"I Did Not Ask For Myself; I Asked For My Community!" — The Inside Story of How a Hotel Encounter Brought Hope to Igboho

 

Alh. Olawoyin Rahman Olaoye the CEO  Awero Luxury Hotel & Resort with Hon Abiodun Oni the APM  Federal House of Representative candidate.

"I Did Not Ask For Myself; I Asked For My Community!" — The Inside Story of How a Hotel Encounter Brought Hope to Igboho

There are ordinary conversations, and there are destiny-defining moments. 

Three weeks ago, the quiet elegance of the Awero Luxury Hotel & Resort in Igboho played host to a visitor whose presence would soon alter the infrastructural narrative of the community. Hon. Oni Abiodun Asiko, the Allied People’s Movement (APM) candidate, was lodged at the hotel. 

For the Chairman of the Lowoori Group of Companies and CEO of Awero Luxury Hotel, Alhaji Olawoyin Rahman Olaoye, leadership is never about idle pleasantries; it is about seizing every available window to advance the collective good. Sitting across from Hon. Oni during a brief opportunity, Alhaji Olaoye posed a simple, piercing question that every true patriot should ask of any politician:

“Sir, what should Igboho be expecting from you?”

Hon. Oni laughed heartily, leaned in, and gave a response that broke the typical mold of political evasion: “Choose your needs.”

What followed was a masterclass in selfless advocacy. 

Laying Bare the Pain and Needs of Igboho

Rather than compiling a list of personal favors or seeking private enrichment—the usual hallmark of transactional politics—Alhaji Olaoye looked past his own pockets and laid bare the bleeding infrastructural wounds of Igboho. He presented three urgent needs of the community:

1.A functional borehole to provide steady, running water at the vital community Town Hall.

2. The rehabilitation of the Iru-Ekun Security Office headquarters to fortify the local security architecture and protect lives and property.

3. The grading of the old Kisi Road around the Bonni area to ease the harrowing daily movement of farmers, traders, and motorists.

Speed, Action, and Surprises

What happened next shattered the cynicism with which many view political promises. 

True to his word, the very next morning, Hon. Oni Abiodun Asiko released ₦500,000 to fast-track the rehabilitation of the Iru-Ekun Security Office. Without missing a beat, he released another ₦500,000 to kickstart the grading of the old Kisi Road. 

And then came the clincher. While Alhaji Olaoye was away from Igboho—attending a proud moment to celebrate and support his brother on a high-profile state appointment—his phone rang. On the other end was Hon. Alani Alwajud, an APM party leader, delivering heartwarming news: Hon. Abiodun Oni had arrived on-site with heavy-duty borehole equipment to commence the immediate drilling of the promised water facility at the Igboho City Hall.

"I Am Not a Politician; I Am a Community Lover"

Reflecting on these rapid developments, Alh. Olawoyin Rahman Olaoye struck a deeply emotional chord that resonates with every true son and daughter of the soil. 

"Honestly, this goes beyond politics for me. I am not a politician. I am a community lover," Olaoye declared with palpable passion. 

"I did not ask for money for myself. I did not ask for personal favors. I presented the needs of my people because I believe Igboho deserves development, functional infrastructure, access to clean water, and a stronger security system."

Igboho Must Always Come First: The Oliver Twist Reality

This monumental gesture by Hon. Abiodun Oni has sent a wave of electric hope across Igboho, drawing massive appreciation from community groups, local vendors who now have access to clean water at the city hall, and diaspora stakeholders. 

Yet, as the dust of jubilation settles, the collective sentiment of the ancient town speaks the language of Oliver Twist: We are deeply grateful for this intervention, but Igboho needs so much more. Decades of systemic neglect, poor healthcare facilities, institutional stripping, and infrastructural deficits cannot be wiped away by a single stroke. But what Hon. Oni has demonstrated is a template of what is possible when leaders listen and act. 

Alhaji Olaoye concluded with an impassioned charge to all residents and elites:

"To every son and daughter of Igboho, let us learn to use every opportunity, every relationship, and every platform available to us to attract meaningful development to our beloved community. We may belong to different political parties, hold different opinions, or pursue different ambitions, but IGBOHO MUST ALWAYS COME FIRST! My joy is not in who gets the credit. My joy is in seeing our community make progress."

Hon. Abiodun Asiko has laid down a marker. Igboho will remember these gestures. But more importantly, the challenge has been thrown open to all political actors and sons of the soil: When the opportunity calls, what will you build for your people?