Celebrating Buruji Kashamu @ 59

His adventure soon took him to the buying and selling of various goods such as soap, textile materials and cement. This made him to begin to shuttle between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin where he established a cotton ginnery factory that is still in operation till date. He also became the first, if not the sole agent of Sanyong and Daewoo motors in West Africa.

Expectedly, Kashamu became the toast of the powers-that-be and the envy of many in most of the neighbouring French speaking West African countries, especially in the Republic of Benin. He was to become a victim of the internal politics in the Republic of Benin. He was roped into an indictment he knew nothing about which has metaphorically become his cross despite several judicial pronouncements by the effervescent and impregnable British courts and their Nigerian counterparts to the effect that it was a case of mistaken identity. The details are already in the public domain. There is no need to bore you anymore; lest we digress.

Many may know him as a philanthropist; some see him as a strong man and yet others say he is just one of the politicians. But there is more to the Kashamu persona. Beyond his gusto and gait is a heart of gold, full of empathy and flowing with the milk of human kindness. Nothing is too much for him to give. No amount of money or possession is too much for him to part with. He does not hold on tightly to anything; be it money, vehicles, clothings or accessories.

Despite knowing his generous nature, he gives so much that even those that are close to him are stunned at the level of his generosity. His estranged friend and Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose had once publicly declared that even as a governor and politician, he had yet to see a politician as generous as Kashamu.

When you try to caution him, he rebuffs such entreaties. He is quick to remind you that he is not a rich man but only spends like a rich man. His other refrain is that he has committed his life to sharing his resources with the needy and the less privileged because, according to him, the more he gives, the more he receives from the Almighty God. He is down-to-earth. It is a common sight for him to wine and dine with the crowd who visit his Ijebu-Igbo country home for one issue or the other.

Kashamu also possesses an unbelievable amount of strength and energy. He hardly gets up to six hours of sleep every day; not because of insomnia or anything of that sort but because he is a workaholic who likes to be on top of his game. An idea could just drop on his mind anytime of the night; he would call you up and begin a discussion. He would joke with you in-between and then bare his mind. If you think with the passage of time, he would have forgotten some of the things he said, you would be shocked to realise how wrong you were! He would recap everything word-for-word.

Kashamu is endowed with a high degree of native intelligence, a sharp mind and an eye for detail.

Perhaps, as a result of his past experience, he is also a fighter for justice and equity. Instead of resorting to self-help and violence, he believes so much in the use of the law to fight and correct social and personal injustice. It is this belief that has always set him on collision course with some political heavyweights within his political party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and beyond. Hopefully, when the story of the rebirth of the PDP will be written, his contributions will be properly documented.

Beneath the huge and strong persona is a man who fears and acknowledges God in his dealings. A good example was when people came to tell him that some powerful forces in the politics of Ogun State, including the immediate past Governor had said they would ensure he did not win his election into the Senate. His standard response was: “are they God? Whatever God has decreed, no man can change it”.

Although he is now a Senator by the grace of God and the benevolence of the good people of Ogun East Senatorial District, his major preoccupation has been how to use the position to impact on the lives of people, irrespective of their creed, colour or ethnic background. He is a detribalised Nigerian who is always looking for ways to put smile on people’s faces.

Kashamu speaks French fluently, just as he updates himself with technology, trends and current affairs. No doubt, he is several things to many people. Yet, many – even his most ardent critics – would agree that Kashamu has proven his mettle as a leader, philanthropist, an entrepreneur, an employer of labour, an empowerer and an unusual politician.

As he marks his 59th birthday, there is no better way to appreciate and encourage him to continue to live a life of selfless service than to chronicle some of his rare attributes and activities for humanity and posterity.