Tinubu, Fayose, Kashamu’s ally condemn Obasanjo’s condolence letter
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose have condemned former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his negative comment on the death of former representative of Ogun East Senatorial District and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 elections in Ogun State, late Buruji Kashamu.
While Tinubu cautioned Obasanjo on the need for the living to be kind to the dead since death is inevitable for all mortals, Fayose described Obasanjo’s statement as “regrettable”.
Tinubu made the remark on Sunday, in a statement he personally signed on the death of Kashamu.
He, however, specifically, did not mention Obasanjo’s name in the statement, the ex-President remained the only person to have made a negative comment on Kashamu since he died on Saturday.
Tinubu’s statement read in part, “Again, Kashamu’s sudden death has demonstrated the transience of human life and rekindles the fact that death is inevitable for every mortal. As such, it behoves on us to be kind to the dead.
“I’m deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the passing of Senator Buruji Kashamu. He was a notable leader in the country and a true grassroots politician. He fought for his convictions, for the people of Ogun State and for his country.
“He worked assiduously to advance the political and economic fortunes of his state. Kashamu represented, with merit, Ogun East in the 8th National Assembly and worked well for his constituents. He was a kind and generous man, a philanthropist in his own right and an astute businessman.
“I admire his political doggedness and sagacity, and his steadfastness in pursuing whatever he believes in, though we were never in the same political party.
“Again, Kashamu’s sudden death has demonstrated the transience of human life and rekindles the fact that death is inevitable for every mortal. As such, it behoves on us to be kind to the dead.
“I also offer my condolences to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the government and people of Ogun State over the demise this important son of the soil. I pray that Almighty Allah forgive of his shortcomings, reward his good deeds and grant him Aljanna Fridaus.” However, Fayose in his reaction said it was “regrettable that Obasanjo could say what he said about Kashamu after his death and when he can no longer question him.”
“Can Obasanjo say in good conscience that he did not at some point collaborated with Kashamu and most of the things he (Kashamu) did politically were not with his collaboration,” Fayose said in a series of tweets on Sunday.
The former governor said Obasanjo should “stop forming saint because he is not. He should also remember that his own end will come too and nobody knows how the end will be.”
The animosity between Obasanjo and late Kashamu over the leadership of the PDP in the South West was quite pronounced in 2013 when Obasanjo criticised the PDP leadership for retaining Kashamu as a leader of the party in Ogun State.
