Former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan, has opened up in regards to the occasions resulting in his impeachment on July 18, 2022, describing it as a “kangaroo” course of fuelled by backbiters throughout the authorities.
In an unique interview with The PUNCH, Olaniyan admitted to having “irreconcilable variations” with Governor Seyi Makinde however attributed his removing to people in authorities who schemed in opposition to him by spreading false narratives to tarnish his picture.
“To me, aside from when the kangaroo impeachment was began, we have been each regular. Individuals can go behind me and say plenty of issues. I can’t cease them. In case you are so highly effective that folks 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’ll’t say something behind you.
“The individuals surrounding him (Governor Makinde) felt so threatened. They felt so threatened about me and began backbiting, saying all kinds of issues behind me to the governor.
“He knew I wasn’t a foul man to him however there have been some those who have been bent on getting me out of the federal government. A few of them informed me to my face; a few of them, after my impeachment. I met one man on the airport who stated he was a type of behind the impeachment,” Olaniyan stated.
Olaniyan served as Makinde’s deputy governor till his removing in 2022 over allegations of insubordination, gross misconduct, and monetary impropriety.
The Oyo State Home of Meeting ratified the findings of a seven-man panel constituted by the Chief Decide to analyze the allegations.
Nonetheless, Olaniyan dismissed the accusations, likening them to a deliberate try to seal his destiny as deputy governor.
In accordance with Olaniyan, allegations of disloyalty, and monetary impropriety in opposition to him have been that of giving a canine a foul identify to hold him, as he famous that these behind his impeachment had afterwards confessed to their involvement within the scheming.
“You’re on this clime. You understand that once you need to stone or kill a canine, you will need to name the canine a foul identify. You will need to name the canine a foul identify 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 working after. However it’s important to name a canine a foul identify to hold it. I used to be round when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was sentenced. Did he commit the offence?” Olaniyan stated.
On alleged disloyalty to his former principal, Olaniyan stated, having been in authorities circles for a few years, he was too skilled to not perceive the import of loyalty.
“That I’m disloyal or fail to provide respect just isn’t in my dictionary. However you understand anyone can sit down and concoct something. However, I’m not embittered about my impeachment. I’m not even bitter in opposition to Seyi Makinde.
“Throughout 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 acquired to the workplace within the morning, again then, I might go to the governor’s workplace first to ask if there was any project for me.
“There may be at some point I informed the governor that there’s not one of the exco members that offers him a lot respect as I do. It is because I’ve been within the system for a protracted and I do know the which means of respecting the governor,” Olaniyan stated.
Regardless of his impeachment, Olaniyan maintained that he harboured no resentment in the direction of Governor Makinde, noting that he had by no means spoken unwell of the governor since his removing as deputy governor.
“I’ve no regrets the best way I left workplace. Since I left workplace, I’ve by no means proven or displayed any animosity in opposition to Seyi Makinde. I’ve no difficulty with Seyi Makinde, in any respect. Anyplace I meet him, I name him with respect, I greet him; we usually greet one another,” Olaniyan added.