Yekini Never Behaved Like A Mad Man-Are

In this interview with Akinwale Aboluwade, the proprietor of Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Ibadan, Dr. Lekan Are, who was Rashidi Yekini’s neighbour, talks about his virtues and expresses doubt that the deceased footballer was mentally unstable

So many things have been said about Rashidi Yekinni, as his neighbour, what do you know?

I have known Rashidi for a long time; I first knew him when he was playing for IICC Football Club, which later translated to IICC Shooting Stars Sporting Club of Ibadan.  We later became very close because he became my neighbour. Only a wall separated him from me. So, because he was an amiable person we lived together in peace.

When he was in Spain we used to discuss and I advised him on how to invest so that when he retired from football he would have something to fall back on. He said some friends were helping him. But when he finally relocated to Nigeria, I found that he was reluctant to think of any investment.

He told me that he had two friends who were helping him but when he came back the people, more or less, made away with his money. So, I could see that he withdrew to himself but he visited me regularly and I also went to his house. I could see that he did not trust people. That is why some people may say something was wrong. I don’t think anything was wrong with him. Also, you find that anytime Rashidi was passing by my gate he would stop and ask my guard, Haruna if I was in. If I wasn’t in he would leave a message that he was just going out. When coming back he would try to see me. He would see me if there was something to discuss.

But what about other neighbours…his relationship?

In this area we have residents association. Rashidi never failed once to pay his monthly dues. In fact, he never used to pay on monthly basis.  He may pay one year ahead of time. We encouraged a few people to pay like that; I always pay my own like that too so that we can have some money in hand to pay our security men on monthly basis. If we decide as residents to levy people for some things like we want to mount a gate or something like that you find that because Rashidi was rather shy he would not come to any meeting. He would either go to the chairman and pay or say I should help him.

 Also, if people were inconveniencing him, he bore it with dignity. But when it reached the limit he would go and lodge a complaint with the chairman. Like we found that the bungalow directly opposite him is a sort of church. At one time the people were having vigil and it was most inconveniencing because they were shouting, singing and he couldn’t sleep. He came to complain and we took it up by sending a delegation of six to advise the people to be considerate and let other people sleep. We advised that they should not be doing vigil again. That is just to show that he would not go to challenge them.

And with Shooting Stars…

When Senator Rashidi Ladoja was governor in 2004 he wanted to set up a board for the 3SC and the governor called me to nominate two people who were ex-3SC players. I nominated Eddy Ayoola and Yekini. When I came back I went to Rashidi’s house and told him I am so happy to inform him that they were setting up a board of 3SC and that I nominated you. Rashidi jumped up, he then prostrated and said baba, you shouldn’t have nominated me. I said but you are one of those we regarded highly who would help us to make sure things were good. He said no because most of the people were not there to improve the lot of 3SC. He said they were only there for what they could get. I don’t want anybody to spoil my name. He asked me if I could tell the governor to remove his name but I told him it was too late. He begged and said I should just leave him in peace because he was tired of the people. Unknown to me in the night during the news hour they must have listed the names of the people but I didn’t watch the news.

I found Rashidi in my house around 8:45am; he said I only wanted you to sleep well. I could have come at 7. I asked Rashidi if something was wrong with him? He prostrated and said sir, I am very grateful to you that you were kind to contact the governor and he removed my name.

I didn’t help him to remove his name so I went to the governor. The governor was shocked. We found that the person they asked to take the names to the television station removed his name and replaced it with somebody else’s. You see how our people behave? Some other people would have fought to all levels but Rashidi liked that.

In my compound you find peafowls – he had about 120 pigeons and some guinea fowls and antelopes. I remember the time one of the antelopes came out and one of our neighbours killed it. Rashidi was very mad about that. All of us knew he was keeping all sorts of things. I had to intercede because the person who killed it said he thought it came from the bush. Everyday all his birds ate in my compound because I have chicken which roam. We advised the people that nobody should drive more than 20km per hour. Rashidi goes out in the morning to jog; he used to drive his Mercedes car to the stadium and back. You would never see him over speeding.  It is those that they regard as normal who over speed. I don’t believe anything was wrong with him.

I met the present Attorney General of Oyo State, Mr. Adebayo Ojo, who told me that every Friday, Rashidi would bring his mat to Lawal’s mosque very near us to pray. Whatever he should do through the worship period he did properly. He would fold his mat and drive back home. I thought nothing was wrong with him. If something is wrong with somebody (mental) he would not be coherent, he would not be logical. Rashidi was always coherent and logical. One thing stands out: people had cheated him and he didn’t trust anybody. He withdrew to himself. The man was normal because a mad man would not behave the way he behaved and won’t come and seek advice but Rashidi would come.

For how long did you know him?

More than 20 years. You will remember that IICC won the African Winners Cup. If he joined IICC at that time or shortly after it, it was since that time that I have known him. It was a long time. Apart from being a very good footballer I was also a promoter because I had a club. I knew all the good players.

He once had tenants; how would you describe his relationship with them?

I wouldn’t know that. If I have tenants you can’t know how I am relating with them. But, I never heard whether or not he had problems with his tenants.

How will you react to the manner in which Rashidi was allegedly picked up by some people?

Well, the first thing I will tell you is that I was not around. If you want to know how they came to carry him it was only my security guard who can tell you. But when suddenly I heard that he died, it was my son who, anytime he came home from US, would see Rashidi and even have photographs with him. Even my son-in-law took photographs with him. It was my son who sent me mail to ask if I heard that Rashidi had died. I did not know what happened until people said that some people came to take him away by force. His lawyer who also talked a few days ago said that he would want all the circumstances investigated because he didn’t think the man died but was killed. I was not around but I cannot say much but my guard can tell you a few things about his last moments.

One of the neighbours alleged that Rashidi once set some of his old things ablaze. Are you aware of this?

I was not aware because I travelled then so if he ever burnt anything I wouldn’t know. The other thing is this; if I want to replace some things which I think may not be useful to anybody whether I burn or throw them away what does it matter? A lot of people will say whatever they like after something has happened. I never saw one day that the man acted improperly or like somebody who was not normal until last week of March when I travelled.

Many people had wondered that since Rashidi’s death nothing happened, don’t you think there should be a probe into his death?

I am in support and if you may just let us pause to hear my guard out. You have heard from the guard who said one of our neighbours saw when they came to forcefully abduct Rashidi that his mother was there. Two hefty men, a medical doctor and an Imam came and when they were trying to get hold of him he struggled and, of course, they chained him both arms and legs and he was bleeding.  He was told that the doctor gave him injection to sedate him. This was how they were able to take him away purportedly for treatment. Where they took him to and what happened I don’t know. If the mother came with them to abduct him and after he died she is now crying, to me that’s like crocodile’s tears. If she was part of the deal to forcibly take him out I don’t see why she should now be crying. This is a very sad situation.

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Posted: at 19-07-2012 01:41 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Let him rest abeg

Posted: at 19-07-2012 01:44 PM (12 years ago) | Hero

Yekini's issue is a recurring one, especially considering d mystery surrounding his death, so u can't completely rule dat out. If we don't discuss dat on NP here, it's gonna be discussed in other social platform

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Posted: at 22-07-2012 08:28 PM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac

 

Posted: at 2-08-2012 10:41 AM (12 years ago) | Addicted Hero