Eid-li-Adha Carnival: Cleric Nicknames Kwara Lawmaker As ‘Kodawona Geri’, Urges Wealthy Nigerians To Show Dedication To Philanthropy

Hon Razaq Olatunde Owolabi, a member of Kwara State House of Assembly, hosted ‘Eid al-Adha carnival’ in his hometown, Babanloma, Ifelodun local government, on Tuesday, bringing together top politicians, religious leaders and party members for a festive and entertaining celebration of the blessed Eid al-Adha.

The 1446 AH edition of the carnival featured a variety of programmes with attendees of the event participating in the ‘games segment’ and noting that they enjoyed the diverse performances that allowed them to engage and express their Eid happiness.

The event held at the open field of Community Secondary School, Babaloma, featured competitions with prizes for the winners while Alhaji Taiye Currency, a popular fuji musician, was on the bandstand to entertain guests.

Dignitaries at the event include former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Benjamin Isa, former Deputy Speaker of the state house of assembly, Hon Raphael Adetiba, a former state lawmaker, who is a Kwara State APC bigwig, Hon Iliasu Ibrahim, President of Egbe Omo Ibile Igbomina, Mr Gabriel Jimoh,  a Lagos State APC chieftain,  Hon Lawal Kabir Bolakale , Dr Folorunsho Salam of the University of Ilorin, Engineer David Jimoh, Governor Abdulrazaq’s former Special Adviser on Women Empowerment, Alhaja Bolanle Ismail aka Iyalamule, Hon Razaq Owolabi’s wife, Hajia Umul-Khair Asabe, Senator Saliu Mustapha’s aide, Barrister Abdulkareem Alabi, Alhaji Amasa Olakanola, Alhaja Kudirat Omolola, and Alhaji Salahudeen Bello Ajadi.

The event also featured an interfaith prayer service presided over by Alhaji Zulukarnaeni Imam Adeleye and Prophet Femi Dairo of Christ Apostolic Church, Goshen Land, Ilorin respectively.

Alhaji Imam Adeleye was asked to pray for protection and guidance for Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Senator Saliu Mustapha, Professor Suleiman Abubakar aka Amanah, who is the Director General of the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies, Abuja, Alhaji Yahaya Seriki, Rep Ismail Tijani, Rep Raheem Olawuyi, and Professor Wale Sulaiman..

The Guest Lecturers who are twins; Mallam Taiye Agbarere and Mallam Kehinde Agbarere in their short sermon, praised Hon Razaq Owolabi’s philanthropy and one of them said he should henceforth be called ‘Kodawona Geri’ meaning in English ‘A person who gives out of his wealth’.

They urged wealthy Nigerians to emulate the lawmaker and spend for the less privileged in society noting that returns from investing in poor people and others to make them achieve their dreams are quite great as this will not only erase the sins of the philanthropists but also make them earn rewards in the hereafter.

  The Islamic clerics also emphasized the need to prepare for ‘tomorrow’ noting that ‘It is today that you may know but definitely not tomorrow’.

They also said it is important for the well-to-do people to treat others with the same kindness, respect and empathy that they would desire for themselves submitting that ‘love others as you love yourself’ should be everyone’s watchword.

Hon Razaq Owolabi, who represents Share/Oke-Ode state constituency, also donated a sound system to Egbe Omo Ibile Igbomina during the event and he received the thumbs up from the EOII officials led by the National President, Mr. Gabriel Jimoh.

Giving his speech, Mr Gabriel Jimoh noted that EOII is a social and cultural group that advocates for the needs and concerns of the people of Igbomina in Kwara State and therefore has nothing to do with politics.

He noted that Hon Owolabi stands out among the four lawmakers from Igbomina land in the state while adding that he is also someone who keeps his word.

‘Whoever associates with us, we will associate with him, he is always there for us, and we pray for his success’ Mr Jimoh said.

High points of the event include the presentation of N20,000 cash assistance each to almost 100 people drawn from the 18 Wards in Ifelodun local government, Kamaldeen Halimat and Muda Salami from Ile- Ere Ward were among the beneficiaries of the empowerment programme.

There were also beneficiaries from Oyun local government and Offa local government.

Mr Isiaka Nurudeen, who won a cartoon of Noodles, also got N50,000 cash gift from Hon Razaq Owolabi.

In an interview with Team@orientactualmags.com , Isiaka ,who claimed that he won the Ward 3 APC councillorship primary election last year, but was denied ‘party nomination’, commended the lawmaker for being altruistic while urging him to continue his ‘good work’.

Hon Razaq Owolabi, who asserted that he is not a ‘coward’, urged the people of the state to ‘shine their eyes’ and choose rightly in the forthcoming 2027 general election noting that his membership of the state house of assembly has been ‘devoted’ to ‘the people’.

‘My membership of the house of assembly is for the people, I am using all I have to serve the people.

After my recent radio interview during which I asserted that I don’t have properties, someone posed a question to me on Facebook that ‘I have a house in CBN Quarters and I was saying I don’t have properties’ I asked the person if he expects my family to sleep on the streets?  I had a house before becoming a member of the house of assembly and I sold it for an empowerment programme  after I had built a new one where my family will stay.

Iam reasserting that I don’t have properties, any estate agent who has evidence to prove that I have bought any property anywhere in the state or outside the state should provide it.

I have used all I have gotten to support my people instead of acquiring properties’ he said.

The state lawmaker also talked about the significance of his choice of outfit for the event noting that his wife being a Baruba woman, he had chosen to wear Baruba traditional attire to project a desired image and send a message to the people that he has also become an indigene of Kwara North-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you