Hon Owolabi Olatunde Rasaq who represents Share /Oke-Ode state constituency in Kwara State House of Assembly is a popular young politician in the State of Harmony. In this interview with AKINLOLU ABAYOMI, he disclosed how he got his nickname ‘Owooo’, talked about the empowerment programmes he has introduced to improve the lives of his constituents and other issues. Excerpts…
You are one of the popular young politicians in Kwara State, does this mean anything to you?
I thank God for that because it is not by power nor by might, I feel so honoured and happy because if one is doing anything in life and people see and appreciate it, this would inspire and encourage the person, he or she will be happy. I am so honoured and I do pray and ask for divine guidance because I do not want to disappoint myself or the people.
You have been a member of Kwara State House of Assembly since 2019 and you are popularly called ‘Owoo’, what is the origin of the nickname?
Thank you my brother. Like I said earlier, I thank God for His support, even some people may think it’s all about juju, metaphysical power and all that, some may also say I’m fetish but honestly it is God and destiny, God has been my strength. Talking about my nickname ‘Owoo’, it was when I wanted to start the house of assembly race in 2018, that we came up with it. We initially suggested OOR’ but later settled for ‘OWOOO 2019’.
As a councillor, you spent two terms, now in the House of Assembly, this is your second term, what have you done to improve the lives of your constituents?
I began my political career in 1999 and I became a councillor in 2007. I have always believed in one thing, ‘give to the people from what you have’ because an adage says ‘a giver never lacks’, because if you are occupying a position and you refuse to give out, it means you are deceiving yourself and manufacturing problems for yourself. When I was a councillor, I gifted someone an HP laptop, I gave people phones, clothes and even food items and money, let me just say I am a cheerful giver. I am always conscious of the fact that whatever you do to your constituents, whether good or bad, it will be reciprocated.
Who are the people you have empowered recently?
Everyone knows the good things I have done which made me get honoured as Mr EMPOWERMENT and when it comes to reaching out to constituents, I am one of the best house of assembly members in Nigeria. Between 2019 and 2023, we distributed motorcycles, grinding machines, sewing machines, deep freezers, clothes, money and we facilitated many good things to our constituency. I also gifted 12 people cars. I also introduced an empowerment programme for widows across the 10 wards in my constituency and this has been sustained. In my second term which began in June last year, I have already gifted three people cars. I gifted our dear royal father, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Usman Ayelara Ilufemiloye, a new Honda car which I bought for approximately N10 million but is now valued at N17 million. I gave my Director General a new Toyota Camry worth N4.5 million. I don’t give a car to someone without considering certain factors, my Director General is a retiree, he is well- to-do, he has a dutiful wife, children and he has built a house so, I just felt that the car he was using before his retirement should be changed because It won’t speak well of me if I’m using a good car and my DG is not, that was why I sourced for money to buy him the car and thank God he is enjoying the car now. I am popularly called ‘oko opo’,’ husband of the widows’ because I have been distributing money to the widows from ward to ward, starting from Ile-Ere ward, Oroago ward, Oke Ode 1,2&3,Shaare 1&2 and completed it in my hometown for the year 2024. We will by the Grace of God begin that of year 2025 next year because not all our constituents can have access to us, the best thing is for a politician to visit them from time to time and thank God, I’m always there. We have also facilitated schools, roads, hospitals to our constituency and our governor, Mallam Abdulraman Abdulrasaq is really doing a good job in terms of infrastructure projects in the state. I’m currently handling a school project in Labaka Oja in Oke Ode 3, I thought it would probably have 10 million naira as project cost but it is more than that and as God would have it with the support of our grassroots project I have got to a certain level and I will invite your media organization for the inauguration ceremony. The renovation is ongoing, the boreholes have been sunk, solar panels have been installed. These are our achievements so far.
What measures have you taken in respect of tackling insecurity in Kwara South especially Ifelodun LGA?
Insecurity is not only in Kwara State, it is being experienced everywhere in the country but it is not the Federal government that will come and secure Ifelodun LGA, it is our duty as the representatives of the LGA to do something about it and the new chairman is trying to work with the stakeholders at local government level to ensure that insecurity in Ifelodun LGA is tackled. Ifelodun is one LGA in Kwara State with high insecurity to the extent that one of our young people was badly injured recently during an attack and I spent up to N600,000 to support his medical bills. We work in collaboration with the vigilante, police, soldiers and DSS to ensure that we tackle this problem in our LGA. Governor Abdulraman Abdulrasaq has always swung into action whenever we call on him.
How would you assess the Abdulraman Abdulrasaq administration?
This government is ‘our’ government and I give kudos to Mallam Abdulraman Abdulrasaq for a job well done, he has actually changed the narrative, he is a good man who prioritizes the interests of the people, his government is good, he is taking Kwara to the next level.
You are a fashionable young man, is this an innate quality or you acquired the traits from someone?
Yes, I will say it is an innate quality because where I come from, we are very fashionable and I have added flavour to it. Also, I don’t smoke or drink , I don’t do drugs, so, I love fashion and I like to look good, I wear designers and thank God I have a good stature that makes the outfits fit me. I don’t buy fake materials, if I want a Gucci product I will go to Gucci stores, ditto Nike, Tummy, Versace. That is the foundation for being fashionable. I have to ensure that I look good. Recently, a friend of mine and I bought the same cloth material and we took it to our respective tailors but when we met at the venue of the event, he remarked that ‘why was it that mine fits me more than his own? and I replied that all glory be to God.
How did you join politics?
My grandmother , ‘Iya Salewa’ in ‘Babanlomo’ , inspired me into joining politics, may her soul rest in perfect peace, she was also the Iyaloja of Babanlomo land, she was into politics and she was with Baba Saraki. She later became the Woman Leader, got sponsored to perform hajj and umrah and achieved so many things through politics, so, I emulated her. However, when I ventured into politics, the first boss was a councillor, Hon.Babatunde Kusi while I was his Personal Assistant. He represented Ubandawaki Ward in Ilorin West Local government and he was the Speaker, so, I decided to follow his footsteps and left for Ifelodun local government to become a councillor. There was also another person, Alhaja Amuda Onimago, wife of former SSG, Alhaji Saka Onimago. I used to help her carry her bags in those days. When I got to Ifelodun local government, there were two major camps and groups, one was headed by late Professor Albert Ogunsola and the one was under former Senator Sulaiman Ajadi. I joined the Ogunsola family and it was through them that I got the councillorship nomination. Those were the bosses I had but I later did what people call ‘freedom’ whether they were willing to release me or not and I later did what people call ‘join man’ under Alhaji Ajadi and after a while I decided to get my own ‘shop’.
Have you ever regretted being a politician?
No, I have never regretted being a politician because if I do, that means I am not grateful to God because I have done and achieved so many things through politics, I have travelled abroad, built houses, got married, trained my children and many more. Anyway, every profession has its challenges and good aspects as well.
Can you remember funny things you did while in high school?
Yes, I was a footballer while I was in secondary school precisely, Oro Muslim High School, I was a good goal keeper, likewise in primary school, I loved fashion and my haircut was different from others, I ironed my uniform differently and unique. We do make it to reflect star image. Everyone was my friend, especially the girls because I always appear neat.
Tell us about yourself.
I was born on March 27, 1977, no subtraction, no addition, I am blessed with a wife, Alhaja Asabe Umunlikhair Owolabi and four children. I am an in-law to the Barubas.
Have you tried Baruba local cuisines?
Please, if you are single, go and marry a Baruba woman, if you are married and you want a new wife, go and marry a Baruba woman. Yoruba cuisines are almost the same with that of the Baruba but the way they prepare it and the ingredients make it special.
