Some Minutes With Sen Abdul-Fatai Buhari | Barr Abdul-Waheed Lawal

Some Minutes With Sen Abdul-Fatai Buhari | Barr Abdul-Waheed Lawal.

It’s  no longer news that Sen AbdulFatai Buhari representing Oyo North at the Upper Chambers of the National Assembly has been reelected for the 3rd term.

Integrity, Competence, superlative performances and humility have paid off.

The overwhelming votes given to the best senator in the history of that Senatorial District bears an eloquent testimony to the love the youths and the old have for the God fearing and humility personified senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I thank God that I escaped being mocked by naysayers and people who just hated me for nothing but for the fact that I refused to succumb to premordial and parochial sentiments.

In my several encounters with some people, they have never disagreed with me that Senator Buhari has performed but that why must I continue to support a man who hails from 3 local government of Ogbomoso against the candidates who hail from the ten local government of Okeogun. I have gotten many enemies for myself on account of my pitching tents with one whose integrity is not subject of debate.

Unfortunately, no person has ever presented to me a better candidate, neither have I ever been invited to a meeting of any Senatorial candidate. That indeed helped me to stay glued to Sen Buhari.

Adjust your seat and painstakingly read through my several minutes of conversation with the Distinguished Sen. Abdul Fatai Omotayo Buhari, the 5th most productive senator of the 9th Assembly.

In what look like someone who has never gotten so closer to a senator before, I take my time to observe him over a period of time to adopt him as my leader and address him as “oga” , a title he reluctantly accepted.  This brings to minds, the saying that respect is not demanded but earned.

After a careful observations and study of him, I came to that irresistible conclusion that such a person who is not bossy, pompous or arrogant by all standard deserves my allegiance.

I have also realised that Sen Buhari is surrounded by disciplined, loyal and committed aides. I have been looking for a sychophants around, I’m yet to come across one.
Only God knows how he has been able to ward them off.

It’s amazing having a tete a tete conversation with him. With BAF, there is no dull moment.

He has another constituency in Ibadan. When you found him in the midst of these young, vibrant and industrious youths, you will find it difficult to recognise him.

The most difficult thing for him is to leave the midst of the poor or struggling people to attend to a highly placed visitor. This humility is very unique.

You want to know what really transpired between him and I? Then, read further. 

A minute with BAF will remind you of God’s power and other beautiful attributes. 

Being in the  presence of BAF increases you in knowledge as you begin to pick lessons and beneficial information from his discussions.

By the time you will leave BAF, you will be grateful that you have not wasted your time as his conduct and disposition remind you of a day of Accountability and Judgement.

On 2027
If you want to get the other side of BAF,  just ask him about 2027 or indirectly stimulate a discourse along that line. For example, tell him Hon. ABC or Senator XYZ has started preparing for 2027.

Being a very intelligent man, he could use questions to throw you off the balance and when you fumbled, he will either move to another topic or call it a day with you.

In one of my telephone conversations with him he asked me,  what is wrong with people who have started scheming for 2027?

Before I could answer, he said I hate being distracted on my job. I have just been given a mandate to serve my people from 2023 to 2027. The current mandate has not yet expired and I have not started the renewed mandate. I don’t take my people for a ride. I don’t joke with them at all. I have a covenant to serve them faithfully and diligently.  If I failed to do that, I will give account.

He stated further as if he was giving a lecture. I could remember, one of his followers was telling him why acquiring more degrees after his PhD,?. The man also said, “I guess you are going to lecture in the university when you finished serving your tenure’. Then BAF as fondly called said “na you shabi” and we laughed it off.

Sen Omoluabi continues “talking about 2027 now to me is a distraction. Who knows he will be alive till 2027?. Let me tell you, I’m not a desperado. I have never been desperate for anything in my life and Allah has been merciful to me. Which of the favours of Allah will I deny?

If you want to bring out his teeth, just say “omo iya eleko” ( the son of a pap seller) now a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This reminds me of an occasion of an interactive chat of some youths in Okeogun with Senator AbdulFatai Buhari. On that day, he spoke and qualified as motivational speaker and inspirational leader.

Sen BAF while addressing the youths told them to remain focused and that they can attain any heights. He then told them “I was a road side mechanist. After my primary school, I was under mechanist  apprentceship. After my “freedom” I was looking for my own workshop before I was encouraged by a good samaritan to go for higher education and I did. Today, I’m a PhD holder, not honorary.  I also attended University of Harvard after my PhD for certificate in leadership.

Oh my God! No dull moment with Sen Buhari. He stated further.
“You see, when an assignment is given to me, I do it diligently and with the fear of God. As for tomorrow, I leave it for my Creator to decide. My favourite verse in the Holy Qur’an is “hidina siratal mustaqeem” meaning “guide us on the right path” “My conviction is that once you are guided, you will neither go astray nor labour in vain. I want to remain focused and to double my efforts and  performances in the upper Chambers to bring more dividends of democracy to my people so that they will not regret for renewing the mandate given to me.

Abeg! Let’s talk of another thing.

Then he continued, (Barrister! You know I’m a party man to the core. As a democrat of progressivist ideology, I believe in party discipline and supremacy. It’s disservice to our party for anybody to be talking about 2027 without strengthening the party. I’m such a person that can sacrifice any ambition for the party. It’s on record that I have done so thrice but it pleases God to compensate me”.

Let me tell you Barrister as he fondly calls me. Even if there are 2 drivers in a car, only one driver will drive at a time. Any attempt by the other driver to struggle to direct the movement of the car will result into an accident. The party is the vehicle and the executives are the drivers. At any given time, only those in possession of the key to the vehicle can drive it. I’m an advocate of due process  and internal democracy. If things would change, we must all sit down together to talk and take a collective decision. APC is the best party. We all just have to conduct ourselves in a civilised,  disciplined and democratic manners so that our outgoing and incoming President can succeed.

Barr Abdul Waheed O Lawal.