Senator Babajide Omoworare (CON) @56: Eulogy to Iconic Philanthropist, Political Juggernaut

By Prince ‘Kola Akintibubo

“…so, teach us to number our days that, we may gain a heart of wisdom”.
It is against this backdrop that I heartily felicitate with our illustrious son, legal luminary, and political juggernaut on the attainment of yet another year on this planet earth.
However, it is not the number of years that matters but myriads of unprecedented achievements and courage he puts into it that span across board that is worthy of celebration.

Unarguably, his impact is felt on almost every scene both in Lagos and Osun States.

Brief Historical Background
Babajide Christopher Omoworare was born into a devout Catholic family of Late Chief Joseph Olarewaju Omoworare and Princess Teniade Areoye Omoworare (Nee Aderemi) on Thursday 31st October, 1968.
His both parents hailed from Ile-Ife, in the then Oranmiyan Local Government Area, Oyo State.

Schools Attended
To start with, at the early stage in life, he was enrolled at the famous Sijuwade Nursery and Primary School. Later, he advanced to St. Johns Grammar School; and thereafter, proceeded to the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, all in Ile-Ife where he obtained his Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B) in 1989.
He was called to the bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1990 having completed and graduated from the Nigerian Law School. He became a Notary Public in 1998.
Not only that, out of his quest for more knowledge, Senator Omoworare also obtained a Diploma in Entrepreneurship Development from the Lagos Business School; a Masters in Law (LL.M) from University of Lagos; a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Business School Netherlands; and he is now a PhD holder from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos.

Professional Affiliation & Career

Babajide Omoworare is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Mediators & Conciliators; a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; Nigeria Bar Association; Commonwealth Lawyers Association and International Bar Association among others.This proves him as a front-line Nigerian lawyer. He worked at Babalakin & Co. from 1991 till 1998.

He established a law firm, Omoworare & Co (Legal Consultants) in 1999 before he joined politics. It is located in Lagos. He is also the Managing consultant of Cosmopolitan Consult (Tax, Law and Training Consultants) and ABLE Legal Consult.

Socio-political History of his Family
A peep into his family genealogy as regards socio-political development in Nigeria revealed that his maternal grandfather, Late Oba Adesoji Aderemi, Ooni of Ife was the first black African Governor to double as the prominent paramount traditional ruler at that time.
His paternal grandfather, Late Pa Daniel Omoworare as records have it, was one of the founding fathers of Egbe Afenifere which later metamorphosed to the progressive party, the defunct Action Group (AG).
It is also interesting to note that his sister, Hon. Olanike Scholastic Omoworare was the first female Deputy Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly and indeed Nigeria.

Political Affiliation and Trajectory

Right from onset, Senator Omoworare affiliates with the “progressives” till date and has never cross-carpeted to any other political party. This is apparently in tandem with the principle and philosophy of Awoism which his paternal grandfather belonged till his last breath.
He is never an entryist- ‘a political harlot’ but, rather a core, die-hard and pragmatic progressive politician of note.
He was a member of the Peoples Front (PF), one of the groups that made up Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992/93, the platform under which Late MKO Abiola, contested in 1993 as a Presidential candidate.
Thereafter, Senator Babajide Omoworare joined the Alliance for Democracy (AD), he contested and won election as a member into the Lagos State House of Assembly (LHA) where he represented Ifako-Ijaiye State Constituency 1 between 1999 and 2007. While in the State Assembly, he was the chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Ethics & Privileges. He also chaired several ad-hoc committees and played active role in the creation of Local Governments and LCDAs in Lagos State (1999-2003).
After his re-election into LHA in 2003, he was elected as the Majority Leader; and served on the Committee, the Business Rules and Standing Orders.
As a Lagos Parliamentarian, he influenced so many developmental projects within his constituency in Lagos including but not limited to a General Hospital, a Magistrate Court; construction and rehabilitation of roads; a Sports Gymnasium, provision of electricity transformers, streets and traffic lights, rehabilitation of Ibari Water Works, reconstruction of Yaya Abatan bridge and provision of effective solution to environmental degradation caused by gully erosion within his constituency.
This distinguished Senator Omoworare had returned home to deploy his overwhelming political experience so far gained, he contested Osun East Senatorial seat in 2007, which the Court of Appeal in Ibadan nullified and ordered a rerun of the election. Senator Omoworare’s party, the Action Congress (AC), dissatisfied with the system, boycotted the election.
He re-contested in 2011 elections under the auspices of the Action Congress. He emerged victorious with landslide gap to defeat the incumbent, Senator (Dr.) Iyiola Omisore.
Moreover, with his victory at the 2015 polls under the same platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Distinguished Babajide Omoworare served a second term at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This earned him the Chairman, Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance and he had previously served as the Chairman of the Rules and Business Committee of the 8th Senate for about a year.
Moreover, in the 7th Senate (2011-2015) he was the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs with oversight functions over some agencies under the presidency; and a member of the Senate Committees on Rules and Business, Judiciary, Petroleum (Upstream), Health and Sports. He was one of the high ranking members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; Member, Senate Committees on Culture and Tourism, Water Resources and Anti-Corruption etc.

His Major Contributions at the Red Legislative Chamber
Senator Omoworare was an astute, vibrant and oratory debater when it comes to presentation of debates on the floor of the house Through this, he had contributed immensely to Constitutional, Judiciary (including Prisons), Police, Health, and Education sector reforms; and the legislative and budgeting process in Nigeria. He has about twenty bills and several other motions to his credit, this, no doubt made him to be one of the lawmakers leading the list of pro-active, and resourceful lawmakers at the National Assembly during his tenure.
His strategic contributions at the 7th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria were very historic. His Call for Probe of Kerosene Subsidy; His contribution to the real role of Legislature on budgeting; etcetera, will never be easily forgotten
Senator Babajide Omoworare is a true democrat who heartily served his party even while at the National Assembly. He did not for once be allowed to be encumbered with tight schedule of his legislative and other oversight functions to derail him from his party’s assignments. He acted as the Secretary, APC Senate Caucus of the National Assembly. He partook actively in the Screening Exercise conducted for Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; A Senate Session with Professor Atahiru Jega on card reader; and his fierce opposition to the PDP agenda against the card reader.

Foreign Training
Having thoroughly bred and educated in Nigeria coupled with his thirst for international exposure, he distinguished himself with multifarious developmental trainings outside the country to fortify his knowledge among which are: the USA States Department International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP); Department for International Development (DFID): the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); British Council and Westminster Foundation for Democracy (BCWFD), USA; also, the National Centre for State Courts, United States National Democratic Institute (NDI); and the International Law Institute and Campaigns and Elections etc.
He was a Delegate of the Mississippi Consortium for International Development, observed the USA 2004 Presidential Elections as well as the UK 2006 and 2010 Local Government Elections.

Other engagements

He is a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Global Fund against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Parliamentary Forum. Since 2003 he has been a specialist trainer in Parliamentary Procedure & Law Making, Ethics & Privileges and Budget and Budgeting Process to several State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria.

He consulted for Justice Research Institute and Coalition for Change (DFID) on an Anti-Corruption Issue Based Project (IBP), which entailed drafting Anti-Corruption Clauses and Code of Ethics intended for specific Ministries of Federal Government of Nigeria.

He is certified by the World Bank Institute for his proficiency in budgeting and appropriation issues as well as, his expertise in utilizing Parliamentary tools to tackle corruption. It is also interesting to note that his services have been employed by the World Bank as a trainer and facilitator in legislating and advocating against corruption.

He is also a consultant to the Nigerian Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS). He founded Afara, the Bridge for Community Development (ABCD) to engage his association with foreign development agencies having Osun State in view as a direct beneficiary. He has sponsored twenty-four youths from the State on leadership and exchange programme to Detroit, Michigan, USA; he sponsored ten youths to Atlanta, Georgia, USA on an exchange visit facilitated by A. D. King Foundation; he sponsored a total of fifteen entrepreneurs on two different United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) programs to Sheffield, UK and facilitated relationships between UKTI and Osun State based businessmen and policy makers.

Senator Omoworare has contributed in no small way to the human capital development in his constituency in terms of education and vocational studies. Notably, he single-handedly funded the organization of annual summer schools for the National Ife Descendants’ Association (NIDSA); Federated Union of Modakeke Students (FUMS); and Federation of Ijesa Students Union (FISU) for Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in the respective communities. This is intended to help reduce mass failure at the WASSCE)/GCE and UTME examinations.

In addition to this, yearly procurement and free distribution of UTME, WAEC and NECO forms was done to help the less-privileged students in their academic pursuits of quality education. This feat unrivaled even till date!

Some of His Contributions to the Development of Ife
As an illustrious son of ‘the Source’ cum his burning desire to contribute his little effort to the development of his home town, Ile-Ife, he embarked on rehabilitation of some age-long abandoned roads within the core metropolis of the ancient city. This has tremendously whittled down the vehicular mobility menace suffered in the areas; it has also as a matter of fact, added beauty to the streets of Ile-Ife.

The roads involved are as listed here-under:
++ Oduduwa College road, directly opposite Oduduwa College to Ilare;
++From Obalogun crossing Ilare to Oduduwa Street;
++ From Orunobado Street crossing Oduduwa Street up to Iremo/Gbelenkan junction;
++Abewela Street linking Aderemi Road;
++ Odo-Ogbe Street;
++Ogboni Lane from Iremo, linking Aderemi Road;
++ From Mokuro Road enter Orilonise to Ayelabowo Street; and
++ From Idi-Omo through Akarabata street.
Needless to say that this road project intervention is apparently physical; and works are on-going day and night to ensure speedy completion of the project. They are to be commissioned soonest.
Not only this, his effort in lighting up the ancient city’s streets is also commendable. He facilitated the solar power street lights to keep away hoodlums marauding and terrorizing the unsuspected persons and communities at nights. With this, the seemingly insurmountable night crawling that usually culminates into gang-raping of innocent girls, kidnapping, robbery etc have reduced drastically.

Generally speaking, this intervention project (road and Solar street lights) was intended to provide succour to the untold hardships staring Ife people and its suburbs in the face.

It is in recognition of his tireless philanthropic gestures, his servitude to humanity cum his resilience and political antecedents that the former President Good luck Jonathan, GCFR considered him fit for a National Honour in the rank of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON). This is the reason people referred to him as “an uncommon man, doing uncommon things and silently achieving plausible uncommon results”.

He was the immediate past Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly and Inter-governmental Affairs. He served in this capacity under the ex-President, Mohammadu Buhari.

Senator Babajide Omoworare is happily married with children; he is a devout Christian with the fear of God and love for everyone regardless of sex, race, religion, party affiliation etc.

His Panegyrics:
Omo Leelu Aoro Lewebi Oroke
Omo a ri Gaga elu kan daro
A rigba elu kan regba aso
Ojo ku giiri, aanu Leelu mo seni o
KENI rise daro, KENI rise kakun
Ina njo Nile Leelu ogberi nyo,
Ogberi mo wi apa Ina ka Segi,
Ojo pagba aso nile Leelu
Omo alagbala a saso mo sakun ororo iyun
Omo alagbala a saso mo sakun ororo Segi . . .
Odun re a maa dun o!
I wish you many happy returns of the day, in sound health and many more landslide achievements on this planet earth.

From: Hon. ‘SADRA’
Ile-Ife, Osun State.