By Professor Chris Imafidon – What happened in Washington DC and why history books are being re-written worldwide. Thanks to a strong faith and principles.
How Dr Adeoye Yakubu Owolewa, became the first ever black of direct African decent to be elected US Congressman for Washington DC, and why he achieved the impossible. Today, Dr Owolewa is poised for more incredible things such as creating a new 51st state of the USA.
If you wake up the renowned American civil rights leader, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, to describe what unfolded in the USA capital in the last election, he will simply describe it as a DREAM. He could only dream of any advances in racial equality. But to the current residents of Washington, it is more than a dream. It was more than equality. It is reality, in fact, its political equity. This is political and electoral reality that a BLACK man can be regarded worthy to contest for an elective position on the platform of a major party, let alone RUN for one the highest legislative positions in the District of Columbia. How can a black person be the ELECTED representative of the political capital of the world’s most admired democracy? It has global significance beyond the boundaries of the USA. In Oxford, scholars and students of history and politics are poised to start rewriting the books to revise old dogmas about power, politics and race.
A careful examination of this historic Dr Oye Owolewa’s success shows that the journey really started from home. According to Dr Adeoye Owolewa, his parents, Ayo and Bolade Owolewa, who are from Nigeria, provided early guidance “with strong faith and principles” and family values. It is instructive that he eloquently stated this throughout the campaign but reiterated this during his post-election acceptance statement.
HUMILITY AND POWER – (Grace to the humble)
Interacting with the award winning pharmacist, turn-politician cum activist, Hon Oye Owolewa immediately strikes anyone with an air of humility and does not arrogate this achievement to his self-evident dedication and determination, but he quickly gives the credit for his success to other people. Stating as “first Nigerian American elected as US Representative, I know that I did not get here on my own”. Continuing he says “I thank my siblings, Bayo, Adebola, Yemi and Sadik for their continued influence and support. Thanks to my team for giving me direction and creating successful opportunities. “To the local community and activist organizations THANK YOU for endorsing me. Thanking the entire Nigerian community across the United States and in Nigeria. I want to thank my extended family, close friends and colleagues who contributed to my campaign”
HIGH AMBITION OF STATEHOOD FOR WASHINGTON, DC
After the victory, with renewed energy Dr Owolewa of the Democratic party, clarifies his next historic mission to take Washington, DC to a more powerful position. He opines that “the District (Washington) has again spoken. EITHER statehood or Tax Free DC- but we won’t accept abuse of both” Dr Oye made statehood his number one ambition for his community during his multiple meetings and interactions prior to and during his campaign. He believes that “DC residents, lacking full voting representation, are treated as second class citizens in the richest nation in history.” Therefore, Hon Oye “will help solve this by helping DC become the 51st state so residents can enjoy full representation and live our lives free from federal intervention.”
GLOBAL AMBITION … #EndSars advocate
With the conviction of a man driven by a sense of history, and global mission, he declares that “I will not only help finish our fight for DC statehood, but will also bring representation to DC residents and other citizens of the world who feel left out of our law making process”
Washingtonians or anyone who has heard the quiet spoken but conviction Dr Oye knows that these are not mere words. He demonstrated commitment when on October 23rd he abandoned his local, and national political campaign, and called a press conference to join the Imafidon-led London’s prayers walk, Lekki protesters to speak in solidarity with the #Endsars movement in faraway Nigeria. His passion for Nigeria is reminisence of another first generation Nigerian, MIT-educated Sam Udotong whose innovation with artificial intelligence led to creation of the revolutionary Fireflies.ai in Silicon Valley, California but employs programmers in Lagos, Nigeria.
SECRETS OF SUCCESS (Journey to destiny)
Based on his family value on education the young Oye graduated from Boston Latin School in 2008. And secured a doctorate in Pharmacy degree from North Eastern University in 2014. Since graduating he worked at Rite Aid, Pharmacist (2014 – 2019), Walgreens, Pharmacy Manager (2018 – 2019) and currently works at Safeway, Pharmacy Manager (2019 – Present).
Alongside his clinical and professional responsibilities, Dr Owolewa has served as a commissioner since 2019, his first elected office. Owolewa said regardless of his new position, his activism in local Ward 8 will continue. Saying “The future of Ward 8 excites me,” he said. “I want to bring together the newbies and the long-established residents. I won’t abandon my passion for Ward 8.” Just like the Imafidons, Britain’s brainiest family, Dr Oye encourages DC students to get interested in STEM subjects as a voluntary community service.
A 30-year-old Democrat, Oye Owolewa’s victory first announcement was disclosed by the news giant ABC 7 News via its Twitter handle early on Wednesday morning. This was based on the calculations showing that Oye had 82.65% of the votes, which represents 135,234 votes against Joyce Robinson-Paul, who had 15,541 votes, and Sohaer Syed with 12,846 votes.
Professor Chris Imafidon, is a multi-Guinness World record holder; world renowned adviser to monarchs, governments, presidents and corporate leaders; Chairman of an online [@EIEprogramme] mentoring programs for youths in the USA including Washington, DC. [Twitter @ChrisImafidon; Instagram @CoImafidon; Facebook/Linkedln –Professor Chris Imafidon
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in solidarity with Lekki #EndSars protest
