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JUNE 11, 2007 VOL. 21, NO. 9

A Keg of Gunpowder

**Ladoja, former governor of Oyo State**

Politicians shun Akala’s inauguration amid fresh fears of violence in the pacesetter state
By Bayo Bernard
It was uneasy calm, last Tuesday, in Ibadan the Oyo state capital as the new helmsman of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala assumed office as the eight executive governor of the pacesetter State with prominent politicians, including former governors staying away from the elaborate event, thereby raising fresh fears that months ahead may indeed be turbulent.
Although it was all colours as the Acting chief judge, Justice Olagoke Ige assisted the former deputy governor to take the oath of office, however market women, civil servants, commercial bus drivers stayed in doors, businesses were closed down for fear of any unpredictable reaction from any group or opposition.
At the Liberty stadium venue of the event, security was apparently tight to forest all any breakdown of law and order especially among members of the National union of Road Transport Worker’s, NURTW, which has recently been polorised into Ladoja and Akala factions.
However, current of forts by the police and other security services to return peace to the troubled state, after the violence that erupted in the twilight of the conduct of local government polls penultimate Thursday, may perhaps, be shortlived, considering, the events on the aftermath of the swearing-in of new council officials.
Two weeks ago, hoodlums believed to be supporters of the strongman of Ibadan politics, and a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Lamidi Adedibu turned the state into arena of violence, a coliseun so to say protesting the the conduct of the elections by the former governor, senator Rashidi Ladoja.
On the eve of the polls, the state owned broadcast outfit, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (bcos), was vandalised, an action described by the thugs to prevent the station from announcing the election programme the following day. Adedibu has since claimed responsibility for the ugly event.
Considering the protracted violence that had engulfed the cosmopolitan state, in recent months, well-meaning residents had expected the incumbent to use the occasion of his swearing in to call on warring factions to sheath their swords.
But no sooner had the governor assumed office than he announced the dissolution of local government council, an action that is now raising dusts across the state. Some of the affected council boss have vouched to resist any move capable of upturning their mandate by the Ogbomo born politician.
Incidentally, Oyo state was the only state among the 36 states in the country to conduct council polls even though the PDP, the party controlling the state had instructed the contrary.
Opposition against the PDP has continued to rise by the day. In the last House of Assembly election, opposition parties such as the Action Congress (AC), and the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) won most of the seats, a counter-balance in the hitherto PDP dominated legislature.
According to The Source’s investigations, the former governor had gone ahead to conduct council polls in order to checkmate the influence of Akala and his political godfather, Adebu whose political images have become longer than life. Perhaps, the fact that the AC and ANPP swept the council polls further confirmed the assertion of Diran Odeyemi, Special Adviser to Governor Akala that the former governor was on his way out of the PDP.
The governor’s spokesman during a recent interview told The Source that, “Ladola body and soul is no more in PDP, because all indications are clear that he is working for the AC.” He also gave a greenlight of moves by the party (PDP) to expel Ladoja, as soon as his boss settles down in office.
Meanwhile, the drum of war may have stated beating as some ‘sacked’ council bosses who owe allegiance to Ladoja are already threatening fire and brimstone, affirming their resolve to defend their mandates, using avenues under the ambit of the law and every other means possible.
One of the council bosses and a former Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Lam Adesina told Journalists in Ibadan that the council boss will rebuff Akala’s action.
According to him, the council chairmen will challenge the decision in court and seek redress to make sure that the mandate given to them is not reversed.
Instructively, section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution expressly states that nobody shall take control of local government affairs except through the ballot box. It also gives power to the state Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), to conduct elections anytime it wishes to do so.
Judging from the foregoing, trouble may soon engulf the state again as the state government has concluded plans to replace the sacked council chairmen with its own loyalists.
Conforming this to The Source, Governor Akala’s mediaman said, “the conduct of the council polls was an illegality and their position will soon be filled.” He however cited a High Court injuction that barred the Ladoja government from conducting the election, but stated that, “we don’t intend to conduct any election soon.”
Uneasy lies the head that weeps the crown, as the Akala led government battles the council chairmen to further consolidate himself in power. He is also faced with opposition from politicians in the state, who have promised to resist his government.
A group under the auspices of Ibadan Elders Forum (IEF), penultimate Wednesday, revealed the readiness of well meaning indigenes of the state to resist “some cliques of self serving individuals that have hijacked the running of the state.”
The chairman of the IEF and former Nigerian enyoy to Australia, Ambassador Olusola Sanu told journalists that the political crisis in the state is embarrasing, but said that plans are underway to confront the politicians they fingered as promoters of the mayhem and injustice in the state.
According to the former envoy, “we cannot leave politics to politicians alone because we are not ready for any kind of government in Oyo State.”
The groups resolve to confront the Akala’s government may, perhaps, not be unconnected with the fact that the April 14 election was marred by irregularities, throwing up the erstwhile deputy governor, who is not quite popular among the wide spectrum of the state, as the governor. Sanu, who led five others, including the Ashipa of Ibadanland and member of Olubadan in Council, Chief Omowale Kuye – an indication that the move has royal blessing – affirmed that they have concluded plans to confront the present political set up, until justice seen to have been done.
In what can be described as an apparent declaration of war on political gangsterism and a cabal that has held the state hostage, the Ashipa said the group will fight the present set-up in the state to a standstill.
Kuye: “An Ibadan man will always resist injustice. This is to declare that Ibadan will not tolerate a mediocre as their governor. Even the one that has been elected now, we will fight him to a standstill.”
If Akala is battling opposition from various parts of the state, his political home base Ogbomoso, is not a safe haven either. According to a reliable source who spoke to The Source, the majority of his kinsmen are not favourably disposed to the helmsman. Besides, the traditional ruler of the town, was said to have rebuffed the governor for colluding with Adedibu to remove Ladoja from office, last year January.
Also, The Source’s investigation reveals that there were moves by some politicians in the state, few weeks ago, pleading that for former President Olusegun Obasanjo to help resolve the impending crisis, before he bowed out of office, but the president was said to have reburffe such pleas.
Accordingly, The Source’s checks across diverse views in the state, indicate that the people prefer the ANPP governorship candidate in the April 14 election, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, a serving member of the National Assembly whose political profile has been on the rise in recent time. He is the only senator among the three from the state who utilised his constituency funds to create about 10,000 jobs for youths and unemployed indigenes of the state.
Incidentally, Ajimobi is the runner-up to Governor Akala in the April 14 election, and he’s currently challenging the result at the election tribunal. Considering the controversy currently raging on, in the dissolution of the third arm of government and the resolve of prominent politicians in the state to fight the incumbent to the finish, “the battle,” according to a former director of budget, Federal Ministry of Finance, and an indigene of the state, Chief Omowale Kuye, “ has just begun”.