Late Ghazal Gbenga, popularly known as Alhaji Sarafa is a politician whose influence cannot be ruled out in Ogbomoso while alive, a former Personal Assistant to Senator Abdulfatai Buhari . in this interview granted in 2010 , He spoke extensively on political development in Ogbomoso, Oyo state and Senator Buhari’s mission in politics.
There is a rumour that Hon. Buhari in warming up to contest next guber election in oyo state.
Yes, Hon. Buhari is interested in serving his people in that capacity, consultations have started, and the responses have been very encouraging. we only pray that the National assembly will approve the recommendations of Justice Uwais committee that recommends among others, independent candidature .
But Gov. Akala, the incumbent, is from ogbomoso and it seems he wants a 2nd term, don`t you see conflict?
I dont understand what you mean by conflict, are you not aware of the number of candidates that emerged from ibadan during 2007 guber election? Here in Kwara state,the incumbent governor Bukola Saraki was to contest against his own sister Oyinkansola Saraki, that is democracy in action . You can see that there is nothing like conflict here, and there wouldn’t be. let the people decides who governs them freely and fairly. On a lighter note, recently one of his boys said that Hon. Buhari is from ogbomoso south, so he posses no treat or opposition to the governor ambition, silly logic u called that? I am using Prof. Jadesola Akande of a blessed memory, angle of argument .But on a more serious note, it is only a winning team that u don’t find substitute for.
We also learnt that the duo of Buhari and Akala were in good terms before politics puts them apart.
Is that suppose to be a question? That is a public knowledge and everyone knows what happened to that relationship. But the simple fact i can share with you is that, my boss is worried about the backwardness in our town, a town that had produced the likes of Chief S.L .A Akintola, (premier of western region), Lawyer olatunji Moh`d ( 2nd republic dep governor of old oyo state) chief Sunday Adewusi ( former I.G),Gen. Popoola rtd, col. Akintounde (former military governors) chief Benjamin Adekunle ( the Black scorpion), chief L.A Gbadamosi , prof. Oyerinde who was the first prof. In west Africa, Prof. Olorode at the university of ife, a renowned prof. of botany and an activist of repute and so many people of records and dignity, a town that was rated the 2nd largest city in old western region after Ibadan during the 1963 census, to now find us in the present situation, it is clearly not what we deserve, the leaders need to work together, carry the youths along positively and progressively too, not sharing cutlasses and guns to them to fight each other. enough of all these. So if there is any one that shares this same spirit, my boss will form association with such a man or group of people. Everyone knows that he`s a man of peace and strong determination in anything that he believes in.
Mr oloyede Ezekiel, chairman of ogbomoso north local government in an interview a few weeks ago said Hon. Buhari has no political background and that he has no supporters.
And you want me to comment on that? Or you want me to reply or debunk that? Anyway let me answer that this way, at the beginning of president obama campaign, such comments were passed by political imbeciles, but events after proved them wrong, i really don’t want to say much because i will be flouting one of rules in our group, that we must not pass comments about politician in the opposite camp,
So you read the interview?
Yes i read papers every day, i watch focus Nigeria every day, i listen to sunrise daily every day, you guess why? I am eagerly waiting for a change so i want to be informed of the latest in our polity at every point in time, so i read the interview. And you know the funniest thing about that man, this is a chairman that was rated as the least performing LGA among the five LGA in ogbomosoland, some of his major achievements as published in tribune sometimes ago were distribution of condoms, purchase of 3 tokunbo cars, purchase of kia car for Aale, regular payment of salary, and he was proud to publish that in a national daily newspaper, and all of a sudden the man just realised that he tenure his coming to an end, so he thought of what best could he do to gain a return ticket, or at least another appointment as not to remain in the cold, he resulted into boot licking, sycophancy, praise singing all sort of dirty things that suite their camp. that is why you heard him saying that. In the past when this man was jobless i had seen him around this same Buhari, even when Hon. Buhari went to N.U.J hot seat at Ibadan, my chairman was at the first row, just to find favour with the man he is now trying to underscore. What do you call that ? that is how low some of our political jobbers can go to get power, its indeed unfortunate. And that is Gov. Akala LG, instead of such a chairman to explore the advantage of such relationship, or coincidence, to get audience with the Gov. So that he can attract developments that we become legacy of his administration that will campaign for him in future the man is busy bootlicking. It is saddened to know that two years have been wasted without anything tangible to point at developmentally in ogbomoso north, in fair to ogbomoso south leadership i am impressed. May be because of his pedigree, which is always important, because you cant give what you don’t posses.
So are you saying he painted Hon. Buhari darkly just to achieve a personal gain?
You want me to sound praise singing? how do you want me paint my boss that will not amount to singing our own song? Is it not better for people praise you, than you doing it yourself? It is better to deserve an honour and not having it than for you to have it and not deserving it. Hon. Buhari is an achiever in its own way, when he contested in 2003, he wanted to become a senator, but the equation on ground then gave that slot to oke ogun and we believe there is dignity in honouring agreement, he settled for house of representatives, which he won in a landslide victory, which resultantly gave PDP then a majority votes, and eventually helped the then Senator Koleoso to win his election. I am not overstating this, the most popular name on the lips of every man in ogbomoso was `Buhari for Rep` it was an election like no other, and the man did not disappoint us during his four years in the National Assembly, go and check his records, in 2007 after our group was de-registered, because we belong to Sen. Ladoja`s group, Baba Adedibu (of blessed memory) still offered him an unopposed return ticket to the House . And he actually collected a form for him with his own money, in fact at that time my boss was in Saudi for lesser hajj, he didn’t take the offer as a sign of loyalty to his group, besides that he believed he should be told what to contest for by his people and not by an individual, don’t forget that i told u earlier that he stepped down for oke- ogun senatorial slot in 2003 based on rotational agreement. So he contested on the platform of Labour party and was eventually allocated about 100,000 votes, because the election was massively rigged. I was even locked up for 12 hours that day, by the then DPO – S.P Lasisi Akanbi.
Hon . Buhari is an advocate of electoral reform, most importantly independent candidacy, do you think his popularity can afford him the position he is eyeing?
Positions are not earned by popularity, power or even wealth, positions are given by God to whom he wants and how he wants, Hon. Buhari is a believer of destiny, we only need little effort and prayers to compliment what God had destined. I believe that is what we hold very important in the pursuance of our ambition. God is the main determinant factor.
Are you back in P.D.P ?
Our leaders never left P.D.P at anytime, what happened was that we needed a platform to contest election as i told you earlier after we were de-registered during the crisis between the then Gov. Ladoja and Baba Adedibu, so we opted for Labour party, so that no one will attribute our victory or otherwise to his/her popularity or political machinery that been in existence in other existing party in our state. And the result of that you know it. It got to a point that we were banned from campaigning again after we were attacked at ilero and over 47 of our vehicles were damaged. Anyway reconciliation is on going, i don’t know how far they have gone.im not involved.
You are leader of a group championing Hon. Buhari`s course, how prepared are you to face the challenges ahead especially in 2011 election ?
God is our strength, we are ever prepared, we believe that we are fighting for freedom, freedom from poverty, freedom from illiteracy, freedom from modern slavery, freedom to secure the future of the generation behind, because in future questions will be asked about what we did during our own time that will design their living. And even for the youths, for which i belong, we wouldn’t fold our arms watching our future being eroded away before our eyes, unless we are satisfy with the way we are living now, the way things are now. So we shall stand to defend our votes, we read about great revolutions in the past, when people are ready God is always by their sides. Enough of self enrichments at the detriment of the masses. And can you see how God works , all the progressive leaders are together now, it will make the change easier, but we are not leaving anything to chances, we are robbing minds every day, deliberating on how to ensure“ one man one vote“ free and fair election. We shall laid down our lives, not because of politics but because the resources is not for personal enrichment but for the development of the society, our land, which eventually is shaping our lives. “The price for freedom is death“ if i may quote Malcolm X. So i promise you that you will see a more determined people, fearless people in the coming elections, in ogbomoso, in oyo state and Nigeria in general, people are suffering in the midst of plenty, this country is too blessed for us to live this poorly.
