I cannot say I was close to him, nor is it clear that he probably remembered me, but I once had an encounter with the late Abubakar Olusola Saraki, which left with me, a lasting impression about the political colossus. And I would want to share it with the public.

As a young lad in a secondary school at Offa, I observed that his name was all over the place. I saw him as the field marshal in politics, whose popularity in Kwara State would not allow our hero in Offa, the late J. S. Olawoyin, to become the state governor and always wondered what made the man so tick? Was it wealth, talent, popularity, his acceptance by the rank-and-file, his dynamism, his astuteness or his brand of politics, that made him so exceptional, as to make him hold Kwara politics by the jugular? Why did the people see him as the preferred choice such that even if he endorsed a "tree" to be anything in the state that "tree" would be elected. So great was his fame, popularity and acceptance that the word of the Waziri was law and his presence commanded so much attention, that all struggled to get his favour until he breathed his last.

Many would remember him as an extraordinary politician, who bestrode Kwara politics like a colossus with his charm and brand of politics. But someone who should know was later to inform me that he was a highly successful medical practitioner in the early 60s. He was said to have floated a popular clinic in the Apapa Wharf area where he serviced clients and made tremendous fortune from his medical practice. It is said that Saraki made his millions a long time ago as a professional.

My admiration for 'Oloye' continued until one day shortly after the 1999 general elections in Lagos, it was at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, when I had the rare privilege of my first and only encounter with this enigma. I came out of that encounter understanding why he became what he was – an enigma, a legend, an institution, an avatar, a generalissimo and field marshal in politics; the father of the "Talakawas" and "Mekunus," the charming and dashing politician that won the admiration of all the people whose lives he touched so positively.

I had gone to the MMIA with a friend, who was travelling to Abuja, and because my friend had a good standing in the society, I had the privilege of accompanying him to the VIP lounge of the airport. Seated alone at the VIP lounge was no other person than the irrepressible Olusola Saraki, clutching a newspaper. Of course, I could recognise him; I walked towards him, prostrated on the floor to greet him. It was an opportunity that I grabbed with both hands. After exchanging pleasantries, I asked him who he and his followers supported as the presidential candidate between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae, especially since he was not known then to belong to any of the two leading political parties to which the presidential candidates belonged.

Trust the crafty politician; he didn't give me a direct answer but rather went into a long narrative, expecting that at the end I would make my own deductions.

In responding to my question, 'Oloye' informed me of how on the eve of the elections, his supporters in the state, young and old, male and female, thronged his residence awaiting his directive as to who they should vote for in the elections. He told me of how he had arrived late from a journey to Ilorin and how in spite of that, his supporters waited patiently, defying all odds to get a directive on who his choice was among the two presidential candidates.

He said that after thanking the supporters for waiting for such a long period, he asked them whether they wanted to know who to vote for and they responded "Yes." He told me that without mentioning the name of any of the candidates, he just looked into the sky observing that the atmosphere was very cloudy, which is an indication that there would be a heavy rainfall by the following morning when the elections would take place. Since it was likely to rain, he would advise his supporters not to forget their umbrellas when leaving the house to exercise their voting rights.

With that statement, he bid his supporters "goodnight," admonishing them not to forget their umbrellas because of the impending rain. He said he hoped that had answered my question. That was my first encounter with 'Oloye' and ironically it was to be my last. But that encounter revealed to me that Saraki probably became what he was because of his extraordinary gift of wisdom. It was this wisdom that I now remember with fondness and in our study of his brand of politics and political engineering; it may be useful to research into the role his gift of wisdom played in defining his political calculations.

Today, in remembering Saraki and his brand of politics, I want to invite our leaders across the world to apply wisdom in the running of the affairs of the nation and seek the advice of the elderly and gifted in that regard.

There is no doubt that he was a great man with deft moves and good understanding of politics, particularly the Nigerian brand. It can be said that 'Baba Oloye' breathed politics, ate politics, acted politics, danced politics, spoke politics and practised politics throughout his life.  It would be useful to undertake a research into his peculiar brand of politics. As we remember this fallen hero, the question is what will become of Kwara politics after his exit? One thing is clear though; Saraki (1933 -2012) came, saw and conquered. Adieu Baba Oloye!