Tokyo is the architect of his misfortune - Gbolarumi

Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State and Personal Assistant to the late Ibadan politician, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu. He is very close to the former chairman of the NURTW, Oyo State Chapter, Alhaji Akinsola Oluwatoki (a.k.a Tokyo). In this interview with JACKSON UDOM, he speaks on the travails of Tokyo, the PDP and the 2011 elections. Excerpts:

Political reasons have been adduced for the travails of Alhaji Akinsola Oluwatoki (aka Tokyo). As a very close person to him, do you share that idea?
I don’t agree with that. I am telling you this confidently. I will not play any game in this my comment on the travails of Alhaji Tokyo. There is nothing political as far as I know and I want you to take it. Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala has no hands in whatever the man is going through and I want you to believe me. It was all miscalculation on the part of Tokyo. We all know what happened. There is nothing wrong in you being invited by the police.When the police invited him, they met him one on one, and they said look, Alhaji Tokyo, we would like to see you at the police headquarters to shed more light on what happened. He did not go. The governor was worried and he begged Alhaji Tokyo to honour the invitation.He said he would go but along the line, he called me that his lawyer said he learnt that they have prepared a warrant of arrest on him. And I said, how can that happen, he has not been interrogated or questioned. But when the police discovered that he wanted to hold them to ransome, they decided to delare him wanted. The declaration was normal. If a former president of this country or governor could be invited by the police, why not Alhaji Tokyo? His action no doubt contributed to the belief that he knew something about it. Why are you running away from the police, you don’t need to run away if you have not done anything wrong.

Why then are some sections of Ibadan saying that he was set up by Governor Alao-Akala because of 2011?
My brother, they better seek for forgiveness from God Almighty. Honestly, you know I don’t need to hide my feelings, I am straight forward and not confrontational. Whatever happens, I will say my mind. It is not so, this is a very serious matter. Honestly, it has no political undertone.

There was a publication in the paper last week by somebody who claimed to be representing the views of Ibadan. Governor Akala and Salako were challenged to swear that they knew nothing about the travails of Tokyo.
This is very simple, the police invited Tokyo for interrogation and he didn’t go, it is an offence. Let me tell you, the police invited Alhaji Tokyo and his Executive to their headquarters and he went, the police told all of them to write an undertaking that they will maintain peace and order, Alhaji Tokyo refused to sign while all others signed. Despite that, Governor Akala sent for Alhaji Audu Lawal Marafa to go and bail everybody and bring them to the Lodge. The governor said, Alhaji Gbolarumi, you will be there with Dr Saka Balogun and myself to settle things once and for all. The governor sent for Salako, he came and said he was even sick, the governor sent for Alhaji Tokyo, he didn’t come. Eventually, Alhaji Marafa bailed everybody and brought them to the Government House. The governor prostrated, begging that for now, they should maintain peace and by the next day or day after, everything will be settled. But to the consternation of all, the following day, they went to Salako’s house and killed people. There is a classical yoruba adage that says “Aje ke lana omo ku leni tani komo pe aje to ke lana lo pomojee” So it is suspicious. And in fairness to Governor Alao Akala, he has no hands in it, honestly.

Are you saying now that Tokyo caused his problems?
Honestly. He is the architect of his misfortune. He was invited, he was asked to come for explanation and he refused. They have invited me several times to the headquarters. They said I should write statements and I did, I didn’t cause them to declare me wanted, you understand?He shouldn’t have done that honestly.The whole thing looks suspicious. Honestly, he is the architect of his misfortune. I pray that he gets out of it. I want you to take this from me.I know people will be saying that probably Akala has bought me over and that is why I am saying this. Let it be known that I have not benefitted from this government. On this issue, we need to say it as it is. If he has not done anything for me today, who knows tomorrow? I will not say because others are benefiting and I have not, I should now decide to damage him. What will I gain from that?

Let’s talk about your PDP, few weeks ago you did what was largely seen as a political abracadabra. That was not the first, second and third time you people will be reconcilling. Any cause for celebration this time around?
Let me tell you, it is like a man and his wife who had a quarel and eventually fought and deserted each other, and they now say okay, let’s reconcile. With time, they will get to know each other properly but that friendship will not be as it was initially. But with time, they will blend.

Are you saying this will be the last reconcilliation that would be done in the party?
Let’s hope so.

You are known to be an ardent critic of Senator Rasheed Ladoja, but on that day you people talked together, have you reconcilled in secret?
Senator Ladoja is my brother. He is more or less like my father, but when it comes to principles, I don’t play with it. Honestly, I don’t play with it. Whatever you are, I don’t play with principles. I will say my mind, I don’t need to criticise to destroy. I criticise constructively. So he is my big brother.

Would you say the PDP in Oyo State is intact and will deliver in 2011?
Anybody who talks about 2011 now is like a Yoruba adage that says “Eni ti koni tola ton da osu kan” you understand. We are all in the hands of Almighty God, He knows what will happen.You can’t say next year I want to buy an aircraft. It only God who knows tommorrow. We should not think of tomorrow.

The Ibadan are saying that Akala is marginalising them in the constitution of his cabinet. Do you agree?
I don’t agree with that. If you are appointed into a position today, one day you will leave. It is normal. Talking about the four new commissioners, they are all from Ibadan. Prof. Taoreed Adedoja is an Ibadan, Jelili Agboola is an Ibadan man Dr. Nureni is an Ibadan man, what are they talking about?

There are insinuations that Barrister Lana was removed as Akala’s Commisioner for Justice for an Ogbomosho man to facilitate the prosecution of Tokyo an Ibadan man. Do you share that view?
My brother, it is just a coincidence. Our problem in this country is that we don’t face the reality. Why are we doing that? It’s just a coincidence and that is the truth.I beleive I just have to say the truth because Governor Akala as a person, as far as I am concerned, has come to do his best. Some were there before, some have gone. I don’t know why people are saying Akala knows this, Akala knows that. Why Akala?

In your views, is Ibadan marginalised?
No. Just take a look at the cabinet, you will know what I am saying. It is not true.

So why are Ibadans complaining?
I dont know. These are not the Ibadan that voted Akala into power. If you study them very well, you’ll notice that they are not part of us and they did not even vote for Akala, honestly. The man who said he wrote on behalf of Ibadan might not even be speaking for Ibadan. Can any body say things on my behalf? It is not possible.

What would be your advice in a situation like this to the governor in view of all these attacks and name calling?
It is a normal situation. Some people will support and some will not. If you are a leader, you will be criticised in many areas .If you are not criticised, you might not perform. That is the way I see it. He should not because of that say that Lagbaja has offended me...He is a christian and he will not do that. Honestly, he shoud face the business of governance. There is a business language on contracts. The law of contract stipulates that every contract must be compensated. Who ever that worked for him must be compensated. That is what the law of contract says.