WHY ABACHA BANISHED ME FOR 4 YEARS – OLURIN
Former Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Commander, General Adetunji Idowu Olurin yesterday revealed why the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha banished him for four years.
Olurin, a leading Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant from Ogun West Senatorial District, spoke during his endorsement and presentation by the Yewa/Awori Elders to the Olu-in-Council, in Ilaro, the political headquarters of Yewa-Awori.
According to the former ECOMOG commander, he was banished against his wish for four years by Abacha because of his fear that I had enough troop to topple his government.
His words: 'I was banished from Lagos to Ebute Igboro, near Ojo Odan for years because he (Abacha) feared that as a returnee ECOMOG Commander, I had enough troop to topple his government. I thank God today that I am alive to narrate this story.
'It is good to allow the will of God to prevail on certain issues. As a military man, I had no option than to accept the banishment as an act of fate.'
He described the soldiers as the best politicians saying: 'We understand the nitty-gritty of politics and we are usually meticulous about it. However, the dexterity of a tiger is never an act of cowardice,' he stated.
Olurin, who restated his determination to lead his people as well as the entire Ogun State during the forthcoming election, promised to run a transparent government.
'Let me tell you, my fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and others, with your co-operation and assistance, I shall run a transparent government where social amenities will be provided.
'The experience is there for me to turn our dear state around. Together, we shall take Ogun State to another greatness.'
He cautioned those he said were fanning embers of religious crisis to desist from such a thing saying: 'The issue at stake is not about religion. It is not about name calling or dropping. It is about the reality that experience matters in who governs our dear state in the forthcoming political dispensation.
'Let us be wary of those people who sit somewhere and attempt to fan the embers of religious crisis. We should not associate with them so that they will not bring crisis into our peaceful state.
He recalled his tenure as a military governor in the old Oyo State during which the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade were at loggerheads. 'It took the grace of God to resolve the crisis which taught me a lot of lesson. We must not allow them to make the governorship race a religion matter. Neither Christians, Muslim or even traditionalist can do it alone without the co-operation of others.'
On his relationship with Governor Gbenga Daniel, Olurin said: 'I have no problem with Daniel. He is aware of my gubernatorial ambition and let me tell you, there is nothing I do without his backing. This is a project that I can assure you that I will not abandon you mid-way. There is no going back on this, by God's grace.'
The leader of the Yewa/Awori Elders Forum, Chief Ishola Olateju, who spoke on behalf of other elders, urged Olurin to remain steadfast in his desire to rule the state. 'We are solidly behind you, nothing harmful shall come your way,' he stated, assuring him that his emergence had the blessings of the paramount rulers of Egba, Ijebu and Remo respectively.