By Raheem Adedoyin
Oluomo! That’s affectionately how I call Chief Samuel Alabi. He is a shrewd, top corporate player, businessman, entrepreneur, politician, community leader and Philanthropist. He is the Oluomo of Erinle in Oyun Local Government of Kwara State.
I have known Oluomo closely for almost 15 years. In 2011 , he aspired to be the Senator for Kwara South; he had a political machinery that was well-oiled and a personae of immense interest.
I wasn’t a member of his party, the then Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) but his network and campaign activities reverberated across the nooks and crannies of Kwara South . He was easily noticeable . I supported his aspiration on account of this philanthropic work in kwara south which predated his political declaration but not his platform.
He didn’t get the ACN ticket but continued his progressive politics in Kwara State. Infact, after that primary election loss, he increased his acts of philanthropy and community service.
In his private and political capacities, Oluomo is generous to a fault. His acts of goodness go beyond the financial ; he is a master in employment generation.
Oluomo and I formerly joined forces in 2014 when APC was formed. But it was not until 2019 when Otoge Movement brought us closer together politically. He was a pillar of support for our MM Group which was the platform for the realization of the gubernatorial ambition of my good friend, Hon. Mashood Mustapha.
Oluomo was the Deputy Director -General , Kwara South, of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Campaign Organisation for the 2019 General elections. He expended his resources to do the job and he delivered excellently.
We worked even closer when the Governor made him a member of the 7-member Reconciliation Committee for Kwara South which I headed. Like other members of the committee, he performed excellently but more uniquely, he was using his own resources to come from Lagos to Kwara State for our assignments.
In the 2023 elections, the Governor tapped him to lead the APC campaign in Oyun Local Government . Characteristically, he injected his own resources into the project, matching official resources provided. He delivered satisfactorily on his mandate.
Oluomo is a local champion who feels more at home in Erinle whenever he is in Kwara, interacting freely and dining with the common people . Even in his absence, his country home in Erinle is always full of community and philanthropic activities. The immediate past National President of Erinle Development Union is a proud Local Champion.
Oluomo seeks no patronage, no favours from politics but it is apparent that he derives joy from using politics as a platform for community development.
He is unfazed by the blackmail that comes with doing what he is doing courageously and selflessly for his people, his party and for Kwara.
I salute and celebrate my good friend, an affable brother , Oluomo Samuel Alabi, as he marks his birthday today.
Many Happy Returns, Oluomo.
Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin
