Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo has sent a condolence letter to the governor of Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun, over the death of Senator Buruji Kashamu but the letter stirred controversy in some quarters.
In the letter dated Saturday, August 8, the former president described Kashamu’s death an “irreparable loss” yet indicated that Senator Esho Jinadu (Buruji Kashamu) in his lifetime used the manoeuvre of law and politics to escape from facing justice on alleged criminal offence in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.
Some argued if the part of manoeuvring the to escape the law was relevant in a condolence message while other supported Chief Obasanjo, saying he was just being ‘proverbial’
Baba Iyabo further said that: “But no legal, political, cultural, social or even medical manoeuvre could stop the cold hand of death when the Creator of all of us decides that the time is up”.
This part of the letter got some thinking and talking and asking question if Chief Obasanjo was mocking the dead or was nailing the dead’s coffin with old accusation.
The letter further reads: “I received the sad news of the demise of Senator Esho Jinadu (Buruji Kashamu) a significant citizen of Ogun State. Please accept my condolence and that of my family on this irreparable loss. The life and history of the departed have lessons for those of all us on this side of the veil. “May Allah forgive his sin and accept his soul into Aljanah, and may God grant his family and friends fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Kashamu reportedly died of Covid-19 on Saturday, August 8 and is death was announced by Senator Ben Murray-Bruce who said on Twitter that: “I have just lost my good friend of forever to #COVID19. Until his death, Sen. Buruji Kashamu and I were inseparable.
He died today at First Cardiology Consultants, in Lagos. May his gentle soul rest in peace. I pray his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear this heavy loss”.
The former senator, representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly and the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2019 election had lost his mother, Alhaji Wulemotu Kashamu in 2019.