•What He Wrote In His Tribute
• Why He Broke Down & Wept When His Mother Died
Until a few days ago, late Senator Buruji Kashamu was a popular and leading Ogun politician and strongman of Ogun politics. By nature he is not someone who betrays his emotions, not to talk of crying. Nobody has ever come out to say he or she saw the boisterous late Ijebu Igbo politician cry. But he did last year when his mother, the late Alhaja Wolemotu Ebunoluwa Kashamu, died on 7th August, 2019. What made Senator Buruji Kashamu to break down and cry? He revealed this in his tribute to his mum. He himself died on 8th August 2020, exactly a year after his mum died. Below are excerpts.
“It is true that my dearly beloved mother has gone to be with her creator at the ripe age of 96. Yet, I find it difficult to refer to her in the past. Every passing day, her moments and memories are still freshly etched on the table of my heart. She was a treasure that was worth more than her weight in gold.
But for weeks and months, I watched helplessly as her health failed until death snatched her away on that fateful 7th of August, 2019. It was so painful that aside the care and love that a child should give his mother; I was helpless in stopping her from going the way of all mortals. I sobbed and prayed. But, the prayers and sobs would not do. Alas, she is gone; gone the inevitable way of all mortals. Now, I am left without the wise counsel that she always gave. Who will pray for me as she used to do? Who would watch my back as she did? Who would cook the “Ikokore” delicacy for me as she did? Who would fry those tantalizing “Akara” (beans cake) for me and my associates?
Alhaja, my beloved mother, taught me not only to have faith in God but also to be courageous and industrious. She gave me her shoulders to lean on whenever I was weak. Even in her old age, she continued to show me, unconditional love. When I contested to be the governor of Ogun State during the 2019 general elections, She supported me morally and financially with the sum of N12million! If I were to write about her acts of love and kindness all through my life, it will be in volumes. The void that her passage into eternal glory has created will be difficult to fill. But, I am comforted in the knowledge of the fact that she feared God, served humanity and led a very good life even in her old age. As it is said, “to live in the hearts of those you loved is not to die”. Alhaja, you are not dead. You only transited from this terrestrial plane to the celestial. Rest on my beloved mother; till we meet, to part no more. My siblings and I sorely miss you. Ditto your grandchildren and great grandchildren. Adieu!
Who is late Alhaja Wulemotu Ebunoluwa Kashamu (1923-2019)?
We can tell you a lot about her. Senator Buruji Kashamu’s mother, the late Alhaja Wulemotu Ebunoluwa Sodipe Kashamu (nee Lawani) was born in Oru-Ijebu, Ogun State in 1923. She hailed from Odo Iralususi Quarters, Oru-Ijebu, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State. She was the daughter of a successful businessman and farmer, Chief Osisanwo Lawani and Erelu Adefowoke Lawani.
While her father, the late Chief Lawani, was a titled chief in Oru-Ijebu, her mother, the late Erelu Lawani, was from a royal family in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. She (Erelu Lawani) was the first daughter of the first Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Oba Ajimudaoro Aladesanmi 1, who ruled between 1886 and 1910.
Like most women of her generation, she took to business early in life. She traded in various commodities, such as pepper, yam, plantain and banana.
She would go to the farm gates to buy the commodities in large quantities and take them to Mamu market, an Ago-Iwoye suburb, along the Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan Road; Dagbolu market and Atikori market, both in Ijebu-Igbo.
She later got married to the late Alhaji Sodipe Kashamu and together they had children who have distinguished themselves in their various endeavours.
As an industrious woman who had eyes for spotting business opportunities, the late Alhaja Kashamu got to know of the immense opportunities in the kola nut business and veered into it. As someone who never did things in half measures, she got into the kola nut business and soon dominated it. For decades, she was one, if not the biggest kola nut supplier in Ijebuland.
Even without the benefit of Western education, the late Alhaja Kashamu was highly numerate. No one could pull wool over her eyes when it came to doing the numbers. Little wonder, she was a successful businesswoman.
She was an independent person who courageously choreographed the different stages of her life, with the help and benevolence of the Almighty Allah.
The late Alhaja Kashamu was the pillar and protector of her children and family. She is survived by five children, including Distinguished Senator Buruji Kashamu.
As a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother and grandmother, the matriarch of the Kashamu family saw to the well-being and advancement of not just her biological children but many others whom she took in.
She opened her doors for the weak and hungry. She offered them her shoulders to lean on and provided them opportunities to pursue their dreams.
Courage, discipline, hard work and service to God and mankind were at the centre of her guiding principles. She was a compassionate community and religious leader. Until her death, she was the Iya Sunna Musulumi (Muslims) of Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State. As a devout Muslim, she had completed her assignment, and it was time to go. Thus, she answered the call of her creator on the 7th of August, 2019. She has gone to rest from the troubles and travails of this world. But, her legacies of love, courage, industry and faith in God remain indelible in the minds of those she touched. Her selfless sacrifices and devotion to the family, community and God will linger and live with us for a long time. Rest on, Iya Olobi, till we meet to part no more.
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