Born into a family steeped in history, politics, and faith, Honourable Akintunde Sorunke carries forward the indelible legacy of his father, Chief E.B.J.P. Sorunke, a pioneering politician of Egbaland, and the moral guidance of his mother, a respected community leader. From his early education to his impactful contributions as Supervisory Councillor for Education, Sorunke’s journey reflects resilience, service, and a deep commitment to both God and community.
Can you kindly introduce yourself to our audience and share a bit about your family background?
My name is Honourable Akintunde Sorunke. I am in my early fifties and come from a reputable family pedigree. My late father, Chief E.B.J.P. Sorunke (Oluwo Keesi, Amona Oba of Egbaland and Aro of Egbaland, 1926–2004), was a distinguished statesman.
He was elected as the youngest councillor in the Egba Native Council under the chairmanship of the late Oba Ladapo Ademola, the 7th Alake of Egbaland, in February 1952. In 1957, he was also elected as a Member of the House of Representatives from Egba Central under the platform of the NCNC. Later, he became one of the founding members of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
My mother, Chief Mrs. C.O. Sorunke (née Obadara), is the Ajiroba of Keesi and the Iyalode of Keesi Christians.
Your father was a prominent political figure in Egbaland. How did his legacy and your mother’s role shape your path in life?
That is very true. My late father left an indelible legacy and was also one of the greatest historians from Egbaland. Alongside my mother’s strong Christian values, they both taught me that the fear of Almighty God is the beginning of wisdom.
Tell us about your early education and how it prepared you for the journey ahead?
I attended Ogun State Polytechnic Staff Primary School (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Staff School). I later proceeded to Mayflower School, Ikenne, and Abeokuta Grammar School, IdiAba, Abeokuta. For my tertiary education, I studied accounting, obtaining my OND from Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, and later my HND from The Polytechnic, Ibadan. These institutions instilled in me morals, self-reliance, and a strong sense of hard work.
What inspired you to pursue a career in accounting before venturing into politics?
I have always had a passion for accounting, right from my secondary school days
How did your political journey begin, and what roles did you first occupy within the PDP?
Politics had always been in me, probably because I was born into a political dynasty. I started my political career in the year 2000 as the PDP Youth Leader of my zone, Keesi, in Ward 4 (Keesi/Emere) of Abeokuta South Local Government.
Later, I became the Organising Secretary of my ward. I eventually resigned as a ward executive to contest the PDP primary election, which the incumbent House of Assembly member, Hon. Fasiu Bakeene, won. As compensation, I was appointed Supervisory Councillor for Education and Special Duties under the PDP Chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government, Chief Akeem Odejimi (aka Ologbonwon), on December 27, 2006.
In February 2007, I was also appointed to the Local Government Transition Committee until April 2007. On January 2008, I was reappointed Supervisory Councillor for Education under the newly elected PDP Chairman of Abeokuta South, Omooba Yanju Lipede (aka Solution).
I also contested for a seat in the Ogun State House of Assembly (Abeokuta South Constituency 2) but lost at the primaries. Later, in 2023, I contested the PDP primary for the House of Representatives (Abeokuta South Federal Constituency), but as a loyal party member, I stepped down at the request of party leaders.
During your time as Supervisory Councillor for Education and Special Duties, what were some of the key projects you initiated or oversaw?
During my tenure, the Education Department, with the approval of the chairman, executed
several impactful projects:
– 2007: Built and commissioned Otunba Gbenga Daniel Nursery and Primary School,
Oluwo Baasala, Abeokuta (the first of its kind in the area).
– Built and commissioned the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Shopping Complex with almost 50
lock-up shops at Kuto Motor Park and Ijaiye Motor Park, Abeokuta.
Under my second appointment in 2008:
– Distributed free Macmillan English and Mathematics textbooks, six exercise books, and
Teachers’ Guides to all 24,100 pupils and 1,200 teachers across 48 public primary schools
in Abeokuta South. This was the first local government in Nigeria to do so. (The following
month, Governor Raji Fashola replicated the initiative in Lagos State.)
– Built and commissioned three blocks of classrooms each in four schools:
o St. Peter’s Primary School, Ake (Ward 1)
o St. Peter Claver, Oke Efon (Ward 4)
o St. Joseph Primary School, Isabo (Ward 12)
o St. Paul’s Primary School, Igbore (Ward 11)
– 2009: Commissioned 10 luxury shuttle buses to convey secondary school students in
Abeokuta South and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic students to and from school, free of
charge, until December 2010 when our tenure ended.
Can you highlight the achievements of your Education department, particularly the school buses, classroom blocks, and infrastructure projects?
All the projects, especially the shuttle buses and classroom blocks, contributed immensely to the development of both primary and secondary education, as well as Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. Parents expressed deep appreciation for these initiatives, acknowledging their unprecedented nature in Nigeria at that time.
You have contested in both State House of Assembly and House of Representatives primaries. What were those experiences like for you?
The experiences were life-changing and greatly enriched my political career.
How do you handle the challenges of winning and losing in politics?
Like my late father used to tell me, in politics, you win some and you lose some. You cannot win all the time. I have always handled both victories and setbacks with that wisdom.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, what is your message to the Nigerian electorate?
My message to Nigerians is: first, go out en masse to register and obtain your Permanent Voter’s Card, as it is your constitutional right. Secondly, let us continue to pray fervently to Almighty God to bless our nation with God-fearing and passionate leaders.
What advice do you have for the younger generation aspiring to make a difference in politics or other fields?
My advice is to do everything with the utmost fear of God, who created heaven and earth. For indeed, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Finally, what guiding principle do you live by as a politician and as a man of faith?
My guiding principle is to carry out all my responsibilities with the fear of God at the center of my life. May God bless us all.
