Those who prepare for political office before winning an election will begin to work from Day one while those who wait until victory is secured will begin learning from Day One. In politics, preparation turns electoral victory into immediate impact.
It is not surprising therefore that for Prof. Dayo Faduyile who won the Ondo South senatorial bye election on June 20 with 68,474 votes to defeat other contestants and was sworn in four days later as a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the senate president, Godswill Akpabio, there is no time to waste rather than hitting the ground running from the very first day at the plenary.
His voice was among the Senators who supported the creation of Ijebu Remo state, thereby aligning with his colleagues to build a connecting bridge that will be useful for broader political leverage in the future.
On July 23rd, Faduyile moved a motion on the floor of the senate, first to formally announce the passing away of pioneer Ondo South senator, Omololu meroyi who died on July 22nd. Prof Faduyile asked the senate to recognise the pioneering efforts of the late meroyi to democratic governance in Nigeria, a letter be sent to his family and to the Government and people of Ondo state to commiserate with them and all those he impacted during his service to Nigeria.
August was quite busy for the Ondo South representative who attended the Youths empowerment programme organised by Dakiz Human Development and Empowerment initiative in Igbokoda where he personally donated 1million naira towards the 15 million naira fundraising for vocational training, start up kits and business formalisation.
By August 9th, Faduyile went on an on the spot assessment of communities ravaged by the Okitipupa flood disaster, saw the degree of damage done to both social and economic activities and assured the victims that relief materials will soon get to them as temporary measure while he will table the problem at the senate plenary towards a lasting solution to the perennial flood issue from.the Federal government.
Senator Faduyile later engages with National Emergency management Authority ( NEMA) officials who mobilised their personnel to inspect and collate required data while asking the local governments chairmen to open a register in each of their secretariat across the six local governments of Ondo South to ensure only genuine victims will have access to the relief package that is on the way.
By August 12, it was the turn of Arogbo Ijaw stakeholders who paid a courtesy visit to him at his Abuja office. He said his Abuja office is open to all constituents from the Ondo South senatorial District.
From August 14th, Faduyile embarked on familiarisation visit to major Ondo South stakeholders living in Abuja. He met the former Accountant General of the federation, Dr John Naiyeju who advised him to be open to constructive opinions from his people. Between August 14th to 20 Faduyile paid a courtesy call on VC, Yakubu Gowon University (UniAbuja), Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, Executive Secretary, TETFUND, Arc Sonny Echoro and a legal practitioner, Dr Remi Olatubora, SAN.
Back to Akure, Faduyile paid a visit to the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, Most Rev. Arogundade.
He was a guest at the 16th Annual General and Scientific meeting of West African Division of the international Academy of Pathology where he gave a goodwill message, asking his Pathology colleagues to change their tactics, If those in posotions of authority will respect them. During a chat with the media, Prof. Faduyile was emphatic that Nigeria can halt the brain drain if necessary things are done.
For Senator Dayo Faduyile, hitting the ground running is not about making any noise nor is it about making the loudest entrance. It is about turning the people’s mandate into movement, turning movement into action and turning action into measurable results.
By going into action right from Day one, Faduyile does not wait for tomorrow but starts doing today what his constituents elected him to do. His first two months show that he will be ready to listen to the people, engage the stakeholders, confront their problems and turn promises into action.
In the past two months of resuming at the red chamber, Senator Faduyile may not have made any written or spoken statement, but it is there for anyone with discerning eyes to see the message being passed along saying “I have come to represent, I have come to engage and I have come to work”
With the speed of activities embarked upon by Senator Faduyile within just 2 months, he does not wait for tomorrow but rather starts doing today what is expected of him. Listening to the people, engageing the stakeholders and confronting their problems and turning promises into action.
In the final analysis, by hitting the ground running, Senator Dayo Faduyile refuses to wait for the perfect moment to serve, he steps forward immediately, making consultations and acting decisively by ensuring that everyday of the mandate counts.
