In 1950, Salami was secretary of the Ibadan Cooperative Produce Marketing Union a role that involved the grading and payment for produce brought in by cooperative members. After his stint with the cooperative, he later worked with UAC. During the pre-independence period, Salami joined the Mabolaje Alliance of Adegoke Adelabu. In 1954, he won election as a councilor to the Ibadan District Council under the banner of NCNC and in 1956, he went on to win an election into the Western House of Assembly, defeating the incumbent, Akinloye. After the death of Adelabu in 1958, a crisis within the Ibadan NCNC branch led to the exit of Salami from NCNC. Thereafter, he aligned with Action Group and was a member of Akintola's faction. He was elected back into the Ibadan District Council in 1961 and was later appointed as executive director, Western Nigeria Development Corporation. After the military coup of January 15, 1966, Salami was placed in detention for five months before he was freed by soldiers during the counter-coup of July 1966.