Kunle Adelabu
Although, Hon. Olanrewaju lsmail (Sunmi) Odesanya spent just one full term as the Representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I at the Lagos State House of Assembly between 2003 and 2007, and did not earn a return ticket due to political dynamism, but his constituents and members of the 6th Assembly still remember the superb legislative performances of the youthful, energetic and sound lawmaker with great oratory prowess on the floor of the Assembly.
The trained lawyer, who also had a stint with the Nigeria institute of Journalism (NIJ), was just 34 years when he was favoured by the power that be in Ikorodu then and was given the mandate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and subsequently, that of the people of Ikorodu Constituency I during the 2003 general elections.
Sunmi, as he is fondly called by friends and admirers, was also appointed as Commissioner I, Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission between 2012 and 2017. This placed him in good stead as a Senatorial aspirant with not only a deep knowledge of primary functions of a legislator and one who had actively partook in legislative work, but also one with administrative knowledge of the workings of the hallow chamber.
While at the Lagos Assembly, Hon. Sunmi served as Chairman and member of many important committees due to the trust the leadership of the Assembly had in his capacity and ability to deliver on any assignment given to him.
He was Chairman, House Committee on Human Rights and Public Petitions (2003 -2004), Chairman House Committee on Judiciary, Human Right & Public Petitions; Chairman, House Service Committee (2005-2006) and Chairman, House Committee on Human Rights and Public Petitions (2006-2007).
Hon. Sunmi was also Member, House Committee on Education (2003 – 2005), Member, House Committee on Information & Strategy (2003 – 2005), Member, House Committee on Physical Planning (2003 – 2005), Member, House Committee on judiciary (2003 – 2004), Member, House Committee on Finance (2006 – 2007), Member, House Committee on Commerce & Industry (2006 – 2007), Member, House Committee on Housing (2006 – 2007) and Member, House Committee on Mineral Resources (2006 – 2007).
The young Parliamentarian was called to bar in Bwari, Abuja, between 2001 and 2002 where he bagged Bachelor of Law (BL) after he studied Law at the prestigious University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, between 1992 and 2000 and was awarded LLB.
He is a Senior Associate, Lords & Temple (Attorneys, Solicitors, Arbitrators), 2018 till date and Principal Partner, Odesanya & Odesanya (Legal Practitioners).
Hon. Sunmi was a Legal Practitioner and Partner in Dada Odesanya & Co. (2007-2013), Yaba-Lagos.
As a lawyer, Hon. Sunmi is a Member, Nigerian Bar Association and International Bar Association.
He was still at the Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba-Ikeja, between 1992 -1993, regarded as one of the foremost schools of Journalism in the country, when he received an admission to study law at UNILAG.
The young legislator is an alumni of the premier college in Ikorodu Division and one of the top rated secondary schools in the country, Oriwu College, Ikorodu. He was a student at the school between 1980 and 1985 and also had his West African Examination Certificate and was awarded SSCE in the same school.
The Senatorial aspirant also attended the Local Government primary school, Ikorodu, for his first School Leaving Certificate between 1974 and 1980.
Aside his election into the State Assembly in 2003, Hon. Sunmi Odesanya, who is a member of the Apex Body of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lkorodu division, was at various times, Member Youth Wing, Social Democracy Party (1991-1993), Ward A1, Ikorodu Local Government Area and Secretary, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organization (BATCO), Ikorodu Local Government Area (1998-2002).
He was also an aspirant for the House of Representatives election in 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the Action Congress (AC).
He had also served as Member, Local Organization Committee (LOC) Ikorodu, and was a member of the Intelligence and Research Directorate, Babajide Olushola Sanwo – Olu Campaign Organisation (BOSCO), while he also served as the agent of the current Governor of the State, Mr Babajide Sanwolu, during the Gubernatorial Primaries in Isele ward, Ikorodu.
Hon. Sunmi was also a former Representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I, the Legal Adviser, Eko Legislators Forum and Member, Ikorodu Local Government Advisory Council.
As an activist during the dark days of the military in the country, Hon. Sunmi, through his membership of Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) and Campaign for Democracy (CD), joined others to dislodge the military to achieve the current democratic dispensation.
He also maintains strong ties with his alma matas as members of the Oriwu College Old Student Association of Nigeria (OCOSAN) and University of Lagos Alumni Association.
He is a recipient of the The Factors Community Builders’ Awards and Bibire Leadership Awards in 2016.
Hon. Sunmi has attended several seminars, workshops, trainings and conferences on Governance, Legislation, Public Administration and Public Relations within and outside the country.
A committed democrat, progressive and loyal party man, Sunmi has been with the progressive party since the Alliance for Democracy (AD) days through Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now the All Progressives Congress (APC).
