Injustice drove my husband from PDP to PRP – Ogun gov candidate’s widow

September 2, 2022, was a sad day for the leaders and members of the Peoples Redemption Party in Ogun State following the death of their governorship candidate, Prof Olufemi Bamgbose, at the age of 54. The worse hit was his 44-year-old widow, Reverend Mary Bamgbose, who, in this interview with DAUD OLATUNJI, speaks on the political odyssey and the last moments of her departed husband.

Where were you when it happened?

We were together at the last minute at Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro, Abeokuta on Friday when all of a sudden his situation just changed and that was it. He died on Friday, September 2, 2022.

How did it happen?

A day before he died, he complained of tiredness and pains in his chest and he was taken to the hospital where he did a series of tests which came out negative. We left for our family hospital at Olomore, from where we were referred to Sacred Heart Hospital. We were at the hospital for less than two days when he died.

Did he give you any message before he passed away?

My husband was a great man who would rather die for something great than live for nothing. He was a lover of God and people. He was a philanthropist who carried people’s situation more than his own. My husband was a very humble and down to earth person.

Was he a pastor?

My husband was a Reverend Pastor of the Peace and Love Church.

Did he ever discuss death with you?

He didn’t really discuss (his) death with me but maybe he did at the church level. For example, last week, he kept singing a particular song and did some things very differently. So, we had a very special prayer on the Sunday before the Thursday that we went to the hospital. In his song, he said, “In the beginning of everything is God, the middle of everything is God and at the end of everything is God,” then we held an hour prayer in the church, where he said something great would happen and all eyes would see.

From this, can we say he was referring to his demise as the great thing that would happen?

Demise? Well, God is still in operation.

How old was your marriage?

Going to about 16 years, and blessed with six children.

How did you meet?

I read accounting in school but because he was an educationist, I had to support the business. So, I did my NCE so that we can start a school. He headed the college of education while I was in the secondary and nursery school.

What led you to say yes to his proposal at that time?

It was just the love of God, and he loved people so much so I saw him as my assignment and I have taken him as that since that time, till now and forever.

Was he into politics before you married him or after?

He joined politics in 2014 and we had been in it together until his demise. He disclosed to me that God told him he could do more for the people and when he asked God for the resources, God said he could do it because it is God that owns the heaven and the earth, which was interpreted to him that he could venture into something called ‘governance and politics.’ That was how he went on his Instagram page to start engaging people on governance and political discussions. There, he said even Christians can venture into politics and do well without necessarily engaging in wrongdoings like many of the politicians.

How did he manage the resources?

Resources have been coming from the schools he was running and he also had agricultural investments, production of garri (cassava flour) and he is also into arable farming.

How did he merge politics with his religious tasks?

Since he got into politics, he never missed church service or activities for once. He would always attend to the service of God before anything called politics. Even if they called political meetings on Sundays, he would never be there. He would tell them, ‘God first’, before any other thing. God gave him the grace to manage things.

He was a governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance in 2019, did he tell you the reason he chose that party?

He participated in the Peoples Democratic Party primaries at that time which was very murky, and then we traveled to Dubai. When we came back, former Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano and some APGA members in Ogun State called him, saying they wanted him to be the party’s flag bearer, and that was it.

Did he run away to Dubai because of the tense situation at the time?

No, he didn’t run away. He just went to rest after the primaries.

He went back to the PDP; did he tell you why he did that?

He told me he believed that APGA was a party for the Igbo people, and it was not totally accepted here in Ogun State. He noted that APC and PDP are the only parties that have the structure and popularity in the state.

Talking about going back to the PDP, did he tell you maybe God spoke to him?

He used to say that God never told him to go to any particular party, that it was just by his discretion. So, let’s leave God out of it.

Why did he dump PDP for PRP?

We had an update about all that was happening. He was elected at the primaries as a senatorial candidate for Ogun-West but the party leaders and the factional governorship candidate of the PDP said they wanted to take the ticket back from him and he gave it back to them.

Why did they take the ticket from him?

Their point then was that the party would not emerge victorious due to the fact that somebody from Ota had been chosen to take the ticket because someone had been given deputy governorship ticket from the same zone.

Was he promised anything in return?

At the time they asked him to return the ticket, I want to believe Ladi (Adebutu) promised to give him an appointment but he wasn’t given anything, not even money. He said on his social media platforms that anyone who had evidence that he collected money in replacement of his ticket should come forward, but no one did.

Can you describe what led to his loss of the ticket?

There is nothing to discuss about it. The party has a motto that talks about justice, but in a party where there is no justice, which cannot stand by its words, then there’s a need for one to leave for another place.

How was he able to convince you that PRP would emerge winner?

He has a drive and his antecedent, which is that he believes in himself rather than the party. He believes people should look at the candidate they want to vote for rather than at the party.

How many people can you say have benefitted from his scholarship programmes?

I cannot mention the number but I understand that he used to give 100 per cent scholarship to orphans from the primary to secondary school level, who we are sure of and they are registered as orphans; 50 per cent scholarship to family and church members. He also gave free education to the people who have correctional centres here in Ogun State like in Ibara, Ilaro, Ijebu, and Kirikiri maximum prison in Lagos.

How did he fund those projects?

He had various platforms to make money and he believes that the more he makes the money, the more he needs to spend it to support the society and the less privileged. He donated marker boards and books to correctional centres and engaged National Youth Service Corps members.

Will his death not bring his philanthropic efforts to a halt?

I believe it will not stop as God still lives.

Would there be a need for the government to intervene?

I don’t know but even if the government intervenes, his antecedents would continue to speak for him.

What would you miss him for as a wife?

I am not missing him yet because God is still in operation. My husband is still very much around physically. I am going to miss him because of the way he calls my name. He used to call me ‘honey’ from afar as soon as he arrives and parks his car.

What would you want the world to emulate from him?

I would want the world to take God as number one and to contribute to humanity.

How would you react if leaders of the PRP say they want to give the ticket to you?

I don’t know how to answer that but as the spirit leads.