When the grace of God is upon His chosen ones, protocols are broken and the unusual happens while the Holy Bible in Proverbs 29:2 establishes also that when the righteous rules the land flourishes.
The above assertions best describe the Distinguished Senator Dr (Prince) AbdulFatai Omotayo Buhari representing Oyo North Senatorial District in the Upper Chamber.
Like Joseph in the bible whom nobody thought something good could come out from his Nazareth and the small David who was divinely anointed to rule over thousands of people, the emergence as the Senator in 2015 to 2019 as well as the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries that brought him to contest in the 2019 elections, for another term of four years (2019-2023), where he emerged winner as the first senator to emerge back to back in that zone prove to the workings of God’s grace upon him.
Contests at the primary elections to represent any political party for elective positions have always been though and rough in the Nigeria political circle.
From councillorship, being the least elective position, to the Presidency level, aspirants do step down for candidates in some cases, but it is yet to be known of any candidate, who was the only candidate that purchased the party senatorial nomination form (unopposed) and went ahead to emerge winner at the polls.
God’s uncommon grace at work ?
Such is the case of the God Fearing, very humble, pace setting, hardworking, promise keeper, responsive , responsible and very accessible lawmaker representing Oyo North Senatorial District, who was unianimously endorsed(unopposed) in October 2018 at the Headquarters of the Oyo North Senatorial, Iseyin in Oyo State by the party to continue his good works.
Senator Buhari, truly the uncommon senator with uncommon grace has earned the name ‘Omoluabi” which literary means born with good virtues, for his unprecedented and qualitative representation at the senate and his tireless quests to making the zone stand out among other zones in Oyo State and the nation at large.
It is worthy of appreciation to the Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the former governor and builder of modern Oyo State, the APC and all those who made this great feat possible by giving the Oyo North Senatorial District the best senator the zone has ever produced and in the history of Oyo State.
Senator Buhari, a worthy ambassador, Chairman House Committee on ICT and Vice Chairman, Industry in the 8th Assembly, is a Pathfinder for his distinguished colleagues. This reaffirms the Pace Setting status of Oyo State.
The very active lawmaker, the current Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport and Vice Chairman , Information Communications and Technology, aside representing one of the largest senatorial districts, with thirteen (13) local governments in the country, has several sponsored and co-sponsored bills, motions, seminars, workshops, trainings, facilitated and personal projects to his credit.
Senator Buhari has rolled out several gainful employments opportunities to his constituents while many others are awaiting their employment letters in the very soonest possible time.
Few months after his emergence in 2015, while his colleagues were finding their feet in the challenging tasks ahead, the ever prepared and experienced Omoluabi Senator, an established and well accomplished businessman, a former Member of the House Of Representatives, Special Adviser On Water Resources and Commissioner For Local Governments And Chieftaincy Matters in Oyo State, personally financed free medical treatments for the aged that run for weeks before rolling out an amazing empowerment programme in appreciation for the mandate and confidence reposed in him to represent the good people of Oyo North at the Upper Chamber.
Aside being the first ever lawmaker to have done a programme of such magnitude in that zone, in Oyo State and in the South West, and at a time when the lawmakers were yet to be reimbursed , he put his distinguished colleagues on their feet for qualitative representation.
As if that was not enough, Senator Buhari on the 13th February, 2018 came up with another Super Empowerment programme where the late Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, His Excellency the former governor and builder of modern Oyo State, was quoted as saying that he has never seen such a lawmaker with a large heart since his sojourn in politics with the items that was displayed ready to be distributed to members of Oyo North Senatorial District comprising of thirteen (13) local government areas.
Again, the whole of Iseyin and Oke Ogun as a whole was agog with prominent politicians, members of the press and distinguished personalities on the 3rd of September, 2020 when the Distinguished Senator Buhari rolled out the third mouth washing Mega Empowerment Programme for his constituents, adjourned to be the heaviest in the country.
The good people of his constituents will live to forever remember the lawmaker for his giant strides in alleviating their suffering during the very hot period of the Coronavirus pandemic.
On three consecutive times, the lawmaker distributed over 1000 bags of rice, 1500 bags of semovita, cash prizes and donated protective equipments worth millions of naira to the Ladoke Akintola University Of Technology Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso to help curb the spread of the deadly virus.
The senator again in this second wave of the deadly Covid-19, has donated items worth millions of naira to three (3) General Hospital in Oyo North ; Iseyin General Hospital, Ago Amodu General Hospital and General Hospital in Sunsun in Ogbomoso South Local Government.
At a time when his colleague rolled out drums to commission ten (10) Solar Powered Street Lights, the Omoluabi Senator, AbdulFatai Omotayo Buhari, had light up some communities with Hundred (100) units of Solar Powered Street Lights, given out transformers and electrified some communities in Oyo North, that have been in darkness for over a decade.
What a responsive representation by this humble law maker !!!
In all, over 150 cars, 1800 grinding machines, 1500 Motorcycles, 350 refrigerators, 800 generators, laptops, farming equipment, cash support to widows, youth and most vulnerable to the tune of 50 million naira, bursary and scholarship for indigent students to the tune of 50 million naira, commissioned 52 ICT and CBT centres across the senatorial district, blocks of classrooms, Boreholes to communities, electrification of communities that have been in darkness for years and with another promise of Super Mega Empowerment programme in the pipe line not forgetting the facilitation of more laudable projects and bills that will be of immense benefit to the people in the zone and Oyo State in general.
The sitting of the Federal University Of Agriculture And Technology in the zone, waiting for the President Mohammadu Buhari’s accent, is an unbelievable and unexpected accomplished task that will aid to boost the economy of the zone and project the agriarian community to the world courtesy of Senator Buhari with the support of the sons and daughters, royal fathers, and stakeholders from the zone.
As a sports loving personality and ex footballer who was adored for his speedy and messy dribbles at the right flank during his playing days , a football administrator, Senator Buhari over the years Proudly Sponsored the Late Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi Preseason Football Tournament adjourned as the Number One Best Preseason Tournament in Nigeria.
The annual competition brings together Premier and Nigeria National leagues club together in preparation of the league proper.
The competition, which has always served as stepping stone to greatness of many talented youth in the round leather game has produced many great players.
Prominent among these players is Frank Onyeka who moved from FC Ebedei to FC Midtjylland in Denmark. The Super Eagles invitee was equally voted best midfielder in the Denmark league.
Apart from being the first and ever politician to single handedly Sponsor FOGSU Football Competition in 2005, Senator Buhari for decades has been sponsoring the Annual Buhari Football Competition where all participating clubs went home with juicy prizes.
Senator Buhari’s motion(contributions) during the #Endsars brouhaha at the Floor of the hallowed chamber where he strongly condemned the killings of innocent protesters; Isiaka Jimoh, destruction of Soun’s Palace and offsetting of medical bills and cash donations to the victims can not be over emphasised.
Certain questions begging for answers from political observers and analysts include ; Where is this man getting his own fund from ? How will Nigeria become if she had lawmakers of the calibre of Buhari ? When will Nigeria politicians become trustworthy and have the love of their people at heart like this easy going specially chosen Buhari?
As a lawmaker who neither goes to the Senate Chamber on legislative days to flount his Agbada and cap, wrist watches nor just sit down to watch proceedings, it is of interest to know that no month passes by without Senator Buhari moving motions and contributing immensely to national discourses on the Floor of the Red Chamber.
In his tireless efforts at ensuring his constituents become financially independent and total reduction of crime activities as an idle hand is the devil workshop, Senator Buhari, in less than two (2) months, has trained a total of One Thousand Six Hundred (1600) constituents in different fields ranging from Soap making and disinfectants, barbering, cosmetology, modern farming techniques, tie and dye, tiling, tailoring, to mention but a few.
All the chosen participants ,fed in the course of the trainings and transport fared, smiled home with cash and start up packs at the end of each training.
A prominent politician in one of the North Central states in an interview said he wish Oyo North could exchange Senator Buhari for the three senators representing his state, an attestation to the unprecedented works of the truly distinguished lawmaker and the saying that the golden fish has no hidden place.
The lawmaker has succeeded in laying the solid foundation of quality representation and articulate service delivery and has since sent the signals that leadership is about embarking on people oriented programmes that will benefit the masses significantly and meeting the immediate needs of the people being represented and not in those dark days where only few chosen or anointed individuals were well catered for.
The very vibrant lawmaker and friend of the masses, the Harvard University Certified lawmaker, while appreciating the APC party leadership, stakeholders, the good people of the zone, the tireless foot soldiers and the entire electorates for their supports with a promise to performing better than ever before, it is not an exaggeration to say that Oyo North Senatorial District , Oyo State and the country as a whole is blessed to have such an Uncommon Senator With Such Uncommon Grace in person of the limit breaking and truly Most Distinguished Senator Dr (Prince) AbdulFatai Omotayo Buhari Oyo North.
Alabi Tunji Michael is an IIJ Trained Journalist, former Media Officer, @ Crown FC
