…says ‘he sent peace emissaries to me while on sick bed’
Former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has revealed how ex-Senator Buruji Kashamu made peace moves towards him and even offered to cede his political structure to him a few days before his death.
The former governor stated that Kashamu had sent emissaries to him, while on sickbed, to discuss the modalities for handing his political structure over to him.
During his lifetime, Kashamu had floated the Omo Ilu Foundation, a platform he used within the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State to uplift party members and supporters.
Daniel spoke when he paid a condolence visit to the late politician’s family in Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state.
But the former governor said he played down political discussion during the visit by Kashamu’s emissaries and rather asked them to go and pray for his survival.
Daniel was said to have been responding to an earlier statement by Dr Remi Bakare, who spoke on behalf of the Buruji Kasamu’s political structure.
While welcoming Daniel and his entourage, Bakare had said, “It was the wish of the late Senator to have his structure handed over to OGD.”
Kashamu, who was the PDP governorship candidate in the 2019 elections in the state, died from complications arising from COVID-19 on Saturday.
Ex-Ogun State governor, Daniel, in a statement by his media aide, Steve Oliyide, said Kashamu sent a delegation to him on Wednesday, three days before his death.
According to Daniel’s statement, “Buruji sent a delegation to me last Wednesday 4th August, 2020, who came to discuss with me about his wish that I should provide further leadership for the political structure which he built and has nurtured over the years.
“When the representatives which include his lawyer came, I discouraged political discussion and pleaded with them to all go and pray for his survival. Unfortunately, he passed on a few days after.
“We’re mourning a great man. His wish was to make peace with everyone before his death. As a human, you must have strong friends and strong enemies.
“We met in 2008. I recalled that he came to show appreciation for the construction of the road leading to his house. He said he was touched that I was able to construct the road despite the fact notable politicians like a former deputy governor and a former House of Representatives member have their houses along the same road.
“While commiserating with the family, Daniel said I’m not here to play politics but to commiserate with you the family. God will continue to uphold you because while alive Buruji helped a lot of people.
“He was somebody you should be proud of because he did his utmost best to help humanity.
Reacting to the former governor’s condolence visit, son of the deceased, Kabiru Kashamu, expressed delight that the differences between Daniel and his father were resolved before his death.
He said he looked forward to the continuation of such relationship between the two families.