The honourable representing Share/Oke-Ode constituency at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Razaq Owolabi, has denied asking any of the beneficiaries of his empowerment programme to return items he distributed to them.
Some online media in the state on Monday reported that the honourable is making moves to reclaim a Mazda Premacy with registration number SHA 786 LB which he presented to one Alhaja Taibat Suleiman at one of his empowerment programmes.
The mediums quoted Suleiman as saying that she registered the car in my name after the empowerment but decided to sell it few months ago.
However, while giving clarification during a telephone conversation with our correspondent late Monday evening, the honourable stated that he didn’t ask any of the beneficiaries to return the distributed items.
“I didn’t collect any car from anybody. My plan is to empower ten people from across the wards that made up my state constituency. I have distributed to eight wards already, remaining two. I have done other programmes too. I have many more plans and by the grace of God, as long as we receive our salaries and allowances, I will still fulfil everything,” Owolabi said.
Speaking on Mrs Suleiman’s allegations, the honourable, who stated that issue arise when he got wind that she sold the car he empowered her with, stressed that such action goes against his “Do not sell” agreements with beneficiaries of all his empowerment programmes.
He said, “I didn’t collect the cars from her, what happened is that people believe we are not in good terms because he is no more supporting us. I told them to leave her and categorically stated that so far she is still a member of my constituency, she is entitled to it.
“Later, when I heard she wanted to sell the car, I called Alhaja not to do that because it’s meant to empower her. It is recorded in my speech that items like this cannot be sold. I told them before giving out the items on the day of empowerment. I said that if anyone have plans sell the items, such person should not collect it, that they should let us give it to those that needs it.
“She insisted on selling it that people were insulting her, I told her to ignore them and let it slide. Unfortunately, I heard on Thursday night that she has sold the car, she sold it to one of my siblings ‘Abdullahi’ at Babanloma.
“Abdullahi called me to inform me that he has bought the car I gave to Taiba, immediately I told him it’s not for sale that he should return it to avoid being arrested by the police.
“The second day I went to report at the police station because I am still repaying the loan I obtained from the bank for this empowerment to come to life. The police called Abdullahi to bring the car to the station on Friday. He pleaded he wasn’t available at that time that he’ll bring it on Saturday morning.
“Abdullahi called me, I told him to return the car back to the seller and collect his money back. He returned the car on Friday night and till now Taiba hasn’t refunded the money back to Abdullahi. Never did I ask Taiba or any other beneficiaries of my empowerment programmes to return items I already gave out willingly.
“I have distributed 8 cars, 45 grinding machines, 45 sewing machines, clippers, generators, fertilizer sprayers, deep freezers, books to students, and cash already. Why is it only Taiba? You’ll see that something is fishy.”
Meanwhile, The Informant247 independently confirmed that the honourable – during both empowerment programmes – instructed beneficiaries not to sell any of the items.