, one that almost made him give up at certain points. However, he emphasized that when God stands with a person, no obstacle is insurmountable.
Hon. Odunjo traced his political awakening to 1983 when his uncle, Chief Soji, contested the Ogun State governorship election. At the time, he served as a mobilizer, providing refreshments for the political entourage. He also actively supported another uncle, Prince Remi Akande, popularly known as Omo Oba, who contested for the chairmanship of Ifo Local Government Area in 1987 but lost to the late Nasiru Dehinde.
In 1993, community elders led by Alhaji Jimoh Obajana encouraged him to contest for the councillorship position in Ota 2, as it was the turn of his area to produce a candidate. He contested, but the election was annulled following the declaration of a zero-party system by the Abacha administration.
Undeterred, the elders returned in 1995, urging him to continue from where he stopped. Their persistence paid off in 1996 when Hon. Odunjo won the councillorship seat of Ota 2 under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), at a time when the NRC and SDP were the two recognized political parties.
After completing his tenure as councillor, he was later nominated to contest for the chairmanship position under the UNCP. Although he lost the election to a more popular party candidate, the experience further strengthened his political resolve.
In 1998, Hon. Odunjo was among the founding members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State. The party, however, lost its first governorship election to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate, Chief Olusegun Osoba.
Subsequently, he traveled to Abuja, where he worked as a personal assistant to a legislator at the National Assembly. Once again, his people called him back home, a move he described as divinely orchestrated. In 2003, he was chosen to represent his constituency in the Ogun State House of Assembly, an election he won convincingly.
Reflecting on his journey, Hon. Odunjo noted that he has experienced both victory and defeat, learning invaluable lessons along the way.
As he celebrates his Diamond Jubilee on December 18, 2025, Hon. Ogunleye Odunjo attributes his sustained success to the grace of God, to whom he returns all glory, honor, and adoration.
In gratitude for the gift of life and the opportunity to witness his 60th birthday, he has rededicated the rest of his life to the selfless service of humanity.
