What Senator Buhari told me, others in 2002 - 19 years ago |Sunday Adepoju

 

By Sunday Adepoju

This year will make 19 years that the senator representing Oyo North senatorial district, Dr Abdulfatai Omotayo Buhari, formally joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. He might have done in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Then, he was frantically striving to represent the Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South and Oriire federal constituency in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly. He achieved this and was there between 2003 and 2007 and later to be elected as senator since 2015 till date.

Very pivotal was the role played by the then strong man of Ibadan politics and maveric political enigma and pajandrum, Alhaji Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, and other leading lights in the Ogbomoso extraction of the state like Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, who just left office as the executive chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government Area in 2002 on the platform of the All Peoples Party (APP) and seeking re-election as chairman on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having crossed carpet to PDP through the Ogbomoso Unity Forum (OUF).

In fact, the name, Fatai Buhari, was a household name in Ogbomoso and so many parts of the country even while in Abuja. Then, as a kid, almost every single day, I would pass through the family house of the Buharis in Ibapon area, Ibapon ward of Ogbomoso South Local Government Area as a pupil of Osupa Baptist Day School before I moved to Ijeru Baptist Day School, Ogbomoso and Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Ogbomoso beginning from 1987.

In 2002, as a member of the PDP who just left the APP under the astute leadership of Chief Alao-Akala, I formed the habit of making great contributions at different political fora in my speeches which later the youth leadership position I'm those days; maybe because of my love for government while I was in secondary school and later under the tutelage of Mr Remi Adediran, skillful politician cum teacher, who lured me unofficially join the Brain Trust, a rights and good government group in the year 2000 which also had the likes Dr John Fajobi and Barrister Tunde Adeoye as major actors.

On one Thursday evening at around 5:30 p.m. in 2002, Alhaji Fatai Bihari visited the Osupa ward chapter of the PDP under the leadership of Chief Goke Ogundeji ((Gokus).

I, in my characteristic manner, asked the House of Representatives hopeful (Buhari) this: "Sir, representation can only be effective if the representative is capable, competent and also if he devotedly makes cases for the development of his constituency, constituents,among other dividends of democracy as part of of his oversight functions. Sir, with your experience in Abuja as a businessman (Abidat Motors and others), why do some of our legislators only warm benches? And that my teacher taught me that we are indirectly in government through our representative, especially if they are effective. Sir, if you eventually get there, which I think was realisable, what are those qualities that would speak for you to effectively represent us?"

Upon hearing this, Buhari requested that he should be allowed to respond in English language. I was happy that my question was of interest to the politician. I was excited because my question as someone in his early 20s who was awaiting the University of Ilorin admission to study Political Science could catch the attention of the rich man.

I think Buhari cited five factors as reasons why some federal legislators don't make significant contributions in their parliamentary assignments. He cited so many examples of notable actors in the National Assembly to buttress each of his points.

Though I may not be accurate because it is almost 20 years now, I can try and get near to the exactitude.

Back then, Buhari responded: "I will use my experience in Abuja as a businessman and my relationship with some people in the National Assembly to answer your question, young man, Sunday.

"You must have some or all of the following: intercultural communication skills, good command of the country's lingua franca (English language), economic wealth, bravery, versatility on issues, experience in the parliamentary assignments, inter alia. These are the ingredients that will make you relevant in the chambers.

"For instance, let me tell you all. I am a Yoruba man; I have lived in Ghana; I was schooled at the University of Ilorin; I had my youth service corps in the eastern part of Nigeria; now, I work in Abuja - the North. I speak the major languages and this will be a bargaining chip for me if elected. Also, I'm not poor. Again, I speak good English. I'm versatile on issues of national development...."

In his oratory prowess, BAF, as fondly called, held the audience spell bound because he was citing major actors in the National Assembly to substantiate each of the factors he raised. I remember he mentioned Senator Chuba Okadigbo (former President of the Senate), Senator Arthur Nzeribe, and others in the chambers. He cited names of wealthy, eloquent, and brave parliamentarians of the time, even though democracy was still nascent because Nigeria just restored democratic government in 1999 after the truncation of the democratic government in 1983.

Buhari, the originator of "no salary" syndrome in the whole of Oyo State, carried my question to many other wards out of about 30 wards in the federal constituency.

Since then, I became a silent apostle of Buhari untill the 2007 quagmire when he left the PDP.

Now, I want to conclude that our legislators need some of the qualities recommended by Senator Buhari to effectively perform optimally. Not all the qualities, though, are necessary. All of the factors, coupled with undying love both the haves and the have-nots, any elected parliamentarian or executive leader could help salvage the system. For instance in Ogbomoso, apart from Buhari, the likes of Rt Honourable Mulikat Akande-Adeola (former majority leader of the House of Representatives), Senator Ayoade Adeseun (as chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation before he was elected as senator), Honourable Segun Odebunmi Bunvic (a third timer and chairman of the House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values), and others who have served more than one tenure in the National Assembly. This does not, however, mean that others have not been effective. But, experience counts when it comes to legislative job.

Others like Honourable Segun Ogunwuyi, Honourable Temilola Adibi, Honourable Banji Folaranmi, Honourable (Captain) Adejumo Jacob Ajao have also made invaluable contributions to the land in their own ways. Even, at the state House of Assembly level, history will be told of those elected whether now or I'm the nearest future. The point is: represent us well.

My advice 

It is imperative to advise our teeming Ogbomoso electorate and beyond to rise above primordial sentiments and ensure that those who will offer our constituencies and districts great advantages are elected, regardless of the council they hail from,

Though the formula propounded by Buhari in 2002 may not be sacrosanct, I believe it is high time the electorate re-strategised and voted the 'right candidates', dwelling on experience, connections to the power brokers, antecedents, and demonstrable abilities and connections to facilitate projects, job opportunities, trainings and empowerments, among other primary and core legislative duties.

You all, as readers, know the contributions of each of those who have represented our constituencies and districts.

On this note, I pray for enough wisdom for all our leaders in our cities, ranging from the chairmen, secretaries and members of the caretaker committees in our various local government and local council development areas; our state House of Assembly members; our political functionaries in the state and in the Federal Government who are of Ogbomoso origin; our federal parliamentarians from our city; our governor and above all all Ogbomoso indigenes, home and the Diaspora.

Peace be unto Ogbomoso, Oyo State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Adepoju, a communications researcher and consultant, now works with the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc., Publishers of the Tribune Titles.