The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ladoja

  • Ladoja, family, friends blew N1.9b shares proceeds – EFCC

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday heard that a former Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, allegedly failed to remit N1.9billion realised from the sale of the state’s shares.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the court that the money allegedly went to Ladoja, his family and friends and was not refunded.

    An EFCC investigator, Abubakar Madaki, testifying in Ladoja’s trial, alleged that the former governor unilaterally gave instructions in 2007 that the shares be sold.

    He said the shares, worth N6.6billion, were sold without the state executive council’s resolution.

    The investigator said Ladoja engaged Fountain Securities as a portfolio manager to sell the shares at a discounted rate, adding that the shares were acquired by McLace Securities.

    “In the course of our investigation, about N500million was recovered from McLace Security, Fountain Securities and other stockbrokers.

    “The balance could not be recovered because some of those who purchased the shares were not even stockbrokers as highlighted by the report of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

    Read also: Oyo director’s absence stalls Ladoja’s money laundering trial

     “Part of the proceeds was used to offset the four cars given to the first accused (Ladoja), which he confirmed. That too, the first accused has not refunded the value of the cars neither did his family members and associates refund what was given to them. All these were part of the proceeds.

    “I can name the cars for clarity. There is a jeep; there is a bus and two cars out of the cars supplied to members of the House of Assembly loyal to the first accused when he was governor.

    “All these were paid for with the proceeds of the shares. The first accused confirmed this in his statement; he promised to make a refund then but as at today, he has not done so,” Madaki said.

    Ladoja is standing trial for alleged N4.7billion fraud involving state funds. EFCC arraigned him alongside his Commissioner for Finance, Waheed Akanbi.

     

  • Senator to Ladoja: stop playing God with Oyo PDP

    The leadership crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened yesterday.

    A former Senate Deputy Chief Whip Hosea Ayoola Agboola took a swipe at former Governor Rashidi Ladoja for threatening to leave the party should its National Working Committee (NWC) carry out the proposed harmonisation of the State Executive to address perceived lop-sidedness in the executive.

    He urged Ladoja to stop playing God because he cannot stop the Almighty from carrying out His purpose.

    Ayoola, who was the only PDP lawmaker in the Southwest between 2011 and 2015, was answering questions on a Yoruba current affairs programme on Splash FM in Ibadan, the state capital.

    The senator said only God grants power to whoever He wishes.

    The ex-lawmaker, who feigned ignorance about the crisis in Oyo PDP, became enraged when an interview clip earlier granted by Ladoja was played to his hearing that people like him had no strong followership in the party.

    Ayoola said: “I am surprised that he said what I just heard from this clip.”

    The politician, who is popularly called Alleluyah, delved into Biblical passage, saying: “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you (Hebrews 13:17).”

    The senator said only God enthrones leaders, adding that without Ladoja “who says the party cannot win the 2019 race?”

  • Ibadan Obas to Ladoja: you can’t stop us

    The 21 obas enthroned in Ibadan metropolis last year have said former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja cannot stop them from wearing beaded crowns because they have appealed the judgment that sacked them.

    Ladoja had attacked the obas on a radio programme on Monday, asking them to stop wearing beaded crowns and parading themselves as obas because of a court verdict that nullified their enthronement.

    But rising from a meeting at the Oja’ba palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan yesterday, the new obas assured the former governor that they would not stop wearing their crowns because their appeal against the January 11 judgment meant that the status quo ante remained.

    They accused Ladoja of vendetta, saying he was opposed to their elevation because he did not succeed in the review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration when he was governor.

    They said Ladoja was always sponsoring crises.

    The obas urged Ladoja to stop his opposition to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who they said had succeeded in many areas above him.

    Addressing reporters after the meeting, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, the Osi Balogun of Ibadan, noted that what Ladoja said was inconsistent with the law.

    He said: “There was no declaration that we should not wear our crowns. We have appealed the judgment. I wore my crown to Kano and no policeman can arrest me because of that. The status quo remains since we have appealed the judgment. What Ladoja is in court over is mere ruse.

    “The Olubadan of Ibadan is our father. Ladoja is only fighting a war of vendetta. On December 5, 2005, Ladoja made a publication in Nigerian Tribune where he had appointed 47 obas in Ibadan. It was signed by Chief Ayodele Adigun on December 23, 2005. The fact that he was unable to carry it out but Governor Ajimobi was able to do it is what is paining him. Ajimobi meant well. We have been crowned and nobody can change that.”

    Buttressing the position, Oba Amidu Ajibade Salaudeen, the Ekarun Olubadan, said: “We have been crowned and nobody can remove it. Why didn’t Ladoja implement what he had published? No governor has ever done so much as Ajimobi. Former Military Governor David Jemibewon crowned Oba Adebimpe, just as Ajimobi has done for us.

    “Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Imperial Majesty and Olubadan of Ibadan, is our father, and we appreciate that. But whoever wants to destroy the peace of Ibadan will not succeed.

    “We appeal to Ladoja to please cooperate with our governor for peace to reign.”

    Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Balogun Olubadan, remarked: “Everywhere Ladoja is, he always want to destroy it… Since we have gone to Appeal Court, the status quo remains. So, nobody can restrain us from wearing our crowns.”

    Oba Lekan Balogun, who is the Head of the Olubadan-in-Council, urged Ladoja, who he described as “my other brother,” to “let bygone be bygone and allow peace to reign”.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ladoja can’t intimidate Oyo PDP, says Oyelese

    A former Minister of Mines and Power and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Wole Oyelese, has decried the threat by former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja to dump the party.

    Oyelese emphasised that Ladoja cannot intimidate the party.

    The former minister said bad history was repeating itself in Oyo State PDP.

    In a statement he signed yesterday, Oyelese said: “At a time the people of Oyo State, irrespective of party affiliation, are looking up to the PDP to liberate them from the clueless administration and gruesome misrule of the APC in the state, it is sad that an individual would now decide to threaten the party with his exit unless things are done his way, as if the 2019 electoral fortune of the party solely depends on him.”

    The former minister advised PDP’s national leadership not to be perturbed by what he called Ladoja’s empty threat, but to cooperate with himself and other party leaders to arrest the drift.

    He said: “They should not be bothered by the threat, as it may, after all, be a great blessing. If Chief Ladoja is prepared to be part of the collective leadership arrangement that would be put in place and which will, by the grace of God, resolve all outstanding issues, then he is still welcome in the PDP. Any attempt by him to lord it over the party and major stakeholders will definitely not work.

    “It is common knowledge in Oyo State that the overbearing attitude of Senator Ladoja led to the refusal of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala to join the PDP. It was also responsible for the exit of Dele Adigun, a former strong ally of Chief Ladoja, who had earlier joined the PDP through my intervention. I arranged Dele Adigun’s joining the PDP with Dr. Olafeso, but Dele was not comfortable with Chief Ladoja’s leadership style.

    “One may ask why Dr Bukola Ajaja (a former member of the House of Representatives) and her group refused to join the PDP, preferring instead to remain in the Accord Party. It is this same attitude of driving people away from the party. One wonders what it will take Senator Ladoja to take a critical look at his political style, which also led to the decimation of the Accord Party.

    “I have no doubt in my mind that the people mentioned earlier and many more political leaders in Oyo State will move over to the PDP, if Senator Ladoja goes through with his threat.”

    Oyelese said Ladoja would learn the greatest and most bitter lesson of his political life if he leaves the PDP, adding that the parameters that helped him in 2011 are no longer there.

    He added: “One would have thought that the experience of 2015, when a lame duck governorship candidate was wickedly foisted on the Oyo State PDP, was enough lesson for everybody. Some people, at that time, insisted on having the party their way, instead of listening to well-meaning party leaders who were on the ground in Oyo State.

    “The rest, as they say, is now history. The party cheaply gave the state to the APC in an election we had no business losing. Now, unfortunately, we are at it again in another form.”

    The former minister recalled that when he set the final process in motion for Ladoja to dump Accord for the PDP, he meant well for the party.

    According to him, he believes everyone has something to contribute in building a virile PDP in Oyo State.

    Oyelese added: “The fruitful discussion that I set up between Chief Adewolu Ladoja and Dr. Eddy Olafeso led to Chief Ladoja giving his condition for joining the PDP. He had, at that time, requested for the national leadership to discuss with him. It was that request that led Dr. Olafeso to facilitate the visit of Senator Ahmed Makarfi and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to Oyo State. That visit led to Chief Lodoja joining the PDP. At no time during discussions was it said that the control of the party would be given to him or any other individual.”

  • Don’t dump PDP, Seyi Makinde tells Ladoja

    AS a former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja shops for a new party to join, a co-chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr Seyi Makinde, has urged him to reconsider his decision to dump the party again.

    Makinde, who spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, through his Seyi Makinde Organisation, reminded the former governor of his leadership role and the collective desire of = Oyo State residents for a change through 2019 elections.

    The statement by Prince Dotun Oyelade said his advice was that of a son to his father to stay back and continue with the party they both built together.

    Ladoja is threatening to leave the PDP because of the harmonised list of the State Executive newly released by the national leadership of the party.

    In the list, 14 positions were given to the Makinde bloc while Ladoja’s bloc retained the remaining 16.

    The former governor and his supporters are not happy that their hold on the party was halved by the national leadership to promote a sense of belonging.

    Ladoja and his supporters have set up a committee to shop for a new party.

    Accord Party, where they left for the PDP in 2010, is not an option, it was learnt.

    Makinde said: “I am privileged to be referred to as one of your political sons and which you yourself confirmed on a radio programme two days ago. Therefore, as a true son of a valiant father, I hereby humbly but strongly appeal to you not to contemplate leaving the house we are jointly trying to roof, just before the raining season.”

    Makinde added that such a decision, coming from a tested leader, would confuse the people as majority of party members and the masses in Oyo State were excited about the prospect of a genuine regime change that will fulfil its electoral promises and respect institutions and elders.

    He said: “The issue of harmonisation of party executive, which is being blown out of proportion, appears to be the most realistic arrangement to actualise our objective because political expediency narratives are determined by circumstances on the ground. In our own party, the PDP at the national level learnt a bitter lesson from 2015 debacle, where only one tendency was saddled with the control of the party; hence, it became imperative for the National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure that an all-inclusive State Executive is put in place to avoid going to war with a divided army.

    “Like others who desire positive change via PDP under your leadership in the state, I strongly believe no single tendency can do it all alone.

    “What does it profit you, sir, to abandon your children and allow, by default, the perpetration of anti-youth employment policy, as graphicised in the current 2018 budget, to continue? God forbid!

    “You and I will not allow it, and the millions of youths who are pining away in abject lack, in spite of going to school and who were deceived to being foot soldiers in 2015, will obviously resist it legitimately. And this is why, sir, the prospect of leaving the party is not an option.”

     

  • Oyo PDP crisis worsens as Ladoja moves to pull out

    Oyo PDP crisis worsens as Ladoja moves to pull out

    The crisis in the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a worse turn.

    The new harmonised list of the State Executive Council (SEC) of the party, which was released by the national leadership on Tuesday, was said to have jolted the Senator Rashidi Ladoja faction.

    The faction reportedly conceded some slots to the faction headed by Seyi Makinde against the former’s expectation.

    While the list ceded 14 slots to Ladoja’s faction, 12 went to Makinde’s faction. The positions of the State Chairman, Women Leader, Publicity Secretary, Legal Adviser, Vice Chairmen I and II went to Ladoja; the position of State Secretary and many other assistantship positions went to Makinde.

    The two factions had organised parallel congresses late last year when they could not agree on a sharing formula.

    It was gathered that the national leadership of the party took the decision to ensure that party members have a sense of belonging.

    But the decision reportedly jolted the Ladoja faction so much.

    The Nation learnt that their leaders have decided to pull out and join a neutral party ahead of next year’s election.

    Ladoja pulled out of the PDP early 2011 to re-contest the governorship election under Accord (A) party.

    He returned with his supporters last year during the reconciliation of the Ahmed Makarfi-led Transition Committee.

    It was gathered that the party leaders will meet today in Ibadan under the leadership of Ladoja.

    The former governor is expected to announce his faction’s defection at the meeting.

    With Ladoja are: Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, Sharafadeen Alli and Senator Ayoade Adeseun, among others.

    Former House of Representatives Leader Mulikat Adeola-Akande and Hazeem Gbolarumi are among those with Makinde.

    A source said Ladoja and his supporters are of the view that PDP’s national leadership cannot be trusted because of the singular decision to adjust the result of his faction’s congress without his approval.

    Efforts to get Ladoja’s comments last night were unsuccessful.

  • Court declares Olubadan chieftaincy review null and void

    Court declares Olubadan chieftaincy review null and void

    An Oyo State High Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Friday declared the review of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies Laws in Ibadanland by the Oyo State Government as unconstitutional, illegal, null, void and of no effect.

    The court headed by Justice Olajumoke Aiki delivered the judgment in a case filed by a former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja against Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Justice Akintunde Boade, the chairman of the judicial commission of enquiry that reviewed the law.

    Governor Ajimobi had on May 19, 2017 set up a judicial commission of enquiry to review the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Related Chieftaincies laws in Ibadanland.

    Accordingly, a report was submitted by the panel, in August, 2017 and a White Paper on the report was published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 14, Vol. 42 by Authority on August 23, 2017 and the amended declaration on regulating the selection to the Olubadan of Ibadan Chieftaincies and related matters published in the Oyo State Gazette No. 15, Vol.  42 by Authority in Ibadan on August 24, 2017.

    Another government committee was later set up to review the report and recommendations of the committee.

    The process led to the installation of 21 new (obas) kings in Ibadanland on August 27, 2017 at the Mapo Hall Arcade, Ibadan amidst drums and fanfare.

    The 21 new kings comprised eight members of the Olubadan-in-Council elevated from High Chiefs to beaded crown wearing monarchs while the remaining 13 are village heads (Baales) promoted to coronet wearing obas.

    Ladoja, who refused to accept the beaded crown, had filed two cases against the review at the state High Court.

    He jointly filed the initial suit with his immediate senior on the Otun Olubadan chieftaincy line, Oba Lekan Balogun, who is the Otun Olubadan and most senior chief on the Otun line. Balogun backed out of the case later.

    However,  Ladoja filed the second case alone.

    The court, in the judgment held that wearing of beaded crowns are beyond the purview of Sections 10,12 and 25 of the Oyo State Chiefs Law, stating that Section 25 of the chiefs law could not be treated in isolation to the provisions of Parts Two and Three of the Chiefs Laws

    The court also said provisions of Parts Two and Three of the Chiefs Laws, particularly Sections 10, 12 and 25 did not give power to the governor to review the Olubadan chieftaincy declaration.

    The governor, according the court, exercised his power beyond the constitution and the provisions of the chieftaincy laws made by the House of Assembly, adding that a judicial commission of enquiry could not amend or further amend, review or further review the chieftaincy declaration.

    Counsel to Ajimobi, Mr.  Nurudeen Adegboye, in an interview with journalists after the judgment said: “The judge has invested a lot of effort, energy and precious judicial time on the judgment. Though we hold a different view from that of the judge or the court, the court’s view is the one that is binding.

    “So, we have applied for the copy of the judgment. We will look at it again and based on the instruction of our client, because it is our client that has the right to appeal or not. If he gives us the instruction or if he feels he wants to accept the judgment, it is left to him.”

  • Daniel, Ladoja, Agbaje, Aderemi withdraw from race

    Daniel, Ladoja, Agbaje, Aderemi withdraw from race

    Four more candidates for the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) withdrew from the contest yesterday just hours before the commencement of the party’s national convention in Abuja.

    Former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, former Oyo State Governor  Rashidi Ladoja; a former governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje; and Mr. Segun Aderemi, pulled out ostensibly to allow the Southwest a fair chance of winning.

    Left in the race were Prince Uche Secondus, Prof Tunde Adeniran, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Prof Taoheed Adedoja.

    Agbaje said on his Twitter handle that his decision was informed by the need to reduce the number of aspirants from the South-West geo-political zone to boost its chances of producing the chairman.

    Ladoja in a statement at the end of a meeting of the aspirants from the Southwest he convened said: “From consultations with stakeholders from various zones, we gathered that from all zones, the stakeholders who prefer to back the South-west zone for the position suggested that we should prune down the number, if possible, to one person.”

    However, it was gathered that the withdrawal was precipitated by the emergence of a ‘unity list’ containing the names of candidates for the chairmanship and 20 other positions open for contest compiled by Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Dokpesi, while addressing newsmen long before voting started, said he resisted pressure mounted on him by forces close to Secondus to step out of the race.

    Chief Bode George had announced his withdrawal from the race Friday night citing corruption of the process and alleged insult of his Yoruba ethnic group by Wike.

     

  • PDP Chairmanship: Ladoja, Daniel step down

    PDP Chairmanship: Ladoja, Daniel step down

    Two more candidates for the post of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Oyo State Governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and former Ogun Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel have stepped down from the race.

    Chief Bode George and Mr Jimi Agbaje have earlier withdrawn from the race.

     

     

  • I’ve stepped down for Secondus, says Ladoja

    I’ve stepped down for Secondus, says Ladoja

    Some Southwest leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said Sen. Rashidi Ladoja had endorsed Prince Uche Secondus and stepped down to become Deputy National Chairman (South).

    They accused him of trading the interest of the zone to produce the chairman for his personal ambition.

    But Ladoja denied the accusation yesterday, insisting he remained a candidate for chairman.

    Ladoja,  a former governor of Oyo State, told our reporter yesterday that the claim was untrue.

    According to him, all aspirants from the zone held a meeting on Wednesday  to choose a consensus candidate but  the meeting was inconclusive, adding that it would continue last night. But the outcome was unknown last night