The scramble for the number one position in Oyo State has started and a lot of contenders are throwing their hat into the ring for the contest. Though many are yet to declare their intention, already there are about 30 people in the race from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties too have numbers of aspirants. In a time like this both pretenders and serious contenders will be moving round to convince people , pasting posters and seeking peoples support, but one thing that is certain is that only one person will emerge and I wish the next governor is Senator Abdulfatai Omotayo Buhari
My choice of Fatai Buhari as a preferred candidate and the most competent man to succeed Senator Isiaka Ajimobi is buoyed by the fact that he has demonstrated his genuine passion in serving the people. He has been tested and trusted and it won’t be out of place to entrust him with the number one position in the state because he will do well. Apart from adequate representation and contributions on the floor of the house as a member of the National Assembly, Buhari while at the lower chamber of the National Assembly set an unprecedented record of achievements in Nigerian politics through some of his activities which include: donation of cars for commercial purposes to 47 members of his constituency and organisations, payment of WAEC for students in all secondary schools in Ogbomoso South and Oriire Federal Constituency, provision of loan facilities for petty traders and business women, donation of educational supports for students and bursary award to students in tertiary institution, securing Federal Government jobs for many members of his constituency and many others. His tenure at the ministry of Water Resources where he served as Special Adviser to the Governor and ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter where he served as a commissioner also witnessed some level of improvement.
As a commissioner, he ensured that payment of primary school teachers’ salary did not exceed the 26th day of every month. He made it possible by arranging with banks to release the fund for payment of salary as and when due and retrieved it as soon as the allocation from the Federal Government was released for the state. Many council chairmen, politicians and even technocrats will not forget his contribution to their success story through prompt response to their demands and support for their council. Fatai Buhari’s score card at the Senate in the last three years is another fantastic attestation to his credibility as a politician who is passionate about his people and the growth of Nigeria at Large. He is one of the 10 senators with the highest number of motions and bills, his intellectual contributions to issues at the plenary are always apt and given adequate consideration.
For instance, the motion on public debate for president, and governors will go a long way in reshaping the political development of Nigeria. Another significant bill which is ongoing is that of establishment of University of Agricultural Technology in Oke Ogun. The bill, if it sailed through would hasten the development of the region and make Oyo State another food basket of the nation. He is also working on making the Ikere Gorge dam to function to its capacity, rehabilitation of Oyo-Iseyin road, Okeho- Iseyin road and many others. His two major empowerment programmes are not only the best in term of number of items distributed but they are empowerment programmes with the largest number of beneficiaries in the history of Nigeria. No fewer than 2000 people benefit at each programme. These are aside those he has been doing without making a noise.
The lawmaker is humble and highly principled, he doesn’t underrate anybody he is a man loved by the people and his humility and kindness was attested to by many traditional rulers, civil servants and many others. Senator Abiola Ajimobi last month in Iseyin during the empowerment programme held at the NYSC camp when he said “since I have been meeting people as a governor, I have never seen a humble man like Fatai Buhari. He is humble and hardworking” he said further that “It will not be out of place to say Senator Buhari is the best senator Oyo State ever produced. I was once a senator too and I never did something like this while at the Senate.” Ajimobi’s statement is an automatic endorsement for Senator Buhari’s gubernatorial ambition. The APC chairman, Chief Akin Oke, and other stakeholders who spoke at the programme also joined Ajimobi in eulogizing and commending the efforts of Buhari in alleviating the suffering of the masses and contributing to the development of the state. All these statements testify to the claim that the Ogbomoso-born senator is a competent person who would not betray the confidence reposed in him by the electorate. –
Adegoke writes from Saki, Oyo State
LEADERSHIP. NEWSPAPER
