A former Governor of Oyo State and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja has proclaimed that the governorship of the State is not the birthright of Ibadan people.
The Ibadan High Chief made this proclamation while featuring on a Splash FM 105.5 radio programme, ‘The Conversation with Seun Omo Akinola’ in Ibadan on Saturday morning.
Ladoja who did not elaborate on his position on the governorship zoning also did not directly address the issue of whether he would re-new his bid to become the governor of the state in 2019.
His response “I cannot say whether I will contest in 2019 or not. Our people should wait till that time.”
When told by the interviewer that waiting till 2019 might not give him time to prepare. His reply “I am always prepared. There is not thing 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.”
The ex-governor also spoke about his kind of politics. According to him “My politics is not confrontational. I try to work with people. Governor Abiola Ajimobi knows what I did in 2011 to stabilize his government.
When asked if he runs his party, Accord in a ‘feudal’ manner, he said no. He was quick to add “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.”
Ladoja also declared that there are only three political parties in Oyo State.
He elaborated “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.”
The former Senator also spoke on formation of alliances in the state.
His words “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.”
On the issue of Olubadan Declaration of 1944, Senator Ladoja insisted that there was nothing like that.
He reaffirmed his opposition to the move of Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s government to reform the Olubadan Chieftancy arrangement.
His words “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.”
Packaged by Alice Egbedele
