SENATOR Buruji Kashamu was a “significant citizen” of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo wrote in a letter of condolence to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun. In the next lines Obasanjo derided Buruji, his opponent in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Buruji, 62, died Saturday 8 August 2020, in a Lagos hospital, a year after the death of his mother Alhaja Wulemotu Kashamu, on 7 August 2019. He was buried in his native Ijebu Igbo on Sunday afternoon.
According to Obasanjo, “Senator Esho Jinadu (Kashmu) used the manoeuvre of law and politics to escape justice on alleged criminal offence in Nigeria and outside. But no medical manoeuvre could stop the cold hand of death.”
Obasanjo found the man’s death an opportune time to continue their quarrels that date years back. One could even refer to them as associates with pictures of them at some events of PDP.
Kashamu defeated Obasanjo in a running battle over control of PDP in Ogun State. He never forgave Kashamu for driving him out of the party that he derided after it provided him platform to be President for eight years. He retired Obasanjo from party politics, and PDP.
Obasanjo on the night of 16 February 2015 through three tweets mentioned Buruji among reasons he left PDP. Obasanjo tweeted, “I’d rather sacrifice my political party for the interest of Nigeria than sacrifice my country for a political party led by a drug baron.” Kashamu had just assumed leadership of the party in Obasanjo’s Ogun State, and the South West Zone. “I have national and international standard to maintain. For this reason, I’d rather stand, alone than be in the same political party with Kashamu,” an affronted Obasanjo stated. PDP ignored him and his negligible contributions to the party.
He had served notice to leave the party earlier. If Kashamu remained leader, Obasanjo threatened to leave the party.
In a letter to PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on 7 January 2014, Obasanjo hit Buruji Kashamu, PDP South-West leader. The former President charged that there was no way a “known habitual criminal that is wanted abroad to face criminal charges levelled against him be extolled as a political leader in a respectable and wholesome nation-building political party”. He would not be quiet when a habitual criminal was “being installed as my zonal leader in the party, a criminal for whom extradition has been requested by the US government”.
Buruji fired back. “He (Obasanjo) talked about not being able to work with me because of his principles and decency. But the questions Nigerians should ask him are: where were these principles when he used me to fight Gbenga Daniel? Where was his self-righteousness when I took the party structure from Daniel and handed it to Obasanjo? Where was his decency when he brought General Adetunji Olurin to me and asked that I should roll my structure behind his governorship ambition? Where was his morality when he introduced me to South-West PDP leaders like Engr. Segun Oni, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd.) and a host of others?”
Kashamu reminded Obasanjo of the times he hosted him (Kashamu) in his home, “taking me into his bedroom and innermost recesses”.
“Where was his decency when he accepted donations from me to his church and other concerns? Where was his gumption when he mounted the rostrum to sing my praises, praying for me as he did in May 2010 during a reception for the former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye? I can go on and on.”
One may also ask what Obasanjo did about Kashamu’s case when he was President. The Americans have held interest in the case since March 1994 and charged Kashamu on 21 May 1998, a year before Obasanjo became President. The moves to extradite Kashamu were on during his presidency.
Does Obasanjo remember Kashamu holding the table on which Obasanjo stood to address the crowd at an event? Which year was that? What was Kashamu then?
Kashamu argued that a British court found him not guilty and refused to extradite him to the USA. He fought his cases in court under the double jeopardy clause.
Obasanjo never attacked Kashamu again after he disclosed their relationship until his death.
Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, in a tweet on Saturday wondered why Obasanjo was speaking at a time Kashamu could not defend himself.
“It is regrettable that Obasanjo could say what he said about Buruji Kashamu after his death and when he can no longer question him. Why didn’t he say that when Kashamu was alive? Can Obasanjo say in good conscience that he did not at some point collaborated with Kashamu and most of the things he (Kashamu) did politically were not with his collaboration?,” Fayose asked.
Obasanjo who trains his attention on winning fights would not mind delivering a last punch on a dead opponent. Could this be his response to Kashamu’s retorts five years ago?
Famed for his generosity, it was not a surprise that thousands turned out to mourn Kashamu regularly shared his resources with them. Among those who have spoken glowingly of Buruji are Governor Abiodun who attended the burial and condoled with the family.
Governor Abiodun’s condolence message stated that the passing of Senator Buruji Kashamu caused a deep pain and grief that words could not capture.
“His demise further diminishes the tribe of my close political associates. He was a large-hearted politician and courageous fighter for whatever cause he believed in. He was not just a loving personality, a generous giver and someone who lived for others, he was to many a beacon of hope of a better tomorrow. This painful exit is much more than the end of an individual.
“Distinguished Senator Kashamu was a phenomenon, he was faithful to his principles and convictions and even his critics would attest to his tenacity of purpose. Posterity will accord him his due recognition for his legacies of service and forthrightness. He was a worthy Ambassador of Ogun State,” read the Governor’s statement.
Abiodun beat Kashamu in the 2019 governorship election. Kashamu had beaten Abiodun in the race for the Ogun East senatorial seat in 2015.
More messages have been pouring from political associates – former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, Senator Ben Bruce who called Kashamu “my good friend of forever”, and Dr. Reuben Abati, Kashamu’s running mate in the 2019 governorship election, among others.
Kashamu was born on 19 May 1958 in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State. He had his education at Ansarudeen Primary School, Ijebu Igbo and St. John Modern School, Lagos. He worked as a licensing agent while evening classes at Igbobi College, Lagos and took courses in Business Management at Pitman College, London. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive of Kamal Group of Companies Limited which was into several businesses, including hospitality and gaming.
Adieu, Buruji Kashamu.
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