Former Oyo state governor, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for selfish reasons, a former Secretary to Oyo State government, Chief Layiwola Olakojo has claimed.
According to Nigerian Tribune, Chief Olakojo, who said despite initially disagreeing with the choice of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin as ADC’s governorship candidate, owing to Ladoja’s “devious intrigues in the build up to Lanlehin’s nomination.”
He said he was now on the same page with the likes of Dr Adebisi Busari and Chief Michael Koleoso in support of Lanlehin’s governorship bid, having realised that Lanlehin is Oyo State’s best choice.
The former SSG spoke on a radio interview monitored in Ibadan on Saturday, explaining that the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), an integral part of the ADC, which he leads, was very much ready to mobilise its members for the success of the ADC, and Lanlehin’s gubernatorial bid.
Giving reasons for his initial objection to Lanlehin’s candidature, Chief Olakojo said; “Ladoja and Koleoso brought Lanlehin to us and I recall not initially supporting Lanlehin’s bid because our group, CNM, had three members interested in the race – Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Mr Dele Adigun and Honourable Wale Adegoke.
“But later when I realised that Lanlehin is a gentleman and a good listener too, and having sorted all areas of misunderstanding, I agreed and I’m fully backing him.
“But Ladoja, who had the bulk of candidates ceded to his group; 16 out of 32 assembly seats, four out of 14 federal representatives and one out of three senators, and the most important position of all, the governor, yet still left, how best can one describe such man, if not selfish?” Olakojo continued.
Chief Olakojo also berated the All Progressives Congress (APC-led) state government for what he called abysmal failure in education, to the point where the state ranked 26th in WAEC examinations.