The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State has attributed the festering crisis over the recent review of the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law to the inordinate ambition of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja who it claimed was taking advantage of the situation to broaden his personal interest and fight needless war with his perceived political adversaries.
The APC, in statement on Tuesday by its Public Relations Officer, Olawale Sadare, condemned the role played by Ladoja in the organization and violence that greeted the installation of some village heads (Baales) and family compound heads (Mogajis) at the Popoyemoja Palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1.
“It is most unfortunate to discover that a former number one citizen of a state like Oyo who doubles as an Ibadan high chief would not mind subjecting the whole state to another social unrest just to satisfy his own whims and caprices. Sen. Rashid Ladoja has a known history of instigating resentment against people, government and institutions to derive some personal benefits as he did in 2002/2003 against the government of late Alhaji Lam Adesina.
“This time, he is up again to fight his way back to the Agodi Government House after he had tried and failed twice in 2011 and 2015. At 73, one wonders why Ladoja would start up many fights on many fronts only when another general election was approaching if not that he has his eyes on contesting election. As he is struggling to dislodge original members of the PDP in the state and usurp the party structure, Ladoja is also waging war against the APC government of Sen. Abiola Ajimobi and he has just discovered a tool in the Olubadan Palace.
“The Monday violence at Popoyemoja was a script written by Ladoja and his supporters to either whip up sentiment against the government and other members of the Olubadan-in-Council or deal with some characters within the ill-conceived political re-alignment who could stand on Ladoja’s way towards taking full control of the PDP. But we would like to urge the relevant security agencies to do the needful and unravel the mystery surrounding the unfortunate incident.
“There are many questions begging for answers; when did Ladoja become so over-bearing on the Palace that he would now dictate who to be installed as what by the Kabiyesi and even choose his birthdate for such event? Why was it that he had arranged for the presence of his own loyalists like Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin at the Palace with whom he hid somewhere until after the ‘invading gunmen’ finished their attacks?
“More importantly, the public should be informed that the protests against the recent Chieftaincy law review have largely come from politicians who are sympathetic to Ladoja cause and their supporters. However, we call on His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, to checkmate some unscrupulous politicians who lurk around and use the palace to fight political war since he would forever remain a father to all and sundry irrespective of individuals’ political and religious beliefs.” The statement added.
