How an Oyo Senator Humbled Me in Ibadan
By Olasunbo Abimbola Debby
It was meant to be a routine strategic engagement , an invitation to meet Senator Abdulfatai Omotayo Buhari at his Senatorial District Office located in Samonda, Ibadan, Oyo State. The appointment was scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
I got there some minutes before time.
The building is huge but the office itself was modest ,not flamboyant, not intimidating—yet warm and professional. Courtesy was the governing ethic. Barrister Lawal was on hand to receive me and, with measured politeness, ushered me to a seat.
“The Senator will soon be here,” he said.
At exactly two minutes to 11, four men walked in. Three tall figures and one noticeably shorter man ,dressed in a simple Ankara attire. There was nothing theatrical about their entrance—no noise, no protocol drama, no security theatrics.
Then Barrister Lawal announced:
“Welcome, Distinguished Senator.”
Instinctively, my eyes searched the room for the most imposing figure—the tallest, perhaps the most elaborately dressed. But Barrister Lawal’s gesture pointed instead to the simply dressed, unassuming man in Ankara—the shortest of the group, yet carrying an unmistakable aura of calm authority.
I was startled.
How could a serving Senator walk in so quietly? No fanfare. No “gragra.” No convoy noise. No visible police guards. His very demeanour spoke the language of humility.
As I stood up, he stretched out his hand warmly.
“Madam Shettima, welcome to Ibadan… welcome to Oyo State.”
His voice was calm, assured, confident ,firm without arrogance.
“Please, sit down before we begin our engagement.”
Before discussions commenced, I watched him interact with staff and visitors. He related not as a distant political figure but as a leader, friend, and companion. There were no senatorial airs—no intimidating distance. His humility was natural, not rehearsed.
Yet, this was no ordinary man.
This was a figure whose public simplicity masks a deeply rich institutional pedigree.
This is a man who before his entry into partisan politics, has built a solid career in the private sector,running a multi – billion naira automobile company where he acquired administrative depth, financial discipline, and organisational leadership experience that would later define his public service trajectory.
He served with distinction as a Member of the House of Representatives, where he earned recognition for legislative diligence and constituency responsiveness.
His executive governance exposure came to the fore when he served as a Commissioner in Oyo State, contributing to policy formulation and state development initiatives.
Thereafter, he ascended to the Senate elected three consecutive times , an affirmation of public trust and political credibility.
As a lawmaker, he has been widely acknowledged for empowerment programmes spanning youth development, women support schemes, social inclusion , educational interventions, and infrastructure facilitation.
Notably, he played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of a federal university in Oyo State—an enduring institutional legacy that continues to expand educational access and regional development.
Academically, he is a PhD holder—an intellectual depth that reflects in his analytical engagement with policy, governance, and development strategy.
And yet—despite this imposing résumé—here stood a man so humble, so composed, so intellectually grounded.
A man with a wonderful past, an impactful present, and—by all indications—a glorious future.
As I left the engagement, having taken this picture with him , one thought stayed with me:
If experience, humility, administrative depth, and people-centred leadership are the metrics, then Senator Abdulfatai Omotayo Buhari represents the kind of solid, seasoned hand Oyo State would require in higher executive responsibility.
My visit was meant to be a meeting.
It ended as a lesson in humility, leadership, and quiet power.
God bless this man of Grace
A man who has a date with the destiny of Oyo State
..watch out, I am still coming .
