Kashamu @ 60

ADMIRERS of billionaire politician Buruji Kashamu went after Gibbers with venom over a piece in February entitled “Will Buhari risk all for Kashamu?” One particular response was dripping with vitriol. It would be published someday, unedited, in the usual style of this page. Whoever the fellow was, must love the controversial PDP bigwig like a priceless jewel. Hundreds of his ilk must have also shown the moneybag giver-extraordinaire such unconditional love last Friday when he hit 59. By the time you are reading this today, Kashamu will be on his way to 60 by God’s grace, hence the projective headline. Gibbers wishes Kashamu well in wonderful health. There is also a small message for the celebrant.

By God’s grace, he isn’t getting any younger and it is time to care more about name, memory and legacy than wealth. It is also about time to start preparing a place in people’s heart. I’m certain the distinguished Senator is too far-sighted and well-schooled in the intriguing nature of man, to take the adulation of political associates, hangers-on and leeches as the correct reading of what his life and acts are inscribing in the hearts of the people. If nothing at all, he has his recent political experience in PDP to rely on, in deciphering the genuine “Hosanna” anthem. His friends with whom he cooked the proverbial burnt midnight meal that razed PDP’s quicksand-founded house, are now pointing to the way of Golgotha for him.

He himself almost deliberately fell into the treachery mode when former President Olusegun Obasanjo would not allow him rest his bulky frame. He was close to using the court to set some marriages on fire, but self-restraint eventually prevailed.

That is human beings for Kashamu. That is also him for self. If he could be pushed to the point of “scattering everything” with Obasanjo who once adopted him as “Olu Omo” (wonderful son), he should know whoever is saying “Baba rere, baba ke” (outstanding father) today, could call him a scum tomorrow.

That is the crux of Gibbers’ birthday wish to Kashamu. He knows things aren’t exactly what he wished they were with his persona. Only those who are close to him, without being involved in his politics and commerce, could tell who really he is. Unfortunately, I didn’t see much of them coming out to tell their Kashamu stories; only politicians, with their fawny rhetorics. The fact is that Kashamu has a race against time to change the narrative about him which the public holds as the sacred truth. The next one year is a golden opportunity for him to clean the slate and begin a more demulcent journey into positive immortality.

A Nelson Mandela-obituary by South-African commoners is always coming to me whenever our big men are being vain-gloriously celebrated while occupying influence spaces. It read, “Nelson Mandela: 1912 to eternity.” That is how to live in the hearts of men. This is a genuine birthday shout-out to Dr Kashamu. Or does he feel it isn’t time to do things differently?

FCMI convention

TWO wonderful mummies walked into Lagos office of Tribune last Friday to seek media partnership. They were not only lively but inspiring in their message of hope for the church. I also got invited to their programme which is the convention of Fellowship Covenant Ministries International, a melting-pot platform for all Christian denominations. They were so spiritual in their suasions and prayer it wasn’t difficult deciding. Announcing the June 2nd and 3rd event is Gibbers’ way of voting for it.
Ogbeni’s birthday

WHATEVER is your feeling about the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, you can’t ignore him either in his zone or when he trespasses into your. He has a way of perching on the nose. Last year, when he was 59, I projectively greeted him at 60. I thank God he is there finally. But just like the admonition to his younger brother above, the real journey is just starting, regardless of future ambitions. Politicians will always desire but statesmen always aspire. Aspiration, as a focussed adventure, has been cynically reduced in definitive essence by politicians to fit into their selfish and clannish desire to grab and grab. I pray and wish Buoda Rauf will stop being a politician from his new age because he has always possessed the aspiration of a statesman. I interacted with him as governor-wannabe. I have also been privileged to sit with “His Excellency.” Politics of governance and leadership is likely to have taken a toll on his effervescent ideals which used to take him through all the “ism” during discussions on progressive leadership before he became governor. Six and a half years down the lane, a lot has come to define and redefine, but I believe “the man” is still there. I also want to believe that the post-60 Ogbeni is envisioning is bigger than either the Ife/Ijesha senatorial district seat or at longer stretch, the Lagos West senatorial seat. In his characteristic blunt way, he has declared himself qualified for the two. Who is Gibbers to contend that assertion. But he can make himself bigger and higher by becoming the philosopher-king, he was originally wired to be. Aregbesola isn’t a typical politician. Learnt his peculiar ways with politics in the state, particularly in his Ijeshaland homestead, have driven a wedge into hitherto chummy relations with many of his kinsmen. Do such tiffs not show he isn’t clannish? While it is inconceivable that he would not be involved in the succession battle next year and possibly seek votes in 2019, this birthday season can be used for the expected metamorphosis; from Omoluabi governor to a legend. The problem is, too much involvement in politics won’t allow for such a desired transition.