Embattled Chairman
of Oyo State chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW),
Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, popularly called Tokyo has revealed that he has
personal regrets over the death of the late strong man of Ibadan politics,
Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu.
of Oyo State chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW),
Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, popularly called Tokyo has revealed that he has
personal regrets over the death of the late strong man of Ibadan politics,
Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu.
During an exclusive interview with Saturday
Independentat his residence in Ibadan, Tokyo stated that the late
politician was his benefactor. “What I am passing through today wouldn’t have
been if Adedibu was still alive. He was a man who stood for justice. Never,
none of these people troubling me today as Oyo NURTW chairman would have had
their way.”
Independentat his residence in Ibadan, Tokyo stated that the late
politician was his benefactor. “What I am passing through today wouldn’t have
been if Adedibu was still alive. He was a man who stood for justice. Never,
none of these people troubling me today as Oyo NURTW chairman would have had
their way.”
Judgments from both the Federal Industrial Court and Federal
High Court in Ibadan had affirmed him as chairman of Oyo NURTW, a position the
state government and the security agencies in the state are yet to come to
terms with.
High Court in Ibadan had affirmed him as chairman of Oyo NURTW, a position the
state government and the security agencies in the state are yet to come to
terms with.
Reinstating his faith in the judiciary to pursue the case to
logical conclusion, he said: “I have God on my side. If Alhaji Adedibu had not
died I would not have been suffering all these injustices because he was the
type that would not allow injustice to prevail no matter what. If the immediate
past governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala had not dabbled into Oyo NURTW
affairs, maybe he would have won second term election.
logical conclusion, he said: “I have God on my side. If Alhaji Adedibu had not
died I would not have been suffering all these injustices because he was the
type that would not allow injustice to prevail no matter what. If the immediate
past governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala had not dabbled into Oyo NURTW
affairs, maybe he would have won second term election.
“When Senator Rashid Ladoja became governor in 2003, they also
cooked up an allegation against me. Funny enough, they said in 2001 somebody
was missing and that I was the one that was responsible for the act. Well, I
asked them did I fry the person as meat or used him for money rituals? I was
arrested by the police. They refused me bail. I was incarcerated for 30 months
at Agodi Prison in Ibadan.
cooked up an allegation against me. Funny enough, they said in 2001 somebody
was missing and that I was the one that was responsible for the act. Well, I
asked them did I fry the person as meat or used him for money rituals? I was
arrested by the police. They refused me bail. I was incarcerated for 30 months
at Agodi Prison in Ibadan.
“When Ladoja was impeached as governor, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu
got a lawyer to secure my bail through the court. Later, I was discharged and
acquitted of the allegation. Ladoja had installed somebody called “Power” to
take over my seat as chairman while I was being detained. I sued them to court.
The court nullified Ladoja’s action and reinstated me. I was reelected as
chairman afterwards for second term.”
got a lawyer to secure my bail through the court. Later, I was discharged and
acquitted of the allegation. Ladoja had installed somebody called “Power” to
take over my seat as chairman while I was being detained. I sued them to court.
The court nullified Ladoja’s action and reinstated me. I was reelected as
chairman afterwards for second term.”
However Tokyo would not foreclose reconciliation with Governor
Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State whom he claimed he was prevailed upon by Alaafin of
Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and prominent Ibadan businessman, Alhaji Arisekola
Alao, to support saying “I will support him provided he allows me to continue
my job unhindered. Without that, I won’t back him for anything. I have court
judgment. I don’t want to resort to violence.
Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State whom he claimed he was prevailed upon by Alaafin of
Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and prominent Ibadan businessman, Alhaji Arisekola
Alao, to support saying “I will support him provided he allows me to continue
my job unhindered. Without that, I won’t back him for anything. I have court
judgment. I don’t want to resort to violence.
“Rule of law brought Ajimobi to power so he should allow the
same rule to stay. It has never happened in Oyo State. It may have been
happening in other states. It was when Eleweomo and Auxiliary came on board
through the help of ex- governor Adebayo Alao-Akala that all these began to
happen.
same rule to stay. It has never happened in Oyo State. It may have been
happening in other states. It was when Eleweomo and Auxiliary came on board
through the help of ex- governor Adebayo Alao-Akala that all these began to
happen.
“ I don’t smoke or take any drug nor do I harbour anyone that
deals with all these things. I have never killed anybody in my life. I am a
faithful Muslim and I believe only in the teaching of the Holy Quran. If
anybody is after me, I will never resort to self-help, rather I will go on my
knees and pray to God to avenge my cause.
deals with all these things. I have never killed anybody in my life. I am a
faithful Muslim and I believe only in the teaching of the Holy Quran. If
anybody is after me, I will never resort to self-help, rather I will go on my
knees and pray to God to avenge my cause.
“I will overcome all the forces against me by the grace of the
almighty Allah. I was only entitled to N25, 000 a month as chairman and N15,
000 for each of my executives. I have fleet of cars that plies several states,
but all of them have been grounded since crisis with the government started.
Now I cannot eat what I want. I only eat whatever is available now,” he said.
almighty Allah. I was only entitled to N25, 000 a month as chairman and N15,
000 for each of my executives. I have fleet of cars that plies several states,
but all of them have been grounded since crisis with the government started.
Now I cannot eat what I want. I only eat whatever is available now,” he said.
Source: Daily Independent
