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Tag: Ladoja

  • Why I am running for PDP chairman – Ladoja

    …Says he is waiting for his time as Olubadan

    A former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, has said his decision to join the chairmanship race of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was to return the former ruling party to its winning ways.

    The former governor also disclosed that he would not contest the 2019 governorship election in the state.

    Ladoja, who recently rejoined the party, disclosed this while speaking on an Ibadan-based radio station, Fresh FM, on Saturday. He explained that he had personal reasons for not joining the next governorship race.

    According to him, he was inching closer to the the throne of the Olubadan, a position he desires to occupy if God permits. He is currently the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land. Ladoja said he has other reasons to leave the stage for others because he has done enough in Oyo politics.

    The former governor said he took the decision in 2015 but that his former party, Accord, forced him to join the race because of his goodwill and popularity.

    Ladoja, who was emphatic about his decision, said he has had enough of the governorship race, pointing out that it was part of the reasons he joined the national chairmanship race of the PDP. He said that he would not have joined the chairmanship race if he still intended to contest for the governorship in 2019.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Ladoja was governor of the state from 2003 to 2007 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He joined the Accord Party in 2010 and contested under his new party in 2011 and 2015. He lost to the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in the two elections. But he insisted that he won the last election, stressing that he lost at the tribunal only on technical grounds.

    Ladoja explained that his main agenda for seeking to be PDP’s national chairman is to right the wrongs of the past by creating a level-playing ground for all aspirants for all positions in elections across Nigeria. “I was a victim of that. I am contesting to ensure that no other party member falls victim of that. I will instill confidence in everybody by ensuring there is a level-playing ground for every party member in all parts of Nigeria,” he said

    Ladoja said the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not have won the last presidential election if the PDP embraced internal democracy. He explained that the PDP governors who joined the APC did so because of lack of internal democracy. He also denied claims by his former deputy, Adebayo Alao-Akala, that he (Ladoja) won the governorship election only at the time they worked together. Ladoja said he won because of his large following.

     

  • Chieftaincy review: Ajimobi meets Buhari in Aso Rock, reports Olubadan, Ladoja

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Tuesday met President Muhammadu Buhari in his office in Aso Rock to report the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and former governor Rashidi Ladoja.

    Ajimobi told State House correspondents that he called the President’s attention to the face-off between him and the monarch over the recently reviewed Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.

    He said he also called the President’s attention to the fact that the crisis created by the review had been politicised, having been hijacked by a politician who is interested in his office.

    The governor said he, however, assured Buhari that although the Olubadan deserved to be deposed based on his actions, he would not remove him because of the father-son relationship between them.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the feud between the governor and the Olubadan had thickened following the governor’s elevation and coronation of some chiefs as kings in Ibadanland.

    However, the governor had reiterated at the coronation ceremony that the newly coronated kings are all under the Olubadan.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Olubadan had also challenged the coronation describing it as illegal.

     

    Details later…

  • 2019: Ladoja backs Fasoye’s presidential ambition

    A former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashid Ladoja, on Saturday declared support for Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who aims to be Nigeria’s president come 2019.

    After a meeting with Fayose, Ladoja today backed the governor’s bid to contest in the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Despite the party has zoned the presidential ticket to the North while the Southwest is to produce the National Chairman. Fayose, who is the chairman of the PDP Governor’s Forum, is from the Southwest.

    But Ladoja, while affirming that he was returning to the PDP, said that Fayose had the fundamental rights to contest for the nation’s number one seat.

    “Governor Fayose is my own brother and he is a go-getter. Whatever he sets his mind to achieve, he goes for it and he gets it. He is eminently qualified and possesses all the leadership capabilities to rule Nigeria and take us out of the woods.

    “Some people in the PDP have said that they have zoned the presidency to the north, but it is left for Fayose to convince the members in the PDP to support him for his presidential ambition. He is fit for it judging from his antecedents as a quintessential leader in the country.

    “I also want to advise the party leadership to use zoning of the presidency in a way that would guarantee the PDP winning the election in 2019 and not as a way of favouring some individuals who may not be ready for the job.”

    Ladoja said the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti should perish the thought of taking over power from the PDP in 2018.

    He also expressed confidence that the PDP would take over power from APC in Oyo in 2019, saying Governor Abiola Ajimobi had lost relevance, especially, with kingship crisis.

    “The whole charade would not stand and cannot stand as our tradition, norms and regulations in Ibadan recognizes only Olubadan as the custodian of Obaship title and one who can confer it on anyone.”

    “Fayose has performed excellently well in governing Ekiti. There is no governor in this country today who can beat his chest two times and say my state came tops for two consecutive times in NECO.

  • Chieftaincy review: Thousands of Ajimobi cannot stop me from becoming Olubadan – Ladoja

    …says I remain Osi Olubadan of Ibadan

    The Osi Olubadan of Ibadan and former Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja has said the recent review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration law by the incumbent governor, Abiola Ajimobi cannot stop him from becoming the Olubadan of Ibadan land if God so wishes.

    Ladoja also said he was the prime target of the entire review process.

    The former governor said he was asked to either “join in the mockery of obaship and agree to be made a government-appointed oba” or forfeit his right to the throne.

    In a statement by his media aide, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, the former governor said he remained the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan, adding that he would neither agree to being a government-appointed oba without a domain, chiefs and subjects nor “support an attempt at desecrating the Olubadan throne”.

    The statement said: “High Chief Ladoja believes that only God chooses the Olubadan, as clearly demonstrated in the divine enthronement of the current Olubadan, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who was three steps to the throne. May God lengthen the years and reign of Oba Adetunji in sound health.

    “We will like to make it abundantly clear that thousands of Ajimobi can’t stop Ladoja from becoming the Olubadan, if it is the will of God.

    “People continue to ask the question: why the mockery of obaship in Ibadan is the most important thing to Ajimobi, of all the challenges facing his government? It is now clear that Ajimobi has found in this futile exercise, a distraction from his six years of misgovernment in the state.

    “Ajimobi is using temporary executive power for ego trip and feels that he is humiliating perceived enemies and playing God. Why should the governor turn himself into a kingmaker, ignoring the long-established peaceful, self-reforming chieftaincy system of Ibadan, which has become the envy of many cities because it is rancour-free?

    “Today (August 29) makes it exactly 21 months to the expiry of Ajimobi’s governorship. The state will surely be free from the stranglehold of the Emperor and the office will outlive the officer. Very soon, Ajimobi’s portrait will join those of ex-governors hung on the wall of the Executive Council Chambers. Whatever has a beginning must have an end.

    “Again, we will like to appeal to the people of Ibadan to remain calm and peaceful, even in the face of provocation, as this misuse of power, pursuit of vendetta and bastardisation of a rancour-free process will be challenged to the end through constitutional and peaceful means.

    “High Chief Ladoja is already in court over the matter and we await a judicial pronouncement on it soon. Ajimobi, who set up a panel disregarding Ibadan traditional system, received its report and interpreted its recommendations to suit his selfish agenda against the popular wish of the people of Ibadan and the Olubadan. This is laughable.

    “Without recourse to the House of Assembly, which has the constitutional duty to make or amend laws, he has appropriated legislative function and added such to his Executive role. This charade can’t obviously pass a judicial challenge.

    “We ask him to enjoy the remaining months of his governorship while it lasts.

    “We wish to remind him that he has booked an unenviable chapter for himself in the annals of the history of Ibadan and posterity will be judge him.”

     

  • Olubadan kicks as Ajimobi presents conferment letters to Ladoja, 29 others as new Obas in Ibadan

    …Ladoja shuns ceremony, says we’ll challenge Ajimobi’s decision in court

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Friday shocked many as he presented letters of conferment of obaship titles to 30 high chiefs and baales.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the new obas are among the 32 recommended for the position by the Justice Akintunde Boade panel that reviewed the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration. Nine of the obas are members of the Olubadan-in- Council.

    They include HRM Oba (Sen.) Lekan Balogun, who doubles as Otun Olubadan; HRM Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakuleyin, Balogun of Ibadanland; HRM Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, Osi Balogun of Ibadanland; HRM Oba Eddy Oyewole, Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland; and HRM Oba Abiodun Kola- Daisi, Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland,. The rest are: HRM Oba Latifu Gbadamosi Adebimpe, Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland; HRM Oba Amidu Ajibade, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland and HRM Oba (Dr.) Kolawole Adegbola, Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland.

    Former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja who was also nominated for elevation was however absent. The remaining 21 obas were,until Friday that they got their letters, baales. The Olubadan,Oba Saliu Adetunji is fiercely opposed to the new dispensation,dismissing it as a joke carried too far. Senator Ladoja who was absent having gone to court to seek an order to aside the panel’s recommendations. Also absent was the Otun Balogun, High Chief Femi Olaifa,who died at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan yesterday morning. He was Special Adviser on Parastatals to Second Republic President Shehu Shagari.

    The letter dated August 25, 2017 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters, Mrs. Olawunmi Ogunesan, said the confirment of the new titles takes effect from “Friday, 25th, August, 2017” The letter explained that the conferment qualifies each of the new obas to wear a royal beaded crown and addressed as His Royal Majesty while each of the newly promoted 21 baales will be addressed as “His Royal Highness”. The Olubadan of Ibadan will be addressed as His Imperial Majesty in the new order. Government ,in the letter, says it derives its authority from Section 28(I) Cap. Vol. 1 of the Chiefs Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000, the recently amended 1959 Declaration of Olubadan, relevant Chieftaincies in Ibadanland and the Government White Paper as conveyed in Ibadanland, in Government Gazzette No 14, Notice 27 Vol. 42 of 23rd August, 2017.

    It added:”The Governor, His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has graciously approved the conferment of obaship on you with effect from Friday, 25th August, 2017. “By this conferment, you shall henceforth wear a royal beaded crown in line with the provisions of the amendments.” Some of the 22 baales promoted to obaship status include the Oniroko of Iroko, Onikereku of Ikereku, Olodo of Olodo, Alaba of Abanla, Onilagun of Lagun and Elegbeda of Egbeda. Others are Alakaran of Akanran, Alajia of Ajia, Onido of Iddo, Alawotan of Awontan, Onijaye of Ijaye, Alakufo of Akufo, Olofa-Igbo of offa Igbo, Oloke of Okelade-Akin, Olugbon of Ile-Igbon and Ologburo of Ogburo Governor Abiola Ajimobi said the coronation and presentation of instrument of office will come up tomorrow, at Mapo Hall where all the crowns will be on display.

    The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alh. Olalekan Alli, said the new status is in the best interest of Ibadanland and the state, adding that it would not undermine the powers or status of the Olubadan in any way. The Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy matters, Mr. Bimbo Kolade, said the newly promoted obas are to wear smaller crowns that will not demean that of the Olubadan in any way. Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Oba Lekan Balogun thanked the governor for his doggedness and commitment to ensuring the implementation of a long overdue effort. He promised that the new monarchs would work with the state government to bring rapid development to the people, Ibadanland and the state as a whole. Earlier at a press conference yesterday,the new obas said the governor was in order and that the new dispensation will enhance the honour and influence of Ibadan as a city.

    Oba Balogun who spoke for them said the review enjoyed the support of wellmeaning Ibadan indigenes who would love to see the throne of the Olubadan attain the title of ‘imperial majesty’ in its real sense. Balogun explained that the review would not erode the authority of the Olubadan because he will remain the head of all other traditional rulers and title holders in the entire Ibadan land. Balogun also emphasized that the review would not affect the ascendancy system as the high chiefs will continue to move up the ladder until the lucky one mounts the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadan land. He said all other obas will remain under the authority of the Olubadan, adding that the baales who are being elevated also deserve the promotion because of their historical background.

    However, former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja who was also nominated said the development was against the law and contempt of court.

    When contacted, the former governor told newsmen: “I’m sure you are aware that I am in court to prove that the government does not have the right to interfere in the Olubadan chieftaincy matter,” he said when contacted yesterday. “And I am sure government has been served court processes because the Attorney General (AG) was in court for hearing on Monday. “The AG said nothing would be done. So, I’m not interested in anything they are doing because it is illegal. Ibadan chieftaincy issue is a native, local law, not a state law. So, it is the business of Ibadan people.”

     

  • Adeleke’s victory marks end of civilian dictatorship in South-West politics – Ladoja

    Adeleke’s victory marks end of civilian dictatorship in South-West politics – Ladoja

    Former Governor of Oyo State and National Leader of Accord Party, Rashidi Ladoja, has described the victory of Dr. Demola Adeleke, Senator-elect for Osun West District in the Saturday’s by-election as the end of civilian dictatorship in South-West politics.

    Ladoja in a statement signed by publicity secretary of the party described Adeleke’s victory as “a good omen for both Accord and PDP in both Oyo and Osun States said the success “signals the end of civilian dictatorship in South-West politics.”

    The former governor noted that Adeleke’s victory in Saturday’s by-election has further positioned his party, Accord “to cleanse Oyo State of APC negative change by ensuring the party serves as a rallying point to defeat the Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s surrogate that may be fielded by APC in 2019 elections”.

    The statement partly reads: “Accord which is the biggest opposition party in Oyo State has further commended the biggest opposition party in Osun State, PDP, and the people for doing the needful by recording a resounding victory over APC candidate in the Osun West Senatorial election and hope to completely wipe out APC from Osun State political landscape in 2018.

    He, however, urged the Senator-elect not to desist from the good virtues that the Adelekes are known for years.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday announced Mr Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the winner of the Osun West Senatorial bye-election.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the election was held in 10 local government areas making up the district.

  • Money laundering: EFCC re-arraigns former Gov. Ladoja, aide

    Money laundering: EFCC re-arraigns former Gov. Ladoja, aide

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday re-arraigned a former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over N4.7 billion money laundering.

    Ladoja is charged alongside his former aide, Waheed Akanbi, on eight counts bordering on the alleged offence.

    The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    After their pleas, the Prosecutor, Mr Oluwafemi Olabisi, asked the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.

    In response, defence counsel, Mr Bolaji Onilenla and Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, informed the court of their clients’ bail applications.

    Onilenla, representing Ladoja, urged the court to allow his client to continue on the bail conditions earlier granted him in 2008 by Justice A.R. Mohammed.

    He submitted that the first accused had kept good faith with the terms and conditions of the bail and that there was no single incidence of default.

    He assured the court that his client will “behave himself’’ and make himself available for trial.

    According to Onilenla, in case the court is not inclined to allowing Ladoja to continue with the previous bail, then the court should grant bail on liberal terms.

    Counsel to the other accused, Olumide-Fusika, also aligned himself with the submissions of Onilenla.

    The prosecutor objected to the bail application and urged the court to refuse the same on the grounds that the accused had frustrated trial for years through their appeals challenging the competence of the charges.

    Ruling, Justice Mohammed Idris, held that the court could not deny the accused bail on account of exercise of their constitutional rights of appeal, resulting in the delay of the case.

    The court added that there was no evidence that the accused breached the terms of the bail granted them eight years ago.

    The court therefore, allowed the accused to continue with the bail as granted by Justice A.R. Mohammed eight years ago.

    Idris held: “It is not out of place for this court to revalidate the order of A.R. Mohammed J’’.

    He adjourned the case to Feb. 14, 15 and 16, 2017 for commencement of trial.

    Recall that Ladoja was granted bail on Sept. 5, 2008, in the sum of N100 million with two sureties in like sum.

    In the charge marked FHC/L/336C/08, the EFCC alleged that the duo conspired to convert properties and resources derived from an illegal act, with the intention of concealing their illicit origin.

    The anti-graft agency also alleged that Ladoja used N42 million out of the proceeds to purchase an Armoured Land Cruiser Jeep, and remitted about £600,000 to one Bimpe Ladoja in London.

    The offences are said to have contravened the provisions of sections 14 (a) and 17 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004