Encomium
THE presence of the embattled Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu at the plenary session of the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2015, still remains a topic of discussion among political watchers across the country who might have concluded that the billionaire mogul cum politician would be missing at the first sitting of the 8th National Assembly following his unresolved issue with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Attorney-General of the Federation over the drug offences allegation leveled against him.
But the story was different when the Ijebu Igbo, Ogun born politician took his critics unawares by his expected presence at the sitting. This, however, laid to rest the speculation that the influential politician had gone into hiding to save face pending Friday, June 19, 2015, when his case will be decided.
In a chat with ENCOMIUM Weekly on Sunday, June 14, 2015, Kashamu’s media aide, Austin Onyiokor expressed dismay over the report by a local daily that the philanthropic politician was absent at the plenary session. He added that it was nothing but a mere figment of the imagination of Kashamu’s enemies.
He, however, said the politician was happy being among his colleagues that day. Though, he might have been demoralized by the psychological torture meted to him by officials of NDLEA and AGF.
“My boss, Buruji Kashamu was happy making his first appearance at the Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2015, after the Tuesday, June 9 inauguration. He was so happy to see himself among his colleagues or what else do you expect? He even enjoyed solidarity from almost all of them, and they all rejoiced with him.
“His case is like that of a person some said would be crying but now has every reason to be smiling and rejoicing. As against his enemies’ expectation, he was sworn in. Not only that, he also attended the plenary session, laying to rest the speculation that he won’t be present that day for fear of being arrested.
“A newspaper had published that he was absent at the sitting but he has agreed to publish a rejoinder after discovering that the information it acted on was wrong.
“However, as a human being, he won’t be that happy because of the embarrassment and harassment by the NDLEA and AGF which had subjected him to psychological trauma for sometime. So, he was a little weighed down. But in all, it’s success story after all.”
Asked to comment on the fresh suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, billed for hearing on Thursday, June 25, 2015, which has to do with the extradition request by the US Government as claimed by the NDLEA, he reacted, “The case is dead technically already because NDLEA and AGF couldn’t present any US extradition request they’re claiming. And if they have, let them show the public. They are just lying. I believe they are doing all these because they couldn’t succeed in kidnapping him. On Friday, June 19, 2015, they will defend their illegalities. They will explain why they won’t be punished for abuse of human right and all the harassments meted to Kashamu.”
– TADE ASIFAT
