Politics, they say, is not a sprint but a marathon. In Ondo South, the race for the Senate has entered a decisive lap, and one man’s stride is steady, sure, and unmistakable. Hon. Mathew Oye Oyerinmade, fondly called MATO, has proven that he is not just in the contest, he is the people’s choice.
When he came second in the 2022 APC senatorial primary, many thought he would fade into the shadows. Instead, MATO turned that moment into fuel. “Coming second was not a setback to me; rather, it was a valuable stage in the journey,” he said. “It gave me deeper insight into party dynamics, grassroots expectations, stakeholder engagement, and the importance of sustained political relationship building.” That is the voice of a man who sees politics not as a game of chance but as a calling to serve.
Since then, he has walked the talk. Across Okitipupa, Ile‑Oluji/Okeigbo, Odigbo, Ilaje, Irele, and Ese Odo, his name rings like a bell in the marketplace. His popularity is not a product of propaganda but of presence. He has paid attention where others paid lip service, built bridges where others built walls, and shown compassion where others showed calculation. In the words of the people, “MATO is not just a politician; he is one of us.”
Now the stage is set for the APC to choose a candidate who embodies loyalty, credibility, and readiness. If the cap must fit anyone, it fits the runner‑up who stayed loyal, the aspirant who never abandoned the party, the leader who has already earned the people’s trust — MATO.
His vision is clear. From digital empowerment for youths to agro‑cooperatives for farmers, healthcare for the elderly, bursaries for students, and infrastructure advocacy, MATO is not promising castles in the air. He is offering practical programmes that can move Ondo South from subsistence to sustainability, from survival to prosperity. “If given the mandate, the people of Ondo South will not just have a Senator, they will have a system of delivery, a structure of accountability, and a leadership that is present, responsive, and impact‑driven,” he pledged.
Like a drumbeat that cannot be silenced, the chorus from the grassroots and the stakeholders alike is clear: MATO is their man. He is the bridge between the party and the people, the anchor in stormy waters, and the rallying point for unity. In political parlance, he is the square peg in the square hole — the one who fits the moment, the mandate, and the mood of Ondo South.
Party elders echo this sentiment. One senior APC leader in Okitipupa remarked, “We have seen many aspirants come and go, but MATO has remained with us through thick and thin. He is the one who never abandoned the family, and that is why the family will not abandon him.” A youth leader in Ilaje added, “He talks about digital skills, but more than that, he listens to us. He knows our struggles, and he speaks our language. That is why we say, the cap fits him.”
MATO himself summed it up best: “I have learnt from 2022, I have grown from 2022, and I have used that experience to strengthen my reach, my structure, and my relationships. And with God’s will, the support of our party leaders, and the confidence of our people, I am very hopeful, indeed, very confident, that this time the APC ticket for Ondo South Senatorial District will come my way.”
The people have spoken in whispers and in shouts, in gatherings and in polls: MATO is their choice. The cap fits him, and Ondo South knows it.
