Some members of the Kwara State House of Assembly have been dissatisfied with the recently encomium of love showered on Honorable Rasaq Owolabi who recently organized a “Massive empowerment for his constituents.”
Rasaq Owolabi is the Honourable member representing Share/Oke-ode constituency in Kwara State House of Assembly. He is popular for giving back to his constituency.
In March 2021, 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.
Also, in July, 2021, Owolabi carried out another phase of empowerment for his constituents, which he tagged “Emergency Empowerment”.
Just last week Saturday, he organized another Mega empowerment which has been causing ripples among his fellow lawmakers.
At the empowerment ceremony, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was present to grace the event and flag-off the program in Babaloma, a popular community house in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the event, Gov AbdulRazaq mentioned that out of all 24 members of the 9th Assembly, “It is only Hon. Owolabi that has been able to constantly empower his Constituents,” stressing that others lawmakers pocket their money without giving back to their constituents.
According to the governor, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi, the House Leader, Mogaji Olawoyin as well as other members of the House could not empower their constituents despite their “fat take home.”
A source who was present at the program revealed to THE ELITES WATCH that the Governor while addressing the audience in Yoruba; a local dialet, noted he is surprised that “out of 24 APC electedd lawmakers by the good people of the state, only one is coming back to his Constituents with empowerments.”
He said, “It even amazed me how Owolabi is doing all these , he and other members of the House (Speaker inclusive) are earning same salary , what’s now the difference?, ” the Governor was quoted to have queried.
Speaking further, “The difference is that while the rest lawmakers in the House of Assembly are pocketing their own money and spending it on their individual families, only Owolabi is not pocketing his own, you can see he’s wearing lace.”
According to a top source who pleaded anonymity to THE ELITES WATCH, disclosed that the governor’s statement has caused disunity among the House of Assembly members.
The source further revealed that, the other lawmakers were unhappy with the Governor for only praising Honorable Owolabi and condemning others in a public event.
The source added that the Video of the event which ought to be out in the Public on Monday was thrashed to avoid public embarrassment and avoid further crisis capable of tearing the party apart.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser on Political Communication to the Governor, Alhaji Bashir Adigun, on Wednesday in a statement denied the Governor’s speech, saying that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq did not make such accusation against the state lawmakers.
Adigun said in a statement, “At no time did the Governor make such accusations against the state lawmakers. Their pro-development efforts, patriotism, and empowerment programmes, some of which the Governor had attended or read about, are well-documented for posterity. For the record, empowerment programmes are an icing on the cake for any lawmaker whose main duty is clearly stated in our laws.”