I’m glad I used to be impeached as Oyo Deputy Governor – Olaniyan

Rauf Olaniyan was Deputy Governor to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde till he was impeached on July 18, 2022. On this no-holds-barred interview with WALE AKINSELURE, he discloses the circumstances that led to his impeachment, his relationship with the Oyo governor, his drive, and the Oke-Ogun and Oyo APC agenda for the 2027 election

In 2022 you had been impeached because the Deputy Governor of Oyo State…

(Cuts in) Sure, I’m glad I’m now not the Deputy Governor of Oyo State.

What had been the behind-the-scenes circumstances that led to your impeachment?

Irreconcilable variations.

Are you able to break it down?

If I break it down, it would nonetheless come again to irreconcilable variations. Within the closing evaluation, irreconcilable variations would be the endpoint.

In Nigeria, being a Deputy Governor calls for you to be 100 per cent loyal to the governor. At what level did your loyalty start to be doubtful as insubordination was one of many allegations levelled towards you, resulting in your impeachment?

Sure, through the impeachment course of, one of many offences that the panel learn to me was disloyalty, that I used to be not giving respect to the governor. However it’s attention-grabbing to notice that after I bought to the workplace within the morning, again then, I’d go to the governor’s workplace first to ask if there was any task for me. In the future I advised the governor that there’s not one of the exco members that gave him as a lot respect as I did. It is because I’ve been within the system for lengthy and I do know the that means of respecting the governor. To the glory of God, earlier than Governor Seyi Makinde, I labored with 12 governors, each navy and civilian, and I understand how to respect them. So, nothing is occurring within the authorities secretariat that I don’t know, however I do know my limits. I had been going to the deputy governor’s workplace earlier than I grew to become deputy governor. Even through the time of Chief Bola Ige, I had the chance to go to the deputy governor’s workplace. I wasn’t deputy governor earlier than I began going to the governor’s workplace. So, that I’m disloyal or fail to provide respect isn’t in my dictionary. However you recognize anyone can sit down and concoct something. However, I’m not embittered about my impeachment. I’m not even bitter to Seyi Makinde.

 While you grew to become operating mate to Seyi Makinde earlier than the 2019 election, would you say it was a wedding that shouldn’t have occurred within the first place?

If that marriage didn’t occur at first, that election outcome wouldn’t be because it was. He (Makinde) was the one who approached me, not me approaching him, to be his deputy. So many entreaties and celebration leaders had been despatched to me. Fortunately, one in every of them even confessed on a radio station. No less than Iba Oluyole confessed on a radio station that he got here to my home 13 instances earlier than I may say sure. When Seyi Makinde got here to fulfill me, I gave him some circumstances. My circumstances weren’t financial, and I agreed to be his operating mate. He publicly introduced on the Premier Lodge that he was so comfortable to have me as deputy governor. However, the individuals surrounding him felt so threatened. They felt so threatened about me and began backbiting, saying all kinds of issues behind me to the governor.

Don’t you assume these forces in authorities needed you impeached since you had been perceived as being over-ambitious, that you just needed to be governor?

No. The place did he (Makinde) meet me? We met on the sphere. I used to be not in search of a commissioner place when he met me. If I had needed to be the governor by all means, I’d not comply with be his deputy governor.

However, you would have agreed to be deputy governor to be in governance within the state earlier than giving a shot on the primary put up…

I’ve advised you I’ve been near the governor’s workplace, governor’s seat, for thus lengthy.

You had been deputy to Governor Seyi Makinde for 3 years. Was it 12 months one, two or three that issues bought awry between the 2 of you?

To me, other than when the kangaroo impeachment began, we had been each regular. Folks can go behind me and say plenty of issues. I can’t cease them. In case you are so highly effective individuals can not speak about you in your presence, you possibly can’t cease them from speaking about you in your absence. They can’t worry you to that stage that they will’t say something behind you.

Nonetheless speaking about what led to your impeachment, the second main allegation was monetary recklessness, significantly mismanagement of funds within the renovation of the deputy governor’s lodge…

(Cuts in) You might be on this clime. You already know that once you need to stone or kill a canine, you have to give the canine a foul title. You will need to name the canine a foul title to get it hanged. How a lot is the deputy governor’s lodge? To the glory of God, the price of the deputy governor’s lodge is nothing to me, to be operating after. However you need to name a canine a foul title to hold it. I used to be round when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was sentenced. Did he commit the offence?

 For those who assume the offences that led to your impeachment had been concocted, why did you not press arduous to be exonerated by the courts?

I’ve no regrets about the best way I left workplace. Since I left workplace, I’ve by no means proven or displayed any animosity towards Seyi Makinde. I’ve no concern with Seyi Makinde. Wherever I meet him, I name him with respect, I greet him; we usually greet one another.

Final September, the 2 of you had been seen publicly exchanging greetings at Senator Rashidi Ladoja’s eightieth birthday celebration ceremony. Was that the primary time you’ll each meet after your impeachment?

Earlier than that assembly, we had met no fewer than 4 instances. And every time we met, he answered me nicely. He knew I wasn’t a foul man to him however there have been some those who had been bent on getting me out of presidency. A few of them advised me to my face; a few of them after my impeachment. I met one man on the airport who mentioned he was a kind of behind the impeachment.

What should occur to reconcile the irreconcilable variations?

Even if you end up in a wedding, and even when you’ve got a boyfriend, girlfriend, man, or lady relationship, you possibly can, sooner or later, say you need to go your separate methods. Then you possibly can assessment your actions and your relationship. It doesn’t observe that since you parted methods, you can not come collectively. It doesn’t imply that once you come collectively, you’ll not half methods. There’s all the time a motive why some issues occur. My leaving the federal government is for my good, so far as I’m involved. Those who say we should get Olaniyan out, what have they been capable of do with getting him out?

Why was APC your alternative celebration not lengthy after you had been impeached?

The place do you assume I’d have gone?

You possibly can have determined to put low, politically…

No. I can’t lay low as a result of, once you lay low, you kill your self politically.

 Did APC promise you one thing, therefore your swift choice to hitch the celebration?

No. Bear in mind, I used to be the Oyo State Coordinator for the Asiwaju/Shettima marketing campaign council, a grassroots marketing campaign council. If I’m Mr No person, I cannot be provided that task.

 Is it true that you just spent days in Abuja lobbying arduous to change into minister, however when that didn’t occur you had been compensated with the chairmanship of a college governing council?

No, sir. Because the starting of this administration, I’ve by no means been to the Villa for as soon as. I’ve by no means despatched a word to Mr President for as soon as. So, if I need to foyer, I’ll be lobbying throughout the corridors of Aso Villa. That’s one factor some individuals don’t learn about me. Some will say that he’s proud. No. I’ve not been to Abuja or ship notes to Mr President. If I ship notes requesting to see the President, he’ll welcome me.

On the Oke-Ogun agenda for 2027, we hear that your celebration males are critically rooting for somebody from Oke-Ogun to be the following governor. Is that this a critical agenda, this time?

Completely. What do you anticipate? That agitation may be very regular. We have now 33 native governments in Oyo State. We have now 10 native governments from Oke-Ogun. We could have 28 years of democracy by 2027. Ibadan would have taken 24 years and Ogbomoso 4 years by 2027. What’s flawed in Oke Ogun comprising 10 native governments to demand to have a chew? Is it as a result of we don’t have sufficient individuals? Is it as a result of we don’t have certified individuals? Is it as a result of we don’t have someone that may match into the put up? So, what we’re asking as Oke-Ogun is regular. We have now not requested for something extraordinary.

Does Oke-Ogun even boast of the numbers to supply a governor? Ibadan zone all the time boast of getting the numbers…

Do you need to take me to a lecture room? We have now the numbers. The error a lot of you might have been making about Ibadan having the numbers is that among the many numbers Ibadan has, it’s you and me. Ibadan is a cosmopolitan city; individuals come from throughout to make up the numbers. Ijebus are among the many numbers, Egbas are amongst, different elements of the western states are amongst too. There are individuals of the Western area period, they’re additionally amongst. Hausa individuals in Sabo are amongst, the entire size of Iwo Street, comprising 90 per cent of the Igbos, is among the many numbers. Folks from different elements of Oyo State: Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Ibarapa, are among the many quantity. So, you possibly can see how the quantity got here out.

What’s there to indicate that Oke Ogun needs to forge a united entrance to realize this agenda this time?

Look, if you end up disadvantaged, if you end up disadvantaged, it would get to some extent that you’ll want to say, ‘I’ve examined myself. I can equally do that.’ And I’m certain if an Oke-Ogun man insists on getting the governorship, plenty of Ibadan individuals will take into account it. They are going to give them the prospect to show their mettle. Ibadan doesn’t hate Oke-Ogun.

 You belong to the Oyo APC, which remains to be attempting to forge a united entrance. There seems to be the Teslim Folarin and the Adebayo Adelabu factions. Which faction do you belong to?

I belong to the APC faction.

Are you conscious of the Oyo APC gladiators assembly to shelve their numerous egocentric pursuits?

There’s a Yoruba proverb that claims if you end up able to defecate, the anus will open.

What do you consider Governor Makinde operating for the presidency in 2027?

If he seems like operating, he’s a bonafide citizen of Nigeria, from the South-West. Why not, if he needs to run?

 Do you assume he can ruffle shoulders with President Bola Tinubu, who could gun for a second time period?

I’m not able to know his strengths. He has his methodology and his luck.

Are you operating for the governorship of Oyo in 2027?

Time will inform. That is the 12 months 2025. My political future is dependent upon what Almighty Allah holds for me.

Makinde talked about having a youngster succeed him as governor. Some would argue that ought to you need to contest, you don’t fall into that age bracket…

I’m a Muslim. In line with the Holy Quran, chapter 3, verses 26 to 27, God is the one one who determines who shall be what and what. Almighty God is the one one who will decide who shall be what and what, at what and what time. If God says sure, who will say no?

Nigerians are going by means of powerful instances. What’s your score of the Tinubu authorities to date?

You can not say you need to eat omelette and also you don’t need the eggs to be damaged. It’s important to break an egg to have an omelette; that’s what’s happening now. Within the final three weeks now or one month, our refineries are arising. They’re arising regularly. So, now we have to be affected person and endure. For me, I can see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel.

What’s your tackle the tax reform invoice controversies?

The tax invoice is implausible. It’s a part of the endurance trek. We have now to assume exterior the field. We can’t be doing issues as ordinary.