Whose son is that young man?

I am the son of your servant Dr. Gabriel Abiola and Amanda (Hughes) Abiola. Otherwise, my name is Simeon Taiye Olawoyin Abiola and I am running for the Governorship of Maryland!

After David slayed Goliath, King Saul inquired: "Whose son is that young man?" (1 Samuel 17:55-58). Similarly, it was of interest to those in Jesus' hometown to know where he was from. "Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he says, ‘I came down from heaven’” (John 6:42). “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home” (Matthew 13:54–57). Interestingly, Luke reveals a story the shed light into how Jesus had grown in Wisdom and stature!

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.  When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.  After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2: 41 - 51).

Otherwise, from the story of King Solomon, we do know God gives wisdom to those who ask!

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be (1 Kings 3:5–12).

The Ten Commandments say: “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you" (Deuteronomy 5:16). Both the example of Jesus and David show they were honoring their parents (their father and mother), and this is important as earlier in Deuteronomy it says:

See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people” (Deuteronomy 4:5-6).

So, I thought I would start my run for Governor by honoring my mother and father! It's also an opportunity for me to learn about my heritage! I grew up in Hughesville, MD! My mother's maiden name is Hughes! So, who were the Hughes? Harry Hughes was the 57th Governor of Maryland! Am I related to Harry Hughes? What about Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola? "Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, also known as M. K. O. Abiola was a Nigerian business magnate, publisher, and politician. He was the honorary supreme military commander of the Oyo Empire and an aristocrat of the Egba clan" (Wikipedia). Sources say he had won the Presidency; however, there was a coup d'état!

Otherwise, as I run for Governor of Maryland, I hope to develop an agenda for what I want to accomplish as Governor! Here are a few goals I have in mind:

1. Healthy Physician or make it your Mission! Briefly, if you're a physician and are not meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, then make your health your mission before returning to practice!

2. Rebuild! The subterranean infrastructure (sewers) of our cities is crumbling, so we need to focus on updating our grid to support a growing population and growing healthy as a population!

3. Recess! No longer are the days of all work and no play! Thirty minutes of recess for all grade levels!

Sometimes, I feel discouraged. I used to have a girlfriend and now I have an injunction against domestic violence (Case No.: 2024-10198 FMCI - Volusia County). I used to be in the United States Army, and now I am under Investigation by the Inspector General. I used to not have a Criminal Record (Case No.: D-041-CR-25-001032 - Maryland), and now I am facing a ten-year prison sentence! I was a Translational Biomedical Science Ph.D. candidate, author and entrepreneurial lead of the NSF Award 2001208, and now I am starting SweatShop Industries and running for Governor. As I consider the public health, and other societal challenges, we face I appreciate that we need governance! We need to abide by laws, that will help us thrive! Genesis 3:19 says, "By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” Maybe if we all broke a sweat, we wouldn't have the epidemic of childhood obesity! Can AI break a sweat? No! So, AI isn't going to take work away from us! Moreover, God would often remind individuals: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).

So, I am optimistic! I am one of four children! Surely, nothing can separate us form the love of God (Romans 8:38–39), and where God said be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28, Genesis 9:1, Genesis 35:11) - I would love too!