From a popular media practitioner to the present Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ogun State, Dayo Adeneye, has not had it so easy switching fields.
In a recent interview with Punch, he describe his life as the Commissioner for Information and strategy. According to D1, it has been very challenging yet fulfilling.
“Now, I have longer hours of work unlike when I was an entrepreneur; then, you dictate to yourself when to resume work, if it is necessary, and you close when you deem it fit. It is different from governance because it is a 24-hour job and you don’t get to close from work. If anything happens at 12 midnight, you have to be responsive. The challenges are there but I am up to the task.”
He also added that he now have shorter sleeping hours since you became a commissioner, “I understand that this is a call to service and it is not really different from what we did in the private sector. I wasn’t sleeping as much as eight hours either then because we were always on radio. I was on radio and television practically every day except on Sundays, for several years. When I was not on radio or television, I was attending shows and events even on special holidays. I don’t think I have celebrated Valentine’s Day, Christmas or New Year in the last 13 years. I am used to it now.”
On how he deals with criticisms from the public, the Commissioner said, “When you apply for a government job or campaign for an office and you are elected, the people have the right to make certain demands. Sometimes, people can go overboard especially in these days of social media, people cross the line a lot. It is okay to criticise constructively but sometimes, I think people just hurl insults. Don’t forget that these people hold offices in trust for you and even though you have a right to make certain demands, there is a certain dignity that the office of a governor, member of house of representatives, etc holds and we have to accord it with respect. There is respect that those offices demand so we should not expect that in our effort to make our voices heard, we disrespect those offices. That being said, as a public servant, I don’t want to say that I am used to it but you learn to take the good with the bad. A lot of people would commend you and others would condemn you. If 90 per cent of the people are commending me, I am okay with that because there is no way you can satisfy everyone. Everybody cannot like what you do. You just do your best and leave the rest to God.:
