Umar Farouk Alao, son of late business mogul and the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao, has joined the race to represent Ibadan North Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
The former youth and sports commissioner lost the 2015 primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to incumbent Abiodun Awoleye who is serving his second term in office.
Many are, however, surprised that the young politician has not been considered for appointment during the second term reign of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
In a recent interview, the 35-year old said his decision to recontest was as a result of the immense pressure consistently being mounted on him by the people of his constituency.
OYO INSIGHT gathered that members of the APC in the federal constituency believe that since he is the only of the Arisekola’s children in politics, he should carry on with the legacies of the late billionaire.
Arisekola, OYO INSIGHT recalled, in his lifetime was not only a major stakeholder in Oyo politics, but also a bridge-builder whose image loomed large across business, social and political sectors.
Though the late Aare was not a partisan politician, he helped many to realise their dreams politically, by giving them both moral and financial support. In fact, Arisekola was a king-maker; he was one of those who determined who gets what as far as Oyo politics was concerned then.
Apart from his father’s name, Umar on his own is well equipped with the required experience and C.V. Like most of the Aare’s children, he studied abroad, in the U.K precisely.
That is why Umar, in another interview, described his upbringing as unforgettable experience, having being trained by a philosopher. “My upbringing gives me the opportunity to understand a lot about humanity. I got to know that beyond all the certificates, service to humanity is the greatest way to achieve joy. We are all human beings and no matter what we do, the kind of names we coin for ourselves point to who we are. I lived with a philosopher and a man of wisdom and the opportunity to watch him closely reflected on the way I perceive life today. My exposure in the course of studying abroad also helped my understanding. Part of his lessons to us is that when good things come our way, we should learn to thank God and share with others. When something unpleasant happens also, we should learn to run to God and find happiness in such a situation.”
Umar attended Methodist Primary School, Bodija, Ibadan. His secondary school education was at both Government College, Ibadan and Bodija International School, Ibadan. He is a 1997 set of BIS. After then he moved to the United Kingdom and enrolled at Irwin College, where he studied Biomedical Science. He obtained his second degree in Accounting from St. George’s University, Grenada, West Indies.
Aside politics, Umar is into Oil & Gas; he is the C.E.O Euphoric Heritage Group of Companies. He is also a Motivational Speaker
