Unlike most politicians, Distinguished Senator Fatai Buhari lives a pretty simple and focused life. That simplicity is reflected in his lifestyle, whether in Abuja (the seat of power), Ibadan (Oyo State capital), or Ogbomoso (his beloved hometown). Of course, the story of his quiet and plain approach to life and public service has remained consistent and grounded.
He is, modestly put, not the type to frolic at too many parties or jump from one faaji joint to another in search of euphoric and thrilling moments that seem to have defined the country’s political and economic class.
While not the faaji-loving politician, the Senator is reputed to spend a significant part of his waking hours empowering the next generation of leaders in his constituency and beyond – with life-changing opportunities.
Instead of turning young and jobless constituent members into notorious bootlickers and acolytes, BAF has consistently used his office to lift young people from poverty to prosperity, stagnation to success, and from a future marked by uncertainty to one of great assurances. Consider the story of the Senator.
He started on a soft ground. As a corp member working diligently at his place of primary assignment, Senator BAF met the man who changed his life by chance. Addressing some of his beneficiaries some weeks ago, the Senator shared the story of his life in a way that contextualized his drive for youth empowerment.
“I was posted to a private establishment for my youth service where I met the man who took a chance on me and my career”. That rare opportunity to have a job right after his service year transformed his life in a way he never imagined. “I concluded my compulsory service year on Friday, and by Monday, I resumed full-time employment”. He has shared that story countless times. But each time leaves a remarkable impression on the listeners. “From that moment on”, he enthused, “I promised to pay that debt forward by helping as many young people as possible when given the chance”.
As a diligent staff member of the organization, Senator Buhari rose to become a Deputy General Manager before resigning to set up his own business. By 2003, he joined active politics and was elected as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ogbomoso North, South, and Orire Federal Constituency. As the people’s representative, he carved a niche for himself by always showing up where others sent aides. He was reputed to have cultivated his penchant and passion for grassroots mobilization right from that first political stint.
Up till today, the Senator’s constituency office sits right in his family’s house – a clear demonstration of his familial connection to his root. When you ask the Senator for the reason behind his unconditional love for youth empowerment, he’d tell you it is one of the reasons he joined politics in the first place. Ultimately, the scale and scope of politics make it enormously easier to influence decisions, while changing the dimension and direction of many things including massive empowerment of young people who are at the heart of any developmental strides.
Empowerment, beyond the sharing of grinding machines, motorcycles, sports cars, farming tools etc have always been at the core of the Senator’s stewardship. He is a relentless advocate of youth empowerment, employment, and recruitment. He is beyond convinced that creating an enabling environment for young people to thrive and succeed without trading their dignity for opportunities of a lifetime should be a priority for all leaders across the board.
Instead of cooling his feet in his office while turning young people into errand boys and defenders of mediocrity, the Senator’s approach to empowering tomorrow’s leaders, today, has forced other leaders to rethink their model, reassess their performance, and recommit to service.
Beyond the legacy of empowering young people to have a life of meaning and fulfilment, Senator BAF’s consistent and firm conviction in helping the youth stem from the promise he made for himself many decades ago. While other politicians empower to create an aura of performance, Senator BAF prefers the quiet and silent approach: one that protects beneficiaries and buoyed him to do more.
When people say the greatest asset of a country is the people, what they often forget to add is that they are only an asset when they are truly empowered. Like President Bola Tinubu, Senator BAF equally shares in the conviction that the only way to help people is to bring them up instead of pulling them down.
To have the likes of Senator Fatai Buhari in higher office, such as the Governor of Oyo State, will be an excellent peg in the leadership that truly cares for all the people, particularly the teeming young people who have the energy, stamina, creativity, and artistry to transform the society from decay to development, setback to comeback, and obstacles to opportunities.
Consider the caliber of the Senator’s empowerment beneficiaries. That is where you understand what makes the senator exceptionally different among his peers. He is a hunter of talent, a nurturer of gift and a firm believer in the ability of the young people to turnaround the lots of our nation. Consistently with his conviction, Distinguished Senator Fatai Buhari is empowering and grooming tomorrow’s leaders, today in a tireless, relentless and priceless manner.
