Many Happy Returns Leader of Leaders, Elephant of Civil Societies and Leading figure in the World of Politics, John Kayode Fayemi (JKF), Just Keep Faith (JKF), Omo Fayemi, Ola a dara, tomorrow would be brighter!
The 80th Birthday’s Lecture of Late Afenifere Leader, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, for which you were the Guest Speaker inside Oranmiyan Hall of Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, held September 27, 2005, brought us together and ever since, we don’t have cause to regret our meeting. I was a member of the Southwest Region Organising Commitee alongside late Senator Biyi Durojaiye, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, Reverend Tunji Adebiyi and few Others. Going to 2 Decades now and in 2009 specifically, we fought epic battle of Politics together with Mr President and Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, which gave birth to Coalition of Pro – Democracy Groups for A Better Nigeria.
Against all odds, the Coalition for A Better Nigeria inaugural Lecture was delivered that day by Engineer Rauf Aregbesola inside Rockview Hotel, Festac Town, Lagos State, centred on Mandate Protection and both of you were at Tribunals fighting for your individual Mandate in your respective States and 2010, God Almighty answered your Joint prayers. Then, Ekiti and Osun States became Annexes to civil Societies’ Programmes.
Engineer Rauf Aregbesola later became Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State
As a formidable Group, we have recorded a chain of successes, records are there in public dormain for anybody to check on social media and our history won’t be complete without mentioning 3 of you, “Etaoko”, “Triplet”. When it appeared we were at crossroad, Ogbeni said Awa we need Kayode to join forces, I quickly searched my memory without success, before I recollected that he was talking of Kayode at their own higher level, John Kayode Fayemi.
Towards 2011 general Election, late Govrnor Abiola Ajimobi invited me to join forces with him, towards ensuring that he wins the Party primaries by lobbying 3 of you through me, wholeheartedly, we jointly made his dream became a reality in his lifetime and even extended gesture to his Ogun State Counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Politics is a game of interest, “no permanent enemy, no permanent friend”, we, as Bourdillion family, later had a divided House on late Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, 1st term Ambition in 2016, but the will of God prevailed and I was happy that we all put everything behind us before he died.
During the condolence visit of Leadership of Ayo Fasanmi led Afenifere to Chief Reuben Fasoranti in Akure over the assassination of his loving Daughter by gunmen on the Ore – Benin Express Way, he made sure he interacted us 1st in Governor’s Office and during the introduction, he himself called the attention of the Secretary, Hon Bayo Aina, to where I sat down, saying “last but not the least, our own Comrade Awa Bamiji”, before the Secretary took it up from him with apology, folllowed by proper introduction of my position in Afenifere. This alone, Billions of Naira couldn’t buy. “Everything is not money”. Adieu, Aketi!
As members of Tinubu International School of Political Science, our meeting inside Asiwaju’s House in Bourdillion were uncountable, most especially before you became Governor
I valued your Condolences alongside that of Mr President, Ooni, Olubadan, HRM Eze Goodluck in Imo State, HRM Aragbiji of Iragbiji, HRH Alayemore of Ido – Osun, Chief Bisi Akande, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, Senator (Barrister) Comrade Opeyemi Bamidele (Senate majority Leader), General Buba Marwa (Rtd), Prof Wole Soyinka, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Prince Biodun Ogunleye, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, Chief Lere Paimo (Eda – Onile Ola), Otunba Dele Ajomale, Dr Olu Agunloye, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, Chief Frank Kokori, Pa Sunny Ajose, Prof Taoheed Adedoja, Mr Odia Ofeimun, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Alhaji Architect Muyiwa Ige, Otunba JMK, Mr Ayo Afolabi, Oloye Lekan Alabi, Barrister Oladosu Oladipo, Comrade Waheed Lawal, Princess Bisi Sangodoyin, Comrade Segun Mayegun, Engr Dotun Sanusi, Elder (Dr) Taye Ayorinde, Chief Akin Oke, Hon Dele Akinleye, Engr (Mrs) Abimbola Akinajo, MKO Abiola family, Abraham Adesanya family, Adekunle Ajasin’s, Ola – Oni’s, Ayo Fasanmi’s, Beko Ransome Kuti’s, Adebayo Faleti’s, Akinwumi Ishola’s, Dr Adewale Balogun Beko Ransome Kuti CCG, Comrade Linus Okoroji, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, Comrade Segun Mayegun, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, Mr Niyi Idowu, Prof Soji Adejumo, Archibishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Mr Tunde Onigbajo, Mr Gbenga Omotoso and severaI Others, all of which poured in as Torrents of Tribute for my ịate Mother, Rafatu Agbeke Oyebamiji, 98, who passed late August. The news plus lorryload of Tributes as if I was of the sitting Governor in Nigeria then. It lifted our spirit during that turbulent period in our life as a family. Please, kindly sit back to check Awa Bamiji facebook page for more details on this and our past broadcasts of our activities that stand us the pack over the years. To God be the glory and thank you all for your support.
It will be a deservice if I don’t say that Senator Ayo Fasanmi @ 80 Birthday’s Lecture that you delivered shortly after your arrival in Nigeria with intention to shift base was your divine catapult that baptised you before your induction proper into Politics in Nigeria
Please, kindly join me in wishing Beko Ransome Kuti’s disciple, June 12 Advocate, foremost Activist, war strategist that is yet to visit Shanbisha forest and Deputy Director of defunct Radio Kudirat headed by Prof Wole Soyinka, Comrade Dr Kayode Fayemi, “Many Happy Returns”. Igba Odun, Odun kan ni o!
This interesting package is dedicated to sweet memory of late legal Luminary, Comrade and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, of Ondo State, as funeral activities begin this week Thursday, 15 February, 2024, in Ibadan, Oyo State, and ends Friday, 23 February, 2024, in his hometown, Owo, Ondo State, by God’s grace.
Awa Bamiji, National Coordinator Coalition of Pro – Democracy Groups for A Better Nigeria
Awa Bamiji, National Coordinator Coalition of Pro – Democracy Groups for A Better Nigeria
Congratulations to him. – Victoria Aregbesola, Ilesa Osun State.
Congratulations on your Birthday. Age gracefully Sir – Chief Barr Okonkwo Oliver Interim State Youth Leader APC, Anambra State. Lead Partner Okonkwo, Mokwe & Partners
May his soul rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Comrade/Pastor. MORONKEJI OMONIYI MICHEAL, CACOL member
Good! -‘Alfa Ayodele Hassan Protocol Officer to Prof Sabitu Olagoke, JP, Leader, Shafaudeen Islamic Center Worldwide, Shafaudeen Headquarters, Wakajaiye, Iyana Church, Iwo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State
