Festus Eugene Ogun, a 100 level law student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun state has written an interesting open letter to the troubled senator Buruji Kashamu over his recent ordeal with the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Immediately after you made your intention known to contest for the post of a senator representing Ogun East Senatorial district and after your emergence as the winner of the primary election, there have been controversial talks and rumours that you are a ‘drug-dealer’. It has become the most trending news in town.
The opposition even used the same accusation to campaign against your candidacy during the electioneering period. Besides all this accusations that you are a drug baron, you emerged as the winner of the election. Leaving behind those who are with ‘clean-hands’ as losers. What a strong man you are. Your emergence was a surprise to virtually everybody in the senatorial district. They claim that you are wanted in U.S; you still won
the election. I wouldn’t have got bothered about your victory, maybe because of your generosity. The peasants and the average-ones even refer to you as ‘Alaanu-lomo’ , a generous person.
The election’s result signifies that you are the voice of the majority of the people. They trust in you, I think, that’s why you were voted for. They wanted you to represent them.But, despite the fact that you won, people have been bothered with the way NDLEA troubles you. Beginning from the day you were declared the winner
constitutionally, NDLEA have insisted on extraditing you to U.S to face the trial and charges levied against you.
The first question to be asked is that , where is NDLEA all this while when you were an ordinary citizen? The answer to that question will be given only by them or it will be a topic for another time. Every time I go online to search your name on Google, the result given to me will contain some elements of criminality. Getting on Facebook , stories about you are shared and posted that you are having questions to answer in U.S . Sir, are you truly a criminal? It will even sound paradoxical if you claim to be one; ‘criminal-legislator’.What is obvious is that you’ve not been proved guilty by a competent court of law.
The question to be asked then is that, are you the only senator elected? And that, can all Nigerian be wrong for calling you a drug dealer? Definitely NO! We can’t be all wrong; in every rumour there is alwaysan iota of truth. Think about this!
I’m speaking on behalf of the well meaning people of Ogun East. For them to vote for you, they’ve trusted in
you and they expect the very best from you. The members of this senatorial district are doubting maybe or not their representative is truly a criminal or it’s just a defamation of character. Your supporters are disgraced, abused and embarrassed by the opposition and some of their friends that are not from the constituency. A drug baron, as they would say, is representing our constituency. It’s a slap on our face.
To further add insult to injury, you were hiding in toilet for days when NDLEA men surrounded your Lekki home. Why are you hiding sir when you know you are not guilty? Or are you afraid of the blind nature of the law? If truly you are innocent of the offence charged against you, you don’t need to hide. Don’t get me wrong sir, I am not calling you a criminal.
My advice goes thus: to further clear the cobwebs obstructing our view towards this matter, appear in court willingly yourself. This will make your people very affirmative to say that you are not a criminal. And to your supporters and friends will be freed from insult and humiliation from friends. If this can be done, we will not be double-minded about the truth value of the charges levied against you.
