pannigeriannews 
By Adewuyi Adegbite
I have the rare privilege to pay Salah homage to a rare breed politician in Oyo State, Alhaji Gbadegesin Rasak Kareem (popularly called Agbeti) at his Baaki Ogbomoso residence on June 6, 2025.
I was supposed to attend the funeral service of the mother of one of our rising stars in journalism in Ogbomoso, Tunji Alabi, at First Baptist Church, Okeerin, Ogbomoso yesterday norning but I was indisposed. I even called Tunji early in the morning to tender my sincere apologies for my inability to attend the funeral. However, he did not pick the call. I think he was busy with the planning. Later, Alhaji Razak called me that he would like me to join him later in the day. I explained to him that I was indisposed but he said if I could make it, he would be pleased.
As God would make it, I was a bit okay by 3p.m. and was able to attend the salah celebration. Like I used to do, I spent one and half hour there but the little time was memorable. Gbadegesin Kareem is a politician you will Iike to hate because he would not call white anything but white. Consequently, those would appreciate honesty in person’s life would not but be at peace with him. God has been good to him politically, having paid his due since the Second Republic politics. He was appointed by late Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala as his secretary in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area in 1999-2002.
He would later serve as a S A to Alai-Akala as the Deputy Governor and later Deputy Chief of Staff to the same Alao-Akala when he became governor from 2006-2011. He was really a man Friday to Alao-Akala until he moved on to chart his own political course. Today, he is a member of Advisory Council in Oyo State.
My path had crossed that of Gbadegesin about forty two years ago, firstly at Anglican Grammar School, Ogbomoso and later at the University of Ilorin before we entered politics. Though with different ideological leanings, we had a cordial relationship as big brother, senior and associate. There has been mutual respect and he had been good to me in kind and within the ambience of his purse in cash. I am not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but like Chief Omolu Olunloyo spoke about his relationship with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, I used to be everywhere Alhaji Razak Gbadegesin Kareem is.
I am no longer interested in politics at the local level because of the intrigue involved; we saw him at Akala residence, we saw him at Buhari residence when unfortunately, these so called leaders have their own meeting place. I have freed myself from all these and Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola whom I associate with in the last election is highly educated, civilized, big-hearted and exposed than minding whom you associate with. At Gbadegesin’s residence were seasoned politicians led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, in person of Hon. Chief Segun Ogunwuyi. The residence was a Mecca of sorts as both high and lowly trooped in to celebrate Salah with the man that is nicknamed Agbeti but whom I called “The Unbreakable” because of his resilient spirit, indefatigable disposition, can-do spirit and, as a matter of fact, for his tenacity of purpose.
In fact, I have been meeting Ogunwuyi at various places but never had the opportunity to speak with him but Gbadegesin made that possible at his residence. A prophet is without honor but in his own town. As one of the highly educated and experienced politicians in Ogbomoso zone of Oyo State, I hope could have been a blessing to our land if having the opportunity. I don’t know his ambition as 2027 approaches but future is pregnant and wish him success and I promise him of my little support in any endeavor he wishes to pursue.
Happy Salah celebration to our own Agbeti and the unbreakable. Many more celebrations, the Unbreakable Agbeti.
About The Author
