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As the chairman of Kosofe LGA of Lagos State, Barr Tunde Braimoh was not just good to me, but extremely good. As a matter of fact, he was one of the first few ‘Egbons’ that I met and adopted on my arrival in the beautiful centre of excellence called Lagos.
An event had brought us together and instantly he took a special interest in me. The first man ever to bless me with the princely sum of N100,000, this was back in the early 2000 – and I can never, never forget how terrified I was as I departed his office. Looking over my shoulders and almost suspecting anybody that came as close as walking pass, I was so uncomfortable inside all the buses I either boarded or alighted from till I got to my house, then on College Road, in Ogba, Lagos. Even where I tucked in the money on getting home nearly became a pilgrimage centre which I visited before going to work and also on my return.
A two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Kosofe 2 Constituency, Braimoh continued to show love to me till his demise. And to reciprocate only a little, I stood solidly by him when some powerful forces attempted to dump him in political Siberia some years back. Then a regular face at his Ogudu GRA, Lagos home, I was one of the few persons he asked his hardworking and beautiful wife, Mrs. Yetunde, to liaise with when he was arrested and detained on trumped up charges – just for political reasons.
A likeable and admirable gentleman, he was with me and my family when I dedicated my first house in Akute, Ogun State. He also made it a point to attend most of my events – notwithstanding his tight schedule. Even the unveiling of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine, which some people dodged then for obvious reasons, he was very, very conspicuous.
The Oyo State indigene who died at almost 60, months back, invited me to be a part of a project he was handling. At the end of everything, he dragged me to his office and handed me something extra. This, according to him, was for having ‘come a long way’ with him. Insisting that I pop in like before, he reminded me jocularly that he knew me before I became ‘a big man’ and we all burst into laughter. His message was, however, not lost on me, even though the truth remains that I don’t delight in suffocating my big friends with my presence.
Very, very open and fun loving, Braimoh remains one of the most cerebral and colourful politicians that I have interacted closely with. And our friendship, I must confess, rubbed off on me, both greatly and exceedingly.
Now that it has pleased the Lord to call him home, all I’m left with are his sweet and sumptuous memories.
Adieu, my ‘Chair’, like I affectionately hailed you, adieu, Hon. Tunde Braimoh and adieu, Big Daddy, like your political followers addressed you.
Tomorrow, hopefully, I will talk about our last encounter. I had left you so soon, not knowing that you would also be departing so soon.
Life! Here today, gone tomorrow. And forever too.
– Azuh Arinze, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine excerpted the above tribute from one of his new books – ENCOUNTERS – LESSONS FROM MY JOURNALISM CAREER
