THE NAME OMOLUABI

Shakespeare once said that it is character that eclipses the nomenclature but from the deep understanding of my language (Yoruba), it is the nomenclature that throws light on the character of the bearer. A name in Yoruba says a lot about the personality of the bearer. It is against this backdrop that I dare say that the name Omoluabi isn’t just a name that anybody can lay claim to or adopt as his/her acronym (a.k.a). It carries what I called the antecedent factor in its make-up. The Yoruba meaning of that name is simply: a responsible person.

So, you may ask: How does the bearer of that name have it? Well, the answer is not easily far-fetched. He got it by years of selfless service and dedication to making sure that the life of the common man on the street of Ondo State is never the same. He got the name by providing employment to countless number of Ondo State indigene when he was the pioneering Corps Marshall and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission. He got that name through the transformational change he engineered during his time at the FRSC: from the design of the new plate number that we use on our vehicles today and the implementation of the computerization of the FRSC business process. He is synonymous with that name for his unparallel contribution to eGovernment.

He was given that name as a result of his unwavering passion for the less-privileged and the down-trodden. He is call that name having empowered others to take control of their lives. He got the name through several community development programmes he facilitated as a lecturer, a uniform man, a minister and a citizen of our great country called Nigeria.

He was reported to have said these words: “In life, it is not our ‘beneficence’ that allow us to be seen as leaders; instead, we are defined as leaders by the quality of our partnerships. It is not about the size of our cheque, but about the energy and creativity we inspire in others.” He went further, “It is not just about solving community problems. It is actually about joining others and engaging people to create the world we all want to live in – at the local, state, regional, national and global levels. It is not about being iconic; it is about being a partner and part of something bigger that we alone.” These words were etched in my brain and gave me the needed conviction that he didn’t just earn the name by sheer providence, he deserved it.

From the above assertion, I was convinced that the people of Ondo State were right to have given this man the name ‘Omoluabi’. And just recently, the people of this very great sunshine state spoke with one voice to once again adopt the Omoluabi’s values. And the only way they felt it is possible is to put him there as their leader and governor come 2013 to lead the people-oriented and people-centered government that will bring the state back to its pride of place among committee of states in the federation.

They (the people) want him to team up with other ACTION governors of the western region to achieve the great western development programmes that our two 20th century leaders/idols - late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Adekunle Ajasin thought of. The people with a chorus voice and a resulting chorus echo want him to lead that wind of change blowing across the western region of the country in the sunshine state.

Without much ado, because the Omoluabi AGENDA is people’s driven, the phenomenon is growing with an alarming pace across towns and villages in the length and breadth of Ondo State, between people. The Omoluabi phenomenon has become an event in people’s life and with every single breath of anticipation; they want to see it happen come 2013.

If you are on the people’s side, wouldn’t you rather join them to support Omoluabi for 2013? Wouldn’t you rather enlist on Omoluabi’s platform to drum support for Dr. Olu Agunloye now? A stitch in time saves nine!

#Written by the ICT TEAM of Omoluabi2013.