Owolewa, an international child
For the newly elected United States of America Congressman, Oye Owolewa, the saying failure is an orphan but success has many parents hold true.
Moments after the news of his victory at the Tuesday November 3 general elections hit the airwaves, his kinsmen in the nativity of his father, Omu – Aran, a sleepy town in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria came alive.They went wild in jubilation as its indigene, Adeoye Owolewa, emerged victorious in the U.S. Congress election for Columbia District.
The residents, especially members of Igangu family where Owolewa hails from, embarked on celebration across the metropolis as news of the election victory filtered in.
This was after residents, led by community leaders on Tuesday held a night vigil which featured inter-religious prayers for Owolewa’s victory.
Scores of residents had besieged the Igangu compound of Owolewa as early as 10 am on Wednesday to felicitate with the family over the election victory.
Owolewa of the Democratic Party garnered 135, 234 votes representing 82.65 per cent of the total votes cast to defeat his closest rival Robinson-Paul Joyce of DCG, who scored 15, 541 votes.
The monarch , Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, in his reaction, described Owolewa’s victory as unprecedented in the history of the community, adding that it was a historical landmark for Omu-Aran, Kwara and Nigeria as a whole.
He said: “This is an unprecedented thing of joy for every son and daughter of Omu-Aran, Kwara State and our dear country, Nigeria. We are happy that our son, Adeoye Owolewa, has put the name of the community, Kwara State and Nigeria on the world political map in a positive way.
“Our prayers are that God will bestow on him divine wisdom, guidance and protection to enable him excel in his new assignment to continue to promote our image positively”.
Speaking in the same vein, Alhaji Issa Abdulsalam, an Islamic cleric and uncle of Owolewa, described the victory as a prayer answered.
Abdulsalam said: “Though we were far away from the election, we were with him (Owolewa) in prayers and today (Wednesday), we can celebrate because Almighty Allah has answered our prayers.
What a way to celebrate! Owolewa has indeed become an international child.
