ASIWAJU: Unwonted farmhand – opens up native town, seeks Govt presence

By this feature, we present to you the Asiwaju Olalekan Olakunle’s profile; his pauperish background, his ordeals towards opening up his hometown – Orile-Imo and Orile-Oko for bunesses, and how he’s been giving back to the society.

Olalekan Olakunle, 40 years ago, to his kinsmen, was a destined farmhand (labourer). He’d finish clearing about two plots of farmland by 2pm, resumed plucking of oranges till 7:00pm; he would pluck every orange on two or more trees, all in a bid to earn N100.00.

Even at that, according to our findings, his only staple food was cocoyam, to an extent that his neighborhood assumed cocoyam was his favorite.

As a subtle way to dress him down, a married neighbor chats him; I haven’t seen you eating any other food except cocoyam (àfi kókò yìí sáà) then Olalekan quickly recognized the avenue to disclose his plight, and he said “I don’t have other options” (iya lamorin, airi ounje mi ni mo se so koko di ounje).

Out of feelings for Olalekan, the woman started giving him Gari; she would put the gari in a metal bowl, and place it on his door’s header.

RazorTimes recalls that Olalekan, the only child of his mother, Madam Taiwo Olakunle to Pa Sabitu Olojede Olakunle both of blessed memories hailed from Orile-Imo and Orile-Oko respectively.

Amidst his depressing conditions, Olalekan attended St. Paul Anglican Primary School, Orile-Imo. After which he priceeded to Egba-Owode Grammar School, boht in Owode-Obafemi LGA of Ogun State.
“There and then”, Olakekan recalled, “the succor was however shortlived, the woman’s husband erroneously alleged extramarital affairs between his wife and I|.

Even while he was practicing as Radio and Television technician, a skill he later learned at Imale-fe-Alaafia in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, his degree of poverty refused to shrink or how much can a radio technician make, using firewood to heat iron in place of soldering iron to remove or replace transistor in a faulty radio and television?

In 2003, Olakunle’s hopelessness unexpectedly got subdued, and in quick succession, his hope got brighter; Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba, the then Governor of Ogun State was in Orile-Oko in Remo North LGA to meet with Remo people.

Before then, since 1986, despite his pathetic situations, Olakekan had remained the mouthpiece of the Orile-Oko community.

Hence, with a good measure of courage, he laid bare the needs of the people of Orile-Oko before His Excellence, insisting that the people were in dire need of power supply.

“As if he commanded, Governor Olusegun Osoba promised to begin the electrification of Orile-Oko with immediate effect”, Olakunle stated.

Two things were in for Orile-Oko, in particular, the impoverished Olalekan; he would up the scale of his Radio repairing, work with American made electric soldering iron while his fellow artisans will no doubt have their varied businessess boosted by the presence of power supply.

Secondly, and seemingly most importantly, Orile-Oko would be opened up for real estate investment; a potential lucrative business that would soon open ways for the poor and workaholic Olalekan.

How time flies, Olalekan Olakunle, in about 40 years, has become an established, vibrant, and people oriented politician, though not without a strong resolution to improve on his personal qualities and education.

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You see, the first thing I did was to put an outright end to the unavailability of portable water supply in Orile-Imo. I ames sure my people in LOGBARA here in Orile-Imo have access to portable water freely. I dug FOUR clean running boreholes.

“I dug another borehole in AROKE to stop my people at the other side of the road rom endangering their lives crossing the expressway to fetch water water in LOGBARA.

“Last year, during my birthday celebration, I inaugurated a foundation tagged, “Asiwaju FOUNDATION” by which I have planned to rolls out community developmental projects in form of Corporate Social Responsiblity to soothe my village’s infrstructural deficit as government cannot do it alone.
“Recently, I graded the Eruku road that leads to the community river.

“By God’s grace, for years, at regular intervals, I have been empowering youths, widows, orphans, as well as elderly people by giving them petty cash to boost their businesses.

“Of recent, at Isan-Araromi of Orile-Imo, I have built ten lock-up shops for our market women as a way of improving the town’s economy.

“Also, at Ogunsola market in Orile-Oko, I have built five lock-up shops.

“For convenience, I have given the Baale-in-Council of both towns a space-us vehicle each”.

Meanwhile, Olalekan Olakunle would involve in partisan politics. Shortly after the electrificaton of Orile-Oko, Olakunle became a card carrying member of Alliance for Democracy (AD) political party in Remo North Local GOvernment.

In no time, due to the level of zeal he puts in, he served as Ward 8 Secretary, later as Remo North Local Government Party Treasurer. At the Jos National Convention, Olalekan was elected member of National Officers.

In 1999, he was appointed Supervisor for Social Development in remo North LGA. After two years in office, the then Chairman of Remo North Local Government, Ogun State, Hon Pekun Awobona, the Atunluto of Remoland, redeployed Olakunle as Acting Secretary of Rremo North LGA in 2002.

During the second term of Otunba Gbenga Daniel in office as the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Olalekan was located and recognized as one of the Best Grassroots Politician, thus appointed as member of OGDCO. Later, he was given another appointment as the Supervisor for Agriculture in Remo North LGA, Ogun State. After that, he became member of the CAC Ogun State.

For my desire over time to up my academic pursuit, I proceeded to Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, from where I obtained my first degree in Political Science”.

Peradventure, during the same period, Olakunle’s economic status has improved. To a a reasonable extent, it couldn’t be unconnected to the economic importance of 2003 Orile-Oko electrification. And one thing was certain, High Chief Olalekan Olakunle, the Lisa of Orile-Oko who doubles as Asiwaju of Orile-Imo while asking the Governor for the electrificaiton of Orile-Oko wouldn’t know it would be that great.

To start with, Senator Ibikule Amosun, who was the Governor of Ogun State betwen 2011 – 2019 had motivated the management of International Breweries to site its brewery at Orile-Imo which necessitated the high demand for Asiwaju’s paternal landed property which RazorTimes reliably gathered was the magic wand that brought about Asiwaju Olakunle’s breakthrough in business”.

Thereafter, Asiwaju Olalekan invested good percentage of his own share of the paternal’s sold landed property in buying some hectres of land from nearby villagers, getting ready for a booming real estate investment.

So, in furtherance of his age-long aspiration to open up the small town for development, Asiwaju as fondly called; a caring husband and responsible father, has built LALECK hotel under his registered business name; LALECK VENTURES, in Orile-Imo.

“LALECK Hotel today has become a unique paradise on earth; there are conducive rooms with confortable beds for varied purposes, as well as refreshing and ultra-air conditionting, spiced up with delicious and sumptuous dishes at our electfifying Bar and Lounge.

“Our bellboys and chambermaid are superb in term of courtesy.  Most importantly, we have water-tight security applications to protect lives and properties. As a matter of fact, our power supply is 24/7”, Asiwaju assured.

As a man of greater vision who is in for a bigger picture, he has in due time upgraded the company to LLALECK Nigeria Limited in order to accommodate the soon-to-be-berthed LALECK ESTATES, among other investments.

Speaking to RazorTimes about the benefits awaiting everyone who may buy land from LALECK Properties Ltd, the Chairman, Asiwaju Olakunle, noted that the location along Sagamu-Abeokuta expresswway is a value added factor.

He explained that because both Orile-Oko and Orile-Imo have become another Inudstrial Estate in Ogun State, the cost of LALECK Property has been appreciating steadily in the last ten years resulting in more than 800% profit for every sustomers.

“Interestingly, both corporate and government hi-tech security presence in Orile-Imo and Orile-Oko would make LALECK Property a choicest stop-over for estate developers, realtors and inidivduals who prefer well secured and cool enverionment.

“Moreso, the newly upgraded road network around Sagamu Inter-change plus three decades reccord of stable power supply have made the two twons a fomfortable location for whoever chooses to navigate in and around Ibadan, Lagos or Abeokuta as the trio are within 30 minutes’ drive each”.

Asiwaju emphazised that in his about fifteen years in business of selling landed properties, he’s been litigation-free of any encroachments, fake documents or any other scams.

Asiwaju Olakunle is an exceptionally wonderful human being – Elder ‘Dotun Sowande

Who are you to Asiwaju ‘Lekan Olakunle?

I am Elder Adedotun Sowande. I am not one of Asiwaju Olalekan Olakunle’s friends, I am one of his childhood friend from Orile-mo because my mother is form Orile-Imo.

Many people have been sing-praising your childhood friend, please are you bold enough to tell us some of his weak point?

Weak point? Well, I know Asiwaju as a workaholic. I thank GOd for him that his efforts at becoming successful are eventually blessed. Asiwaju went through hardship in its real sense. I know his financial status in the last twenty-five years. Today, to God be the glory. I am sure he didn’t cut corners.
Asiwaju Olakunle worked hard for his present financial status. I am happy that God eventually reward his relentless efforts.

After his secondary school education, Asiwaju learnt and practiced as Radio and Television Repairer.
There is no work that Asiwaju can’t do in as much as the work is legitimate and profiatiable, Asiwaju Olalekan Olakunle will do it happily.

For example, there was a time I was selling pork, Asiwaju Olalekan Olakunle, the Omoluabi Owoniboys hiself would kill the pig, and cut it into sizes for sustomers. You heard him addressing me as Baba Elelede meaning Pork Seller.

During his later years in Primary School, his classmates and people in Orile-Imo were calling him Omoluabi (Good Character), because whenever Asiwaju greets people, he would shake hands with everyone, and say Omoluabi (Good Character matters). Till today, Asiwaju Olakunle remain a Good Character.

Again, during his secondary school days, he’s known as Owoniboys, meaning “the strength of boys is money”. Today, Asiwaju is blessed.

So, I am suggesting to parents to meditate on the meaning of names before giving it to their childnren because it may eventually dictate the future of their children.
So far, to me, Asiwaju Olalekan Olakunle is Supercalifragilisticexplalifoc I mean, he is an exceptionally wonderful human being.

Even when he was appointed as Secretary to the Remo North LGA, he turned our to become a wonderful Scribe such that had the Chairman has opportunity to promote hm, he would have done it because Asiwaju is humble, brilliant, vibrant and humane in nature.