… continuation from series I
For many leaders, politics is the starting point of their public journey. But for Hon. Bolanle Aminat Sarumi (BASA), politics was never the beginning — it was a continuation of a lifelong calling to serve. Before she ever contested an election or joined a political movement, BASA had already written her name in the hearts of countless people through her humanitarian work.
Through the BASA Foundation, she built a legacy of compassion in action. From free health outreaches that brought relief to families in rural communities, to educational support programmes for underprivileged children, down to Free Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Registrations for business owners and empowerment schemes for women struggling to sustain their businesses, BASA showed that leadership is not measured by titles but by impact.
BASA – A Woman of the People, A Voice for the Grassroots (Series I)
However, as the demands of the people grew, BASA recognised a simple truth: philanthropy alone cannot solve systemic problems. She could empower one woman with business capital, but what about the thousands of market women across Oyo State struggling with poor infrastructure, multiple taxation, and lack of government support? She could support children with school materials, but what about the broken education system that leaves many classrooms overcrowded and underfunded?
It became clear that while charity provides temporary relief, good governance creates lasting solutions. This realisation birthed BASA’s decision to step fully into politics. She understood that to change lives at scale, she needed to be at the decision-making table, shaping policies that would reflect the realities of ordinary people.
Unlike many who see politics as an arena for power and privilege, BASA views it as an extension of her humanitarian mission. To her, governance is simply “service with greater reach.” Her political journey has therefore been about ensuring that the same compassion that drives her foundation becomes the heartbeat of policy and leadership in Oyo State.
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BASA – A Woman of the People, A Voice for the Grassroots (Series I)
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Her courage to contest as a governorship candidate in Oyo State under the National Interest Party (NIP) was not just about ambition, it was about setting an example. It was about proving that women, young people, and everyday citizens could rise above traditional barriers to take their rightful place in politics. She carried the same values of integrity, inclusion, and justice from her foundation into her political campaigns.
Today, BASA continues to remind Oyo residents that politics should not be divorced from humanity. She often says: “If leadership does not improve the lives of the people, then it has failed its purpose.”
Her story teaches us that true service does not stop at charity; it grows into advocacy, into leadership, and ultimately into governance. And for BASA, politics is not an end in itself, it is a tool for amplifying service, transforming communities, and building a state where no one is left behind.
