Call him king of drivers and you would not be mistaken, especially in Ilorin where he wields so much respect and influence for a skill that has brought him fame and recognition to dine and wine with kings and prominent personalities in the society.
In his last unpublished exclusive interview with NATIONAL PILOT, Alhaji Soliu Olarongbe, popularly known as Sariki N’ Driver of Kwara State and chief driver of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari narrated why he shunned schooling to embrace driving, his long romance with the palace and love for Saraki’s political dynasty, among others. Excerpts:
Why did you abandon education for driving?
To start with, I am from Ile-Ajarara compound, Ita-Adu in Ilorin East Local Government Area and one of the major stakeholders in my community. When I was in primary four, it got to a point that I lot passion for education and I decided to inform my father of my decision. Initially, my father thought I was joking and within me I’ve made up my mind about what I wanted to do. Unhappy with my decision, my father, who is a very close friend to late Zulukarnaini Gambari, decided to involve his friend on the issue and the late Emir sent for me. On getting to the palace, the late emir queried why I chose to take such a step and asked whether I will still further my education, but I made him realise that I’ve lost interest.
What happened next?
The late Emir put me under his care and I began to live in the palace alongside my colleagues like Alfa Saadu, Alhaji Toyin Soldier, Saadu Baba-Kobi, Tahiru, Dan Boy and others.
How did you come about the title of Seriki N’ Driver?
I learnt driving from one Alhaji Amosa Ita-Ajia and Baba Bello Motor both of whom were drivers of the late emir. The late emir deliberately put me in their care so as to learn driving and engage me positively. Meanwhile, the then chief driver, Baba Bello Motor had always vowed that anyday he was able to get his driver’s licence would be the last day he would drive the emir. One day, the late emir was about travelling to Kaduna, normally we would gather to bid him farewell but on that day he ordered me to join the entourage. It was very strange to me but I later discovered that he was doing it to engage me particularly so that I don’t get involved in any form of vices while he was away. Since then, wherever he was going, he would tell me to join the entourage. The day I got my licence, Baba Bello congratulated me and took me straight to the late emir. He handed me over to him and that was how I became the chief driver at the palace till date.
When and how did you make your breakthrough?
It was during Governor Ibrahim Taiwo’s regime as the Military administrator in Kwara State, who the late emir complained to him that he was the one paying his drivers all these years, which ought not to be so. Immediately, he raised that issue, the governor asked him to come to the Government House the following day. On getting there, I received the shock of my life when Colonel Taiwo ordered that I should be paid several years of salaries covering the period I had been driving and had been with the emir, including all the arrears. The money I received was so much that I began to cry. And on returning to the palace to present the money to the late emir, he refused to take a kobo out of it despite all my appeals. He just blessed it and told me to go with the money. It was the same money I used to build my first house, a storey building.
Will you say your father’s closeness to the late emir influenced his decision to appoint you Seriki N’Driver?
You see, then fight usually broke out between members of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), which would cause serious disturbance in the community. Several stakeholders would wade in but all to no avail until one day, the late Zulukarnaini invited them to the palace with a view to resolve the issue amicably. That was however not to be. He then told them that he has one of his sons, who is their contemporary that could be appointed as their leader to direct affairs for them. Immediately, they agreed to his submission and the late emir sent for me. When I got their, the emir introduced me as his son and that henceforth, I will lead the two associations. They all rose in joy and paid homage to the late royal father. They were so happy and I was dumbfounded. The only thing I could do immediately was to start crying. I was comforted by the emir to stop crying and that was how I became their leader.
What can you say about your retention as the Sariki N’ Driver by the present Emir, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari?
Having spent 30 solid years with the late emir at the palace before his demise, the incumbent emir after his appointment was pressurised to drop me as his chief driver but he declined. He insisted that nothing would make him change Olaroungbe as the number one driver in the palace and that has been the story till date.
What can you describe as challenges faced as the Emir’s chief driver?
There were many but God has made me to overcome them. There was a time some people went to the emir to send me out of the palace because, according to them, I am becoming too powerful and have started giving out orders outside the emir’s directives. But I appreciate God I always overcome such plots.
How did you ventured into politics?
I fell in love with the way late Dr Olusola Saraki used to practice his politics. I have not in any way or at anytime regretted taking such a step.
