Meet Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru:
The Game Changer & the Heart Beat of Osun
Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, popularly known as SRJ or Alubarika, was born more than five decades ago. He obtained Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Lagos in 2000. He furthered his legal education at The Nigerian Law School in Abuja, earning a Second Class, Upper Division [LL.B. (Hons)]. He attended The Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja, FCT. (2001-2002). He desired to further obtain higher degrees in his chosen career, hence, he acquired Master of Laws (LLM) degree at the University of Lagos, with specialization in the rare fields of ‘Secured Credit Transactions’, ‘Law of the Sea, and Comparative Company Law’, ‘Planning & Compulsory Acquisition’. SRJ, being a great dreamer, he went further in his educational career to obtain a Ph.D degree in Property Law at the prestigious University of Lagos..
Senator Basiru was appointed as a lecturer at the Osun State University, Osogbo where he earned a lot of respect within and outside the institution. He has grown to be a political technocrat and a trusted legal practitioner.
He was appointed by the then Executive Governor of Osun state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as a commissioner in the Ministry of Regional Integration & Special Duties (August 2010 to November 2014), after which he became the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Osun State.
A golden fish has no hidden place, Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru became a Nigerian Senator representing the Osun Central Senatorial District from 2019 to 2023. His contributions to legal and legislative debates contributed to the success of the ‘Red Chamber’ at the National Assembly. Furthermore, he was appointed the Chairman Senate Committee on Diaspora, Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Societies and later became the official Senate Spokesperson. SRJ was elected as the National secretary for the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside the Chairman-Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down from his position few days ago. He assumed office on the 3rd August 2023 and he remains the heart beat of APC since then. He played prominent and convincing role to the emergence of the Governors of Edo and Ondo states under the umbrella of the National ruling party- APC. No one can ever forget his technocracy that made Governor Oyetola emerged victorious in the run off election in the year 2018.
Senator Basiru has consistently remain a politician who believes in the core principle and philosophy of a progressive party. He is wholeheartedly a progressive person. He has never deviated from the ideologies as laid down by the late Obafemi Awolowo and Bola Ige. Basiru was a founding member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), (1998–2006), and has remained committed as the party transformed to Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), (2006–2013) and now the All Progressives Congress (APC), (2013–present). This is an evidence of reliability, integrity and trustworthiness. Like I earlier wrote that a golden fish has no hidden place; within a space of one term at the red chamber, SRJ served as a member of the committees on Airforce, Downstream Petroleum Sector, States and Local Governments, Petroleum Resources (Upstream); and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Why is SRJ nicknamed ‘Alubarika’?. “Alubarika” from the Arabic word “Albarka” which means blessing, benediction, abundance, or prosperity. It can also be translated as “the blessed” or “blessed” in a general sense. This is the most common interpretation, encompassing the idea of divine favor or grace. “Alubarika” can also refer to a state of having plenty, whether it is material wealth or other forms of good fortune. When used in reference to a person or thing, it signifies being favored or touched by blessings. This is exactly what SRJ stands for. He is highly favoured and blessed by Allah yet he is not selfish, you need to know who SRJ is. Do not judge him from far, he is a complete, gentle and humble politician. Very few people tend to judge him wrongly, mainly because, he stands and speaks the truth at all times. He is a politician that does not lie especially while relating with others. For people who hate the truth, SRJ is ever ready to accommodate all and sundry. He has a large and friendly heart. He adheres to ethical practice of politics; effective interactions with grassroots community members and all cadres of politicians, high reliability, and total commitment to communal growth and development, integrity and collaboration through teamwork and careful delivery of services.
Aside all these, who is SRJ? SRJ is a team builder who possess creative and strategic thinking skills, demonstrate honesty and integrity with the ability to motivate others to action. Senator Basiru is blessed with attribution theories of ‘‘Transformation’’ and ‘‘Transaction’’ that are associated with goal achievement and management. He has creative “outside the box” thinking ability that goes beyond emotions and facts. He can change Osun from a civil service state to an enviable international business hub using the experiences he has garnered over the years.
Year 2026 is around the corner, and now that SRJ Alubarika has shown interest, it is now left for every son and daughter of Osun State to lead the campaign of ‘ALUBARIKA MOVEMENT’. An adage in Yoruba language says “omo e ni ko le se idi berebe; ka wa fi ileke si idi omo mi” meaning ‘when your child has a suitable and robust waist; you cannot decorate another person’s child with beads (the elders should pardon me). Alubarika is a golden fish that we should all be proud of. He is a symbol of unity, a technocrat, an administrator, a game changer, a manager, a communicator and a grass-root politician who has dependable political structures across the state.
Join the “Alubarika movement” in order to create a better future for Osun state. Let us support the game changer and let the heart of Osun beats with healthy rhythm.
