How Hon. Owolabi provided Motorized Borehole, empowered constituents with cars, others

It was indeed a thing of joy for the people of Share/Oke Ode constituency as the Honourable representing them in the State House of Assembly rolled out empowerment programs. The event which was organized in CAC Primary School, Share last Friday, was the third of its kind.

Honourable AbdulRazak Owolabi again empowered many people from his constituency and Local Government Area. He did the first empowerment 9 months ago at Share, the second was done 5 months ago at Babaloma Township field and the third one took place again at Share.

For his first empowerment program, Hon. Owolabi empowered 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.

Subsequently, the lawmaker, again empowered his people which he tagged as “emergency empowerment” because it was impromptu. He 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.

This time, Owolabi expanded the empowerment. He distributed 25 motorcycles, one Sharon bus, rolled out N20,000 cash for petty Traders (Owo Isowo) and disbursed N20, 000 amounts of cash to youths who have undergone intensive training fully sponsored by him.

Speaking at the empowerment program, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, commended Owolabi for his efforts towards reducing poverty rate in the state, and urged the beneficiaries to make judiciously use of the Items given to them.

‘I felt bad when I saw my people drinking the same water with cows’

Owolabi in his brief address said, “This is my third empowerment in just two years and some months that I assumed office. I am the Honourable member representing Share/Oke Ode constituency. If anyone has checked my WhatsApp status recently, I posted my visit to my people. When I got there, I was not happy with the condition I met them. They have been demanding for potable water for a very long period of time.

“So, when I was there I gave them one motorized borehole. What is happening is that these people belong to Share ward 1 and they have not been enjoying the dividends of democracy. The water the cows drink is what they also drink. I pity them because it when the cows finished drinking that’s when they will also drink. So I gave them one motorized borehole. If we are bringing two motorized boreholes to Share, we usually give those at the surroundings and not those who are mainly affected.

“I learnt that people at Oko werẹ, just created a market and the mosque they do pray, sometimes, they don’t get water to perform ablution. When I went there a few days ago I pitied their condition and I promised them one motorized borehole. Before January, I will make sure it is done. I am a money-spender, I give out the money as I see it, so that my people too can enjoy. When I visited there, my aim was to just give them money, but I later discovered their problem is far from distributing money to them. I pocketed the little money I want to give and promised to make them happy in my next empowerment which we are doing today. I will give them N100, 000, so that they can all share it and be happy.”

While speaking further, he advised the beneficiaries to make the best use of the equipment and money given to them and urged them to avert anything that could lure them to sell that equipment.

`We have not witnessed these kinds of empowerment before in the history of Ifelodun Local Government Area’

One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Lukman Oluoode, Oke Ode ward 3, Asungbale, who shared his feelings said, “What’s happening today is a thing of joy. The Honourable who is representing us at the Kwara State House of Assembly is a good man. His actions projected that he has love of the masses at heart. This is the third empowerment he is doing. To be sincere we have not witnessed such kind of empowerment before in the history of Ifelodun Local Government.

“The second empowerment he did, he distributed sewing machines, cars and gave out cash. And today, he is repeating the same. Today’s empowerment is even bigger than the ones he had done. As you can see he gave out motorcycles, cars, cash, and he also trained youths on different skills that can make them be financially independent. I am one of the beneficiaries who got a motorcycle. In fact, I am so elated. I have been struggling to buy a motorcycle before this empowerment came to me as a surprise.

“I was not expecting the motorcycle. It is a privilege for me to be among the beneficiaries. I am the youth leader of my ward, maybe because of my efforts and active involvement in grassroots politics, I think that was why he saw me as worthy of the empowerment program. In all, let me say it is a rare privilege for me to be among those who got the motorcycles.

“Some of the people who benefitted from the empowerment program, will be so happy today. You can see the joy written all over their faces. I pray Allah continues to guide and protect him. I also pray for his long life and prosperity. By God’s grace in 2023, I pray he is re-elected because he is a God-sent and a good leader. If we have someone like Hon. Owolabi in Ifelodun, the local government will move forward, it will be well developed and everyone will have peace of mind. The motorcycle will be useful for me due to the nature of my job. I often travel, so I will be using it as my means of transportation from one place to another. The people of Asungbale appreciate Hon. Owolabi for this empowerment and pray he continues to receive divine favour of Almighty God.

Another beneficiary Sherifat Abdulkareem from Babaloma, who spoke to the Informant247 said, “I was trained how to make liquid soap and he gave me startup capital that I will be using to practice what I have learnt and at the same time earn a living from the little money I would be making from the production.”

`We were trained in six major skills’

Usman Gaffar Shola, who is from Ifelodun local, Elere ward, expressed his appreciation, said: “This is an empowerment program from Honourable AbdulRazak Owolabi. He empowered us and he trained us on six major things; liquid soap, body wash, izal, balm, insecticide, and one other skill. With the training, I can perfectly do all these things by myself. He gave us the certificate which is the most important and empowered us with startup capital. Since I have gotten the startup fund, it is now left for me to practice what I have learnt.”

Those who were present at the event include; The Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Salihu Yakubu Danladi, Senator Representing Kwara South at the National Assembly, Sen. Lola Ashiru, The Member representing Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/ and Oke-Ero at the Federal House of Representatives of Nigeria, Hon. Raheem Tunji Ajulo-Opin, Deputy Chairman, Kwara APC, Alh Abdullahi Samari, Kwara State House of Assembly Service Commission Chairman, Mr. Femi Yusuf, His Royal Majesty, Olupako of shàré; Oba Harun Sulyman Usman, HRM Olusin Ijara Isin; Oba Ademola Ajibola, KWATMA executive chairman; Hon Kale Oloje; SA women empowerment to Kwara State Governor, Hajia Aisha Bolanle Ismail (Iya Lamule) among others.