By Law Ibitoye
An Ekiti philantropist based in America, Mr Tope Tosin Owolabi has called on Nigeria leaders to prioritize the security of lives and properties of her citizens, saying that was one of their responsibilities to Nigerians.
Mr Owolabi, a native of Igbole Ekiti, a journalist and business tycoon advised Nigeria Leaders to withdraw the large number of securities guiding VIPS and send them to barracks to provide adequate security for the citizens.
Mr Owolabi advised while interacting with selected journalists in his residence at Ado Ekiti during the weekend. He said that crime rates are on the increase due to few numbers of securities made available to the masses and the bad portion of Nigeria roads
While calling on government to fix all deplorable roads ,saying if Nigeria roads are in good shape, banditry and kidnapping would drastically reduce and citizens would be able to move freely without nursing any fear of being kidnapped or robbed.
He however cautioned Nigerians to do away with fear, saying cowards die many times before their time. Adding that Nigerians should not leave security matters into the hands of Government alone. He said” We left security to the Government alone, individually, family wise, community-wise, we can secure ourselves in our local ways.
Proffering solutions to insecurity in the land, Mr Tope Owolabi said fear was one of the things that pervade Nigeria, he said” Yes there is insecurity, we have to change the narratives by not disclosing our identities and not flouting our wealth in public.”
The Igbole Ekiti born philantropist further reiterated that the bad roads network served as impediment to effective security. He advised that Nigeria roads should be fixed for free movement of the people. He also cautioned against been flabouyant.
Speaking on the Administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Mr Tope urged the governor to run an inclusive Government where everyone will have sense of belonging. “Government should get more people involved and impact their lives; People should have a sense of belonging and know that they have a stake in government.”
Speaking on the image of Ekiti outside, the diaspora journalist enjoined the media professionals and the masses to project the positive part of the state, saying projecting the negative side would not do the state any good but more harm.
While reeling his philantropic activities in Nigeria, Mr Tope Owolabi who currently resides in Atlanta Georgia, in United States of America, said he had a foundation named BFO HEART FOUNDATION- Babatunde Femi Owolabi Heart Foundation that was established in 2012 named after his elder brother who died of diabetes.
He hinted that over twenty thousand people have benefitted across South Western States through; sensitization, treatment, medical check- ups, given scholarship to students, provision of stationeries, school uniforms, clothing, food stuffs among others.
According to the Chairman, BFO Foundation, ” We create awareness about diabetes and hypertension because many people are ignorant of the ailments, so I took it upon my self to safe lives through this advocacy that have transversed so many states and towns in South West. We have impacted lives in Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti. We brought drugs from oversea; we provided them doctors and nurses who run test for them and treated them free.”
Also, we thought we can impact more lives and we visited schools gave scholarships, bought uniforms, books and we equally extended the gesture to widows and the less privileged where we usually give them food stuffs, money and clothing materials among others.”
When asked may be he was reaching out because of politics, Mr Owolabi retorted” No, I have Passion for my state, hence I impact their lives because I believe in living a foot- print.”
Speaking on his background, Mr Tope Owolabi said he attended all his Schools in Ekiti before travelled to United States of America for greener pastures. According to him” I am a native of Igbole Ekiti,I attended Mary Immaculate Grammar School, College of Education Ikere now Bamidele Olumilua Science and Technology University (BUSTI) and Ondo State University now Ekiti State University where I graduated with Hons in Guidance and Counselling.
I traveled to Europe over 20 years ago and yearly I visited Ekiti and I will continue to impact lives”. Mr Tope Owolabi applauded the assistance Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre gave him when he needed to leave Nigeria. He said the DG, Ekiti State Tourism and Culture played a vital role in his life reason why he would continue to engage stakeholders to make the state a better place to live and do business.