An House of Representatives aspirant for the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero constituency in Kwara, Barrister Abiola Yinus Abdulkareem says he was vying for the public office to expand his philanthropic gesture.
Abdulkareem, popularly known as Jagunlabi, said this during an interactive session with journalist in Ilorin.
He said “I have been running a foundation in the last couple of years, called ‘Jagunlabi Foundation’ and our records is there for anyone to see. In terms of how much lives I have been able to touch and number of developmental projects I have executed.
“We must give kudos to the present administration, headed by His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq for the creation of conducive environment and encouraging young people to participate in governance and politics.
“This has really inspire someone like me to join the race and see how I can further contribute to the development of my communities and state.
“Having large number of people coming out is simply a by-product of Otoge success because people believe now that they have the platform where anyone can come out without having any godfather, like myself, who came from poor background, my parent are ordinary shop workers.
“We could recall that in the previous eras in the state not many people of my family background can come out and say they want to contest, but with what is happening now, it’s indeed a new down in our state, it has passed signal to everyone that this state is for us all.
Jagunlabi, a legal practitioner and real estate expert, stated that “through my foundation, we do organise a football tournament once every year, where we bring youths across the constituency and we also bring International footballers, national team heroes, to inspire people and explore talents to further create a better future for them.
“we give out scholarships to the vulnerable students, recently we also gave out more than 200 JAMB forms and paid WAEC fees for many students, we as well have many kids in primary and secondary schools that we are sponsoring.
“But, I realise that there is limit to what I can do as private individual, I believe this ambition to represent my people will give me more opportunity to expand my philanthropic gesture.
“I come from a poor family with a humble beginnings and at this stage of my life with what God has done for me, life can not just be about myself and my family but what I can do for my people.
“I don’t think there is much more I crave for than to make a positive impact in the life of the less privileges and create a good legacy whereby in the next couple of years, people will see what I have done and continue saying good things about me and my family.
Jagunlabi, who claimed to have study the challenges facing the people of his constituency and map out strategic ways to solve it when elected into office, said uplifting people from poverty is beyond giving out empowerment tools, like grinding machine, deep freezer.
Speaking on the large number of aspirants for the position, Jagunlabi said “my advantage over others is genuine love my community people and people of my constituency have for me, as result of my consistency in my humanitarian gesture. I have suffered in life and know what it takes to alleviate poverty. I have touches many lives in my constituency more than any of my co-aspirant in my private capacity. I am one of the youngest aspirants, with expanse experiences from home and abroad. I am a God fearing man with determination to make good name for myself and leave behind a good legacy. I am also coming from a community that has two Wards, and I am the only candidate from that zone.
Responding to question on zoning, Jagunlabi said “zoning is an unwritten law but at the same time very sensitive one, moreover Ekiti axis has never occupied this particular position before. I am using this period to further seek for the support of the stakeholders in our party, All Progresives Congress (APC) to support my aspiration and candidature to be the next representative of my constituentuency at green chamber.
He, also stated that “If there is an aspirant that is better prepare, position and with burning desire to make a positive impact in the life of people than myself, I am ready to surrender all my structure and apparatus, but I am yet to meet that person, in this race”
