…I sold my house to provide succor for my people, says Owolabi
…People of Share, Oke-ode, others appreciate Owolabi’s intervention
…Scores join AbdulRazaq’s APC group, declare support for Samari
Barely four months after Honourable Razak Owolabi empowers constituents with 6 vehicles, 40 grinding machines, 43 sewing machines, 20 sprayers, 2 deep freezers, 2 generators and clippers, and five thousand exercise books for primary and secondary schools in the 10 wards at Share/Oke-ode constituency, he has decided to do more empowerment for his people.
It was a remarkable experience at Babaloma in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State on Sunday as the Honourable representing Share/Oke-ode constituency in Kwara State House of Assembly, again empowered his people. Owolabi tagged it as “emergency empowerment”, saying he was not prepared for it.
Cross-sections of people gathered at Babaloma township field to welcome Hon. Owolabi. Drummers were beating their drums and singing songs to receive him. He expressed his delight and greeted everyone with respect.
During the emergency empowerment, many people warmly appreciated him for the first empowerment he did at Share and the second he has done at Babaloma. They described the lawmaker as ‘God sent’, adding that the constituency has not witnessed such a wonderful and performing representative before in history.
Owolabi gave out another 2 cars, 2 sewing machines, and cash amounting to millions of naira. The wards that benefited were Share ward 5, Oke-ode, Share, Babaloma among others. Many people received cash empowerment to expand their businesses. Two people also got car gifts.
One of the beneficiaries of the two cars recounted how the vehicle he was using had an accident recently. He said he was surprised when the lawmaker blessed him with another car.
At the event, many people have joined Governor AbdulRahman’s group and declared their support for Samari as the recognized State Caretaker Party Chairman. Those people left Lai Mohammed and Gbemisola Saraki’s groups and expressed their sincere interest in the governor’s leadership style.
One of them who is a youth leader said that all of them have consulted Hon. Owolabi and declared their support for the governor. He stated that they all fought for the victory of APC and they see no reason why they won’t benefit from their struggles.
Another person, a lady said that those people they were following before are not mostly affected by the recent crisis that rocks the Kwara APC, stressing that only those of them behind are suffering.
She said that it is time for all of them to benefit from the party and enjoy what they had laboured for in APC. They all pledged to be loyal and supportive to the Governor.
‘I don’t have money, but my constituents must enjoy’
According Hon. Owolabi, he said, “This is my second empowerment in just two years I assumed office. The first one I did, I gave out 6 cars, generators, clippers, sewing machines and other items to empower the people I am representing at the Kwara State House of Assembly.
“Barely some months after the first empowerment I did, I visited my constituency, I engaged many people. I listened to their problems. There was an old woman I spoke with, she is selling locust beans. She told me she needed my assistance to expand her petty business. I asked her how much does she needs. And to my amazement, she said she needed N1500 to buy one bowl of locust seeds.
“Today, I have empowered the old woman with cash that could buy her even more than 10 bowls of locust seeds. It is quite unfortunate that many of these people do not need much money to start up their businesses. I used to wonder why many politicians fail to give back to the society that brought them to power.
“There was a bread seller who also spoke with me, when she told me how much she needed to expand her business, I was amazed. She asked for N10,000. Imagining empowering this woman with N50,000, I am very sure she will be independent and manage the money judiciously.
“I don’t have money, but I can spend money just to make sure the people I represent enjoy dividends of democracy. In fact, I had to sell my house to do this second empowerment. I called it emergency empowerment because I didn’t plan for it. I had to do it due to the situation my people are currently facing. I had promised some people, that was why I had to do another empowerment.
“I sold the house I built before I assumed office to do the empowerment, although God has provided another house for me. With the help of my leader, the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, I was able to secure another building.
“Any politician elected by his people and failed to deliver his or her campaign promises will account for it. I had sworn to the oath, so I must ensure I try my best to fulfill my promises. I am assuring those who have not benefitted from all these empowerments that more of it would be done soon. I can’t do everything at a time, that’s why they need to give me time to plan for another opportunity.
“It has been long that I started this struggle, then many people saw me as a thug until I was elected as a councilor. When I was a councilor, I performed well and that changed the narrative. Many people began to have trust in my leadership. I have been sponsoring radio programs since when I was in PDP. In 2019, during the Ó toge struggle, we fought former senate president Bukola Saraki and we won at APC.
“Not long after our victory, crisis rocks our party at the state level. I will recommend Hon. Abdullahi Samari as the State Caretaker Party Chairman of APC. I am loyal to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. He is my leader. I am happy serving under him. I pray before 2023, the crisis in Kwara APC will be resolved.”
‘We are not in for a fight’
The Kwara State Caretaker Party Chairman of APC, Hon. Abdullahi Samari has urged everyone to be united and come together as one in the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He assured the new members who just joined the governor’s camp of equity and fairness.
While speaking at the empowerment program, Samari said, the party can’t afford you to fight one another in Ifelodun local government.
He said, “I was at Share and also present here today at Babaloma. Owolabi has never disappointed me. I will make sure I tell the Governor about Owolabi’s performance. We are not here to abuse anyone. We are hoping those people angry with us will soon agree on a good term. When they are ready to work with us, they are always welcome. We can’t afford you to fight one another in Ifelodun local government.
“If you can reach consensus in all the wards in Ifelodun before the congress commences, this would give us an edge in the coming election in 2023.”
Beneficiaries appreciate Hon. Owolabi, pray for him
Alhaji Atude Mainunu, a car beneficiary said, “I couldn’t express my joy when I received this car. I am grateful to God. I pray God continues to elevate Owolabi. I have been in this political struggle for more than 30 years, and I have not benefited from it. All I do is mobilize people from as far as Kotongora for election in Ifelodun local government. I used to convey people from Kaduna, Kano, Niger State and other neighbouring states for election without collecting a dime.
“I supported Owolabi’s candidature in 2019. He is the only representative we see every time. And when my vehicle had an accident, I accepted in faith. I thanked God for saving my life. Today, Owolabi gifted me a car. I am so happy and appreciate him for his kind gesture.”
For her part, Hon. Kuburat Ajoke Abdulkareem, supervisor for health, Ifelodun local government expressed her delight over the surprise car gift she received from the lawmaker.
“Today is a day of joy. I didn’t think of it. I received the car gift as a surprise package. I appreciate Hon. Rasak Owolabi for this gift. I used to pester him to do empowerment for our people. And he will say Alhaja you do not ask me for anything for yourself, rather asking me to do things for the people in our constituency. I said I understand the situation of the things that’s why I prefer he continues to satisfy our people. I am grateful to God.
“I also thanked the Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the opportunities he gives to Hon. Owolabi to be able to do all these empowerments for our people
“Some people were given this kind of opportunity but personalized it. But Hon. Owolabi didn’t pocket it. He decided to share it with our people. We appreciate him for that. This is the 8th car he has dashed out to our people. What he has done to many people in silence were more than these cars,” She expressed
The Informant247 News Nigeria