A security chief wrote Abacha that I was head of NADECO’s military wing Oyinlola A security chief wrote Abacha that I was head of NADECO’s military wing Oyinlola
•‘I tried waking up my mother after she died’
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Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola retired from the Nigerian Army as a Brigadier-General. He served as a former Military Administrator of Lagos State and was elected as a civilian governor of Osun State. In this interview by ADEOLU ADEYEMO, to mark his 70th birthday, he speaks on his life journey, including military career, politics, as well as the present All Progressives Congress (APC) administration. Excerpts:
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I will tell you a story. When Abacha was scheming to transmute to a civilian president and opposition to his schemes mounted from the South West, the system descended on Yorubas in the Federal Service. They were being systematically removed. I was the MILAD (Military Administrator) of Lagos and, one day, I met the late Ooni Okunade Sijuwade and discussions veered off to this matter. I told him that it was the crack in Yoruba’s wall caused principally by the quarrel between him and the Alaafin that was responsible for the lack of respect and fear for the Yoruba. I told him that if they spoke with one voice, the whole country would be afraid to touch any of their children who were then suffering persecution. The Ooni asked me what I thought he should do. I told him he and Alaafin should resolve their differences. The Ooni said he was ready. I phoned the Alaafin but I could not reach him. So, I sent my protocol officer, Ayilara, from Lagos to Oyo to deliver the message to Alaaf