Hon. Olasubomi Okeowo is one of the top aspirants who are interested in the forthcoming race for the Ijebu Central Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. He is an accomplished professional who has done so well for himself. He now wants to serve his people in Ijebu.
A few days back, CityPeople spoke to this distinguished Ogun State indigene about his plans for the race.
Below are excerpts of the interview.
There are rumours making the rounds that you are contesting for elective office come 2023. Is this true?
Yes. I will be contesting in 2023. And thank you for having me on your highly elite newsprint magazine
Ogun East Federal representative constituency as you know comprises of 3 main Local governments. Namely Odogbolu, Ijebu Ode and Atan. My father the late Chief Engineer ATG Okeowo is from Ogbogbo. He was a civil engineer of repute who constructed almost all the state roads in Ogun state. I was born into hope for a better Nigeria. I saw OGUN EAST blossom in the early ’80s. I was in love with Ijebu all my life until recently when people now get kidnapped, robbed daylight and cultists now throng the freeways of my beloved land. I am shocked at what the youths of nowadays have taken to be fun
Tell us your plans for Ijebu Central Federal Constituency…..
My plan basically is to step into the shoes that seem to be empty. The shoe of quality leadership. People who know me will tell you I am a no-nonsense leader. I tolerate nothing below standard. Hence my sojourn not only into politics but also into leadership
Do you think it will be easy to beat the incumbent?
The incumbent happens to be someone I know and we are in the same party which is APC. In fact he is someone I have a lot of regard for. But his style of leadership is not what I dream for the people of my constituency. I want liberation from poverty. I want wealth and I want a good life for my own people.
Tell us a bit about your political career…
I started off in politics when I was quite young. My political mentors are Papa Obasanjo who happens to be my dad’s blossom friend, the present governor Prince Dapo Abiodun and Senator Lekan Mustapha. All the above trio as you know are successful in their political career and have outstanding records in their various specialties. They groomed me, and I learnt a lot from them. As of 2019, I contested to be the President of Nigeria under ADC and I lost out at the primaries to Malaifa Obadaih.
Tell us about your profile. What do you do? What are your antecedents?
I am a trained Philosopher by education and a student of Law at the University of London (UCLA). My educational career started off in Ijebu Ode grammar school, where I proceeded to Ogun State University for my BSc. I worked for several years in the UK and was headhunted to come and start the Internet industry in Globacom when GSM came to Nigeria. I am actually a telecommunications expert. I single-handedly by my ingenious strength and God’s grew Globacom fortunes exponentially in my years of active work. I was described by my immediate boss as a special lone tree in the forest who will always make a difference. My company which I started after my career at Globacom was awarded the sole right to a directory in Nigeria as of 2015 by the federal government. Today, the company I chair has grown so large that I have to delegate to a couple of managers. We are into renewable energy, we are into properties, computers, and e-commerce.
Tell us about your pedigree. Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
I was born into the family of Papa ATG Okeowo of Ogbogbo Ijebu and Mama Okeowo of Iperu Remo. My dad was very very affluent and rich. He lived like a king. So we went to the best schools around us then. After school, I went for my NYSC in Kebbi state from where I started my business life. I proceeded to London and traded in merchandise. I was born in Ogbogbo Ijebu and the first 18 years of my life I spent in Ogun East axis. The love of my people stuck in my heart since then
What made you go into politics?
As I. said, politics for me is not a do or die. It is about qualitative leadership. I have been a consistent employer since I was the age of 21. My father had over 3000 staff. And I saw how he managed them. I worked in my father’s company several times and people’s Management is something I have imbibed effortlessly. I won’t be proud for no reason. I don’t treat people shabbily and I won’t ever have a closed door.
Tell us about your private life, your wife and kids…
I am. married with kids.
So what is your message to the people of Ogun East?
Ogun East people most especially my interest; the people God has chosen me to represent are the most fortunate. I just love the lay of the land there. Every time I am home I don’t usually want to leave. All my siblings call me “baba Ijebu”. I am so much into Ijebu that you can practically use my name to get something on credit in Ijebu land. I am that popular. My first shop ever was opened in Ijebu ode. I named it fone4u. I traded phones and accessories all over Ijebu land. People from the entire Ijebu land, Odogbolu, Ijebu Igbo, even Sagamu came to do business with me. They would seldomly stop by and say hi to tell me how they were enjoying what k sold to them. I made friends I still keep till today. Comrade Babatunde Aremu who was my neighbour in Italapo then is the Ogun state APC Youth LEADER now. We bonded since then and today he is still my friend. I never looked down on anyone and never treated anyone to disdain. If you ask about me in all the shops, petrol stations across Ijebu, you will think I am the owner. My pet name is Shubby, coined by Subomi. Some people call me Shubby Desmond. Whichever you prefer, it’s yours to take to the bank.
So having been blessed by the Almighty with this profound person around me, why not use this same goodwill to bring them succour? Hence my incursion into active politics to end a lot of evil vices and have an opportunity to put my name in the sands of time
Send Us News, Gist, more... to citypeopleng@gmail.com | Twitter: @CitypeopleMagz
