By Prof Aderemi Ajala
60 years ago, a star emerged, and never did his emergence was recognized to be an astute
politician who would later bestride the nation of his birth like a colossus. Today, besides being
an accomplished intelligentsia, a patriot, a benevolent friend, a rewarding principal, an admirable
personality, a political thinker, and a development expert, he is by every definition a quintessential
achiever not only in businesses but much more in politics.
The star that emerged sixty years ago is Rt. Hon. (Engr.) Chief Sulaimon ‘Lasunkanmi Yussuff
popularly known as SL Yussuff. SL Yussuff was born exactly on the 4th of October 1960, four
days after Nigeria got its independence from the British colonial government. A providence that
further suggests that SL Yussuff was from the beginning a herald of freedom, development and
national rebirth. Born into a very humble background parented by Alhaja and Alhaji Chief Amuda
Yussuff of Woru dynasty of Ilobu in Osun State of Southwestern Nigeria, SL Yussuff grew up
from a political elite, as his father later emerged a political leader not only in Ilobu town but in
Osun division of southwestern Nigeria generally.
While his both parents are unlettered, SL Yussuff benefited from both Quranic and western
scholarships, with which he combined Islamic spirituality and academic brilliancy coupled with
native intelligence as a product of strong parental socialization he enjoyed from his humble
background. Schooled in Ilobu, Eriin, Ifon, Ikare, Ibadan and Ile-Ife where he had his primary,
secondary, advanced level studies and University education respectively, he was trained as an
Engineer specializing in Mechanical Engineering. While in School, starting from his secondary
education, he benefited from federal government scholarship and up to his university education,
he did not lose the opportunities of scholarships and academic awards that came with his
studious characters. Following his resounding undergraduate success, he had another Master’s
degree in Project Management also from his Alma ata Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Upon his graduation from the University, he took appointment with the then Oyo State Water
Corporation, Ibadan where he worked for only five years and voluntarily retired to private life and
politics. In private life, he exceedingly excelled as a public transport manager in Lagos; a cocoa
merchant in Osun, a big time farmer in Osun and an hotelier with a magnificent edifice known as
LAIM Hotels and Suites, Osogbo in Osun State.
As a politician, he demonstrated not only being a colossus but an enviably benevolent politician.
Rising from political party executive position as the Secretary (1999) and Public Relation Officer
(1999- 2002) of Alliance for Democracy, he becomes a state wide political leader in progressive
political parties including All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria. He was one of the
foremost architects of political victories of Chief Bisi Akande (1999-2003); Prince Olagunsoye
Oyinlola (2003-2010) and Mr. Rauf Aregbesola(2010-2018) governorship elections held in 1999,
2003 and 2007 respectively.
SL Yussuff eventually contested for the seat of House of Representatives, representing
Irepodun/Olorunda/Orolu/Osogbo federal constituency in the House of Representatives,
Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2011. He won the election and emerged as floor member of
the House of Representatives, Abuja. As a floor member, he was a Vice Chairman of House of
Representatives’ Committee on Water and members of some other House Committees between
2011 and 2015. In 2015 he secured re-election and became Deputy Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria in an historic election held on the floor of the House
of Representatives in July 2015, where he assuaged a massive 202 votes out of 358 that cast
votes in the House, leading victorious ahead of other coLasunkanmi Yussuff became a Rt. Honorable, the position he held for four years with milestone
achievements.
As a Deputy Speaker, he doubled as the First Deputy Chairman of the ECOWAS parliament and
the Chairman of the Committee of a Whole in the House of Representatives. He served in many
strategic ad-hoc committees set up by the President of Nigeria and the Nigerian parliament
between 2015 and 2019; where he displayed high level of integrity, commitment to national
development and brilliancy. Among such tasks were the chairman of the committee set up by
President Mohammed Buhari to repair the infected 2016 Nigerian budget that was alleged of
illegal and extraneous insertions. SL Yussuff handled the assignment successfully. He was also
the chairman of Nigerian Constitution Review Committee of the House. Through his singular
interventions, many provisions that have improved Nigerian politics, economy and social well
beings of many Nigerians were passed. He also headed the National Assembly Constitutional
Review Committee between 2016 and 2019.
SL Yussuff engaged his position as the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives to impact
positively and remarkably on his constituency and Nigeria as a whole. He facilitated the
appointment of 128 persons of various backgrounds as Special Advisers (5), Special Assistants
(11), Personal Assistants (10) and Legislative Aides (102) in the House of Representatives
between 2015 and 2019. He also facilitated 92 different senior graduate appointments in
various Nigerian sectors such as Nigerian Police; Nigerian Navy; Nigerian Customs; Nigerian Civil
Defense; Central Bank of Nigeria; Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority; and Nigerian Port authority
among others. SL Yussuff facilitated monumental federal government development projects to
his constituency which was earlier without much presence of the federal government of Nigeria.
Among these are the reconstruction of 40 meter bridge on Erinle River in Ilobu; Construction of
nine secondary school buildings across his federal constituency; Construction of 17 primary
school buildings across his federal constituency; Provision and installation of seven electricity
transformers in his federal constituency; Construction of two mini water dams in Osogbo
and Ilobu; Construction of 46 kilometer solar street lights across his federal constituency;
Construction of two maternity and dispensary centres in Osogbo and Ilobu; Construction of
27 boreholes across his federal constituency; Construction of three Internet Communication
Technology Centres across his federal constituency and the reconstruction of 23 kilometer
of roads across his federal constituency. He also empowered vulnerable through provision of
work inputs, cash donations and skill building trainings for 6,000 people in Osun state through
series of training workshops held on Agriculture, Vocational training and Self-employment skills
between 2011 and 2019.
SL Yussuff in recognition of his contributions to community development, he is a holder of
many township chieftaincy titles. He is Ikolaba of Ilobu land; Bashorun of Oba’gun; Agabakin of
Ilare-Ijesha all in Osun State; and Ajagunla of Ikare Akoko in Ondo State.
Currently he is the Chairman of his company holdings. He is also a member of National
Consultative Forum of the APC and a leader in All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state.
Rt. Hon. Sulaimon Lasunkanmi Yussuff is successfully married to Alhaja Omowumi Rashdat
Yussuff Nee Owolabi from Osogbo and the marriage is blessed with good children.