Leader of Accord and a former governor of Oyo State, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja has told those asking if he would contest or not as election draws near to wait till 2019.
Ladoja, who is the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, also disclosed that the governorship of the state is not for indigenes of Ibadan alone.
According to the Ibadan High Chief, who spoke while featuring on a radio programme monitored by insideoyo, said that “I cannot say whether I will contest in 2019 or not. Our people should wait till that time.”
He went further to say that “I am always prepared. There is nothing to prepare for. I have re-contested twice and lost. So, there is nothing to prepare for. Just wait till 2019”.
Ladoja continued “Look at how Oba Saliu Adetunji emerged as the Olubaban. God in His mercy took away two people ahead of him within one week. So, nobody can say what can happen between now and 2019. Our prayer is that God should keep us till then.”
“My politics is not confrontational. I try to work with people. Governor Abiola Ajimobi knows what I did in 2011 to stabilize his government.
Asked if he is not running Accord in a ‘feudal’ manner, he answered: “the party is being run democratically. Accord is not revolving around me alone. I am not the State Chairman, I am not a member of the Party’s Exco.”
“We have only APC, Labour Party and Accord in Oyo State. I base my submission on the fact that these are the only parties with members in the State’s House of Assembly. That is the way I believe we should look at it.”
On forming alliances with other opposition parties, he said: “Why should we merge or form alliance with other parties? Well, we are open to parties to approach us. If we discover that our ideologies tally, we may consider and accommodate them.”
He reiterated his opposition to the chieftaincy declaration, saying that “the issue of the Olubadan chieftaincy reformation should have nothing to do with the state government. Is it because Ibadan is the capital that they are now interested in us? Let them take their capital away! People should not misconstrue what I am doing on this. The matter is strictly a battle between Ladoja and the government. I am not fighting Abiola Ajimobi.
“Chieftaincy issue should be a local issue restricted only to Ibadan and the people of Ibadanland. It should not concern the state government. If we want any kind of reform, we should decide and after that, the law says we should register our decision with the government.
“Look at when the Ooni of Ife decided to crown some of his chiefs, it was his decision, the same thing with the Ijebu and Egba monarchs. The state governments did not force this. The monarchs in council made the arrangements and informed the governments.
“If we desire to have more beaded kings in Ibadan, we will decide. The government cannot force this on us.
“The recently publicized decision of the Olubadan in Council to support the reforms being carried out by Oyo Government was not with the consent of the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji. Everybody knows this.”
Additional report from Pmparrot.
