By Mike Adeyemi
If there is anyone who has made quality legislative representation a delightful experience in the history of democracy in Share/ Oke-Ode Constituency, he is no other person than Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Razaq.
His first term in office as a representative of the good people of Share/Oke-Ode Constituency has brought about monumental development to the land which is accompanied with so much humanitarian assistance of great impactful benefits to the people.
Little wonder why the people of his constituents gallantly voted to return him to the Kwara State House of Assembly for another four years of positive legislation.
The downtrodden, the poor and the less privileged have been enjoying the dividends of democracy and are still enjoying better life owing to the help and support from his philanthropic gestures.
In a country where lawmakers are habitually indicted of doing little or nothing to lift the standard of living of their constituents, Hon. Owolabi has proved to be a shiny exception as he has taken great responsibilities upon himself beyond just being a legislator to making visible and verifiable impact on the people of his constituency through his Direct Touch Initiative which has seen him assisting a lot of his people with the provision of electricity transformers, motorized water boreholes, renovation of schools, health facilities etc.
Owoo has he is fondly called has also gifted a good number of his constituents with empowerment items, car gift, cash and scholarships to indigent pupils/students. More so, Hon. Owolabi is equally matching human capital development with infrastructural development.
Too many times, particularly during elections, politicians travel round communities and towns making grand speeches and trumpeting qualities, which they believe make them uniquely qualified to lead the people.
Unfortunately, too many times after the elections are over, the promises fade from memory and the people turn away disappointed as before and are left to struggle on their own for another four years.
But some politicians place premium value on their constituents and go out of their way to put a smile on their faces. Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Razaq, the chairman , House Committee on Health and Environment of Kwara State House of Assembly stands out in this respect.
Beyond politics, the lawmaker reminds one of the prototypical of late MKO Abiola of blessed memory. In his time, Abiola was synonymous with philanthropy. He may not have been the wealthiest in his days, but his unparalleled generosity separated him from the wealthy class, giving him a toga of the super wealthy
“The giver’s hand is always on top”, the businessman – politician replied when journalists quizzed him why he gives consistently. MKO did not give to lobby for political office, giving was his second nature, his lifestyle
In Kwara state, Hon Owolabi Olatunde Razaq is also easily becoming synonymous with philanthropy. He gives unconditionally. He give to show mercy, to help the needy. The cynic might argue that he gives from his abundance. Really?
Of course not. It has been established that one must have the spirit of a giver to give. Remember the rich fool in the Bible who urged himself to eat and be merry because he has in abundance. How about the beggar Lazarus, who, though he sat daily at a rich man’s gate could not get even the crumbs that fell from the table as the rich man’s dog lapped up everything.
The Babanloma-born lawmaker facilitated road in Ileree ward. He facilitated a road to Oyatedo in Oro-Agor ward. Ditto at Share ward and to his home town Babanloma. In the last four years, the numerical stretch of facilitated roads by the lawmaker is more than five, coupled with lots of road gradings that links from one places to another.
He sunk and facilitated over 100 water borehole across the ten (10) wards that makes Share/Oke-Ode Constituency. The story is not different for Share II. Hon. Owolabi facilitated seven (7) motorized boreholes, one at Gaa Oke-Lute, Gaa Danda, Gaa Koletan and one at Share, Babanloma, Oke-Ode and Share.
While at Ileree, the lawmaker cum philanthropist bought wires and poles for many communities. He installed ten (10) Solar Lights to about 10 Fulani’s abode also known as Gaa. He facilitated transformer to the ancient town of Babanloma, Oro-Ago and Share community.
Suffice to note that when Hon. Owolabi come onboard, Oke-Ode District for in nearly three years were in total darkness. In his magnanimity, he facilitated a transformer worth 120 million naira to the community, a resultant effect that prompted the late Kabiyea (Oba) Abdulkadri Alebiosu to conferred on him the title of ‘Oluomo’ of Oke-Ode.
Others communities that benefited from his magnanimous services to the people are Shagbe, Ajegunle, Alegongo, Budo-Umoru, Labaka-Oja, Agunjin, Ilere community to mention but few. The lawmaker has actually brought a dividends of democracy to the good people of Share/Oke-Ode constituency through his avid representation as he has touched and impacted life throughout the ten wards.
It is also noteworthy to place on record that Hon. Owolabi has consistently paid JAMB, WAEC and NECO fees of Senior Secondary School students of the constituency for the past four years, even before coming into office, thereby lifting the burden of paying the fees by parents and guardians from across the 10 wards.
Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Razaq has always come to the aid of indigent’s students by offering scholarships for them in the pursuit of their studies. He paid medical bills of several less privileged ones in the society alongside employing health workers across his constituency who are under his payroll.
He facilitated blocks of classrooms to Oro-Ago District,, Oke-Ode II at Shagbe, and10 blocks of classrooms at Share. Other communities from his classrooms larges includes, Alegongo, Budo Umoru, and Lakanla. He also distributed exercise books across all the 10 wards.
Beyond his immediate constituency, Kwarans from other constituencies also benefit from his magnanimity as Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Razaq doesn’t discriminate based on any primordial conditions while attending to the needs of the people. To him, every Kwarans are equal and must be treated with dignity irrespective of their social status, class, political affiliation or religious affinity. There are, of course, many other services rendered and infrastructural facilities provided to the people that time and space would not permit me to enumerate here.
The astute politician also dolled out empowerment equipment of great magnitude including vehicles as part of his empowerment scheme. His desire is to enhance the socio-economic status of the people.
The empowerment program was one of its kind in Share/Oke-Ode Constituency, where no fewer than 2000 small entrepreneurs benefited from vocational training equipment, while cars, laptops, tricycles, motorcycles and mechanical tools, in bulk were distributed by the lawmaker representing Share/Oke-Ode Constituency, Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Razaq.
The lawmaker has also enrolled young minds in various skill acquisitions programs to enhance their ability and also raise entrepreneurs across the ten wards.
If many other lawmakers in the country could be as dedicated to meeting the needs of the people the way Hon. Owolabi does, no matter how little, thereby complimenting the efforts of the executive arm of government, the much talked about dividends of democracy would be more easily available and accessible to the people in both volume and value.
As a leading political light in the state, the Babanloma born politician has used his position and influence so well that he has helped to keep the Assembly peaceful, stable and very cooperative with the executive arm of government. His humility and ability to work with colleagues and other political actors in the executive and the party is well known in the state’s political circle.
These are rare attributes of a man of his status, serving humbly and making himself readily available and easily accessible to his people. Where there seems to be rancor, he provides succor, help for the helpless and giving hope to the despondent.
It is therefore not a thing of surprise that wherever he goes in Kwara State, accolades rents the air as Kwarans from all walks of life including men, women, youth, the aged, widows, children , particularly people from his constituency stumble over themselves to salute the one they strongly believe has been sent by God to bring relief to them.
The fact remains that whatever naysayers and sponsored hack writers say about him, Owolabi remains on a different level in visible service to the people and verifiable achievements far and above those who vainly vilify him for petty purposes.
Sharply focused, Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Razaq has not allowed himself to be distracted by such mischiefs nor has he allowed his exemplary service to God through humanity gets dampened. Rather, he has promised to even do more for as many as are under the coverage of both his personal and legislative radars.
The soft-spoken lawmaker is undoubtedly a fiercely loyal party man who toes the party line on all issues. He was among those who spoke and eloquently eulogized the current governor of Kwara State, Mall. abdulRahman AbdulRasaq as a rare gem and blessing for the people of Kwara. Hon. Owolabi described the Kwara State governor as a “best thing to happen to kwara state“.
With his continued representation, Kwarans are sure of the presence of Hon. Owolabi in the House will continue to ensure that the Kwara State House of Assembly is peaceful, stable, cooperative with the executive and loyal to party manifesto and government programmes, without compromising legislative principles, for the continued progress, development and prosperity of Kwara and her good people.
Like he promised during the penultimate campaigns, his Nonstop Touch Resourcefulness will cover a wider range and more people even beyond his immediate constituency are surely going to be reached.
With people like Owolabi Razaq, Kwara State will have a greater enjoyment of robust in term’s of governments relationship, and APC’s interests and manifesto will surely continue to be projected and protected in an atmosphere free from rancor and unnecessary hostilities.
Mike Adeyemi is the Editor -In-Chief, The Fact Newspaper and he writes via mikeadeyemi2001@gmail.com
Hotline :+2348035139846