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Tag: Ladoja

  • Oyo PDP endorses Ladoja

    Oyo PDP endorses Ladoja

    The Oyo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday endorsed a former governor of the state, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, as its choice among those jostling for the seat of the National Chairman at the party’s national convention slated for Saturday.

    The state chairman of the party, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, announced the endorsement and adoption after a show of hand vote, during a meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Molete, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

    But another aspirant, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, said the endorsement carries no weight because he had also been endorsed by the same State Executive nine months ago.

    To him, the endorsement was a mere recognition of aspirants’ move to contest the election.

  • Gbolarumi battles Ladoja for control of party

    Gbolarumi battles Ladoja for control of party

    The crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which culminated in parallel congresses at the weekend, deepened yesterday.

    Leaders of the two groups engaged in a verbal war, each insisting not to shift ground for the other.

    Former Deputy Governor Hazeem Gbolarumi vowed to prevent former Governor Rashidi Ladoja from hijacking the party from those he described as steady members.

    He said Ladoja came to destroy the PDP in Oyo State.

    Ladoja returned to the PDP last month from Accord, which he joined in 2010.

    While the faction led by Ladoja at the weekend held its state congress at the Watershed Events Centre on Old Ife Road, the one led by Gbolarumi, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Mr. Seyi Makinde, Sen. Hosea Agboola and others, held its congress at Baptist School, Oke-Ado.

    Gbolarumi justified the parallel congresses, saying Ladoja took virtually all the principal officers under the pretext of ceding them to other parties, such as Labour Party (LP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    The former deputy governor accused Ladoja of treating the party as his personal business.

    According to him, their original agreement was to run an all-inclusive party but Ladoja chose to exclude many others, including Makinde and his supporters from the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He also accused him of ignoring other party stalwarts such as Adeola-Akande, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja and himself in sharing party positions.

    Gbolarumi said some prominent members were already considering leaving the party but he vowed to stay back and fight Ladoja.

    He said: “We don’t even trust him at all. He has only come to destroy this party. The national leadership of the PDP should investigate my claims. He contested in Accord twice and failed. If he was that strong as he believes, why did he come back to the PDP? We have always been in the PDP. He has not come to add value but to destroy it but people like me won’t allow that because I don’t have any other party to go to. We are not cowards. Why should a tenant come and send away the landlord? It is not possible.”

    But Ladoja’s spokesman Lanre Latinwo described the crisis as “a family affair”, saying it would be resolved in no time. He said sharing of party positions was based on the strength of each party in the last general election. He pointed out that the new State Chairman, Mr Kunmi Mustapha, for instance, is a PDP member, not Accord.

     

     

  • Ajimobi cautioned about truce with Ladoja

    Ajimobi cautioned about truce with Ladoja

    A socio-cultural group, Oyo Patriotic Front (OPF), has praised the reported truce initiative between Governor Abiola Ajimobi and former Governor Rashid Ladoja brokered by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII).

    But it cautioned Ajimobi not to get swayed by the truce and resume his benevolence towards Ladoja.

    The group noted that based on previous experiences, the Accord Party leader will not reciprocate the governor’s good gesture towards him but will continue his campaign of calumny to bring down the Ajimobi administration with lies, untruth and negative comments.

    OPF warned that it is better to keep one’s avowed enemy at arm’s length.

    Its Chairman, Jare Adepoju, urged Ajimobi to consider Lodoja’s antecedents, saying the former governor had always repaid Ajimobi’s good gesture with ignoble acts since 2011.

    He said Ladoja was on the path to political oblivion because he “does not possess much political currency”.

    Adepoju said the former governor was undeserving of any consideration for a truce.

    He said: “The peace move by the CCII to resolve the imbroglio in Ibadan and other parts of Oyo State is commendable. However, we want to caution Governor Ajimobi not to get carried away. He should remember that his gesture in the past were repaid ungraciously. Through Governor Ajimobi’s magnanimity and benevolence, the Accord Party leader’s relation and loyalists were part of Ajimobi’s government between 2011 and 2013; they were part and parcel of the State Executive Council (Exco) where major decisions affecting the state were taken. But despite this, all the projects executed by the present administration were cynically viewed and condemned by the Accord Party chieftain.”

    Adepoju said Ladoja’s fruitless efforts and forlorn dreams to govern Oyo State again may have had an adverse effect on him.

    The OPF chairman noted that the former governor’s recent utterances bordered on frustration, especially the statement on a private radio interview in Ibadan that it was the Housing Corporation that gave him a land and not Ajimobi.

    He said the Housing Corporation could not have given free land to anybody without consent of the governor.

    Adepoju wondered how Ladoja governed the state without a comprehensive appreciation of the statutory and executive powers of his office as governor.

    The chairman recalled the former governor’s recent statement that the police should probe the government for the alleged attack on the Olubadan.

    He said this should not be taken seriously but seen as a diversionary attempt from the real issues. According to him, the public knows that Ajimobi’s name is synonymous with peace.

    The chairman expressed worry that the former governor, whose tenure was riddled with violence, was pointing fingers at the government that has been preaching and practising peace.

    Adepoju urged the public to consider sustainable peace in the state as a collective responsibility, adding: “The achievements of the Ajimobi administration should be seen as our collective patrimony and must be guarded jealously.”

     

  • Mogajis: why Olubadan, Ladoja won’t attend Ibadan peace parley with Ajimobi

    Mogajis (family heads) in Ibadan yesterday urged the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and the Osi Olubadan, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, not to have any peace meeting with Governor Abiola Ajimobi until the gunmen, who invaded the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan, are apprehended and brought to justice.

    A truce committee was raised last week to broker peace among the gladiators.

    Members of the committee include president of the Central Council of Ibadan indigenes, some members of Ibadan Elders Forum, religious leaders and opinion moulders.

    But after their meeting, the mojagis told reporters on phone that they were making representations to the monarch and Ladoja to boycott the peace parley.

    Their spokesman Wale Oladoja, the Mogaji Akinsola compound at Oopo Labiran, said: “We deliberated extensively on the recent attack on the palace, which sad event occurred exactly a week ago; the peace parley and the security implications of the invasion of the oba’s palace, among other issues.

    “We are worried that a week after the incident and based on the governor’s insistence that he knew those who attacked the palace, the suspects are yet to be apprehended and brought to book. Yet, they are talking of peace parley. Could they be talking about peace if the kabiyesi’s life had been exterminated by gun-totting palace invaders?

    “We align with the position of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, that the governor should fish out the gunmen and make them to face prosecution. The police should also conclude their investigation on time and bring the suspects to justice. Anything short of this, we are ready to hold a mega rally and demand same from the authorities concerned.

    “The mogajis also reviewed the list of panel members of the truce committee and we have our reservations because many of them, especially the CCII and Ibadan Elders, have compromised and would be too biased in their judgment. So, we shall impress it on the kabiyesi and Ladoja to stay away from such arrangement.

    “We will welcome a situation whereby those mediating are religious leaders of the three major faith: Christian, Islam and the traditionalists, and not people whose antecedents are well known and are, therefore, predictable.

    “The CCII and Ibadan Elders have already supported the reform to the 1959 Ibadan Chieftaincy declaration and nobody is ready to listen to them. The CCII is a social group. It should stick to what it is known for and stop speaking for all Ibadan sons and daughters, who are in support of the preservation of Ibadan culture heritage and norms.”

    On the solution to the logjam, Oladoja said: “The mogajis agreed that the cases in court should be allowed to go on; that the peace parley be composed of people with pedigree, those who have the fear of God at heart; most especially followers of the listed religious beliefs.”

    The mogajis urged the inspector-general of Police to tighten security around the monarch.

    He said: “Nothing untoward must happen to Oba Adetunji because we have cause to express worry over the tussle in the land.”

  • Why Olubadan won’t attend peace meeting with Ajimobi – Mogajis

    Why Olubadan won’t attend peace meeting with Ajimobi – Mogajis

    The Authentic Mogajis in Ibadan rose from a meeting on Monday and asked the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, not to have any peace meeting with Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, until the gunmen who invaded the Popoyemoja palace of Oba Adetunji are apprehended and brought to justice.

    A truce committee was raised last week to midwife peace among the warring parties.

    Those on the committee are the President of the Central Council of Ibadan indigenes, some members of Ibadan Elders’ Forum, religious leaders and opinion moulders, among others.

    But the family heads at the end of their meeting told journalists they were making representations to the monarch and Ladoja to boycott the peace parley.

    Their spokesman, Chief Wale Oladoja, said: “we deliberated extensively on last week’s attack on the palace, the peace parley and the security implications of the Oba’s palace invasion, among other issues.

    “We are worried that a week after the incident and the governor’s insistence that he knew those who attacked the palace, the suspects are yet to be apprehended and brought to book. Yet they are talking of peace parley. Could they be talking about peace if the Kabiyesi’s life had been exterminated by the palace invaders?

    “We align with the position of Yoruba Socio-cultural group Afenifere that the governor should fish out the gunmen and make them to face prosecution. The police should also conclude their investigation on time and bring the suspects to justice. Anything short of this, we are ready to hold a mega rally and demand same from the authorities concerned.

    “The Mogajis also reviewed the list of panel members of the truce committee and we have our reservations because many of them especially the CCII and Ibadan elders have compromised and would be too biased in their judgment. So, we shall impress it on Kabiyesi and High Chief Ladoja to stay away from such arrangement. We will welcome a situation whereby those mediating are the religious leaders of the three major faiths – Christian, Islam and the traditionalists and not people whose antecedents are well known and are therefore predictable.

    “The CCII and Ibadan elders have already supported the reform to the 1959 Ibadan Chieftaincy declaration and nobody is ready to listen to them. The CCII is a social group and they should stick to what they are known for and stop speaking for all Ibadan sons and daughters who are stoutly in support of the preservation of Ibadan cultural heritage and norms.”

  • Oyo APC accuses Ladoja in Ibadan chieftaincy crisis escalation

    Oyo APC accuses Ladoja in Ibadan chieftaincy crisis escalation

    •Ex-governor to party: you’re mischievous

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has attributed the crisis on the review of the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law to the alleged ambition of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

    The party said the former governor was allegedly taking advantage of the situation to broaden his personal interest and fight a needless war with his perceived political adversaries.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the state capital, by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olawale Sadare, APC condemned Ladoja’s alleged role in the organisation and the violence that followed the installation of some village heads (baales) and family heads (mogajis) at the Popoyemoja palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Monday.

    The statement reads: “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 state to another social unrest just to satisfy his own whims and caprices. Senator Rashidi 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 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 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and usurp the party’s structure, Ladoja is also waging a war against the APC government of Senator 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, those who could stand on Ladoja’s way towards taking full control of the PDP. But we would like to urge relevant security agencies to do the needful by unravelling 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 birthday for such event? Why was it that he arranged for the presence of his loyalists, like Senator 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’s cause and their supporters. However, we call on 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.”

     

  • Ladoja, Alao-Akala, others meet on 2019 polls

    Ladoja, Alao-Akala, others meet on 2019 polls

    Former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja yesterday led other top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the home of his erstwhile deputy, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, to broker peace ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Also at the parley was PDP’s National Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and other national officers of the party.

    Makarfi confirmed the return of a former Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the state, Seyi Makinde, as well as Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, who was the running mate to Alao-Akala in the 2015 governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

    The PDP chairman warned intending returnees to hurry up, adding: “While we reconcile and accommodate, we are not waiting for any individual to make up their mind.”

    For the second week, Ladoja, who left PDP for Accord in 2011, had hosted his erstwhile lieutenants who deserted his camp following irreconcilable political differences and worked for the success of then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    But a former Senate Deputy Chief Whip Hosea Ayoola Agboola and former PDP Chairman Jacob Adetoro, remained in PDP.

    Alli, Alhaji Alli Dodo Oyedeji and a former lawmaker, Tunde Adegbenjo, joined the ACN.

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who has been the major beneficiary of the crack within the hitherto solid Oyo PDP, left the country a few days ago and reportedly met with Alao-Akala and former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin.

    The social media have been agog with their meeting, regarded in the political circle as the governor’s subtle move to mend fence with the duo ahead of 2019 race.

    Makinde had reportedly been meeting with Ladoja and a few other political bigwigs before officially announcing his defection from the SDP to PDP two weeks ago.

    On arrival from London, Folarin told reporters on phone that he had not left PDP but was on consultations across political divides.

    He was said to have visited Ladoja 48 hours ago for a closed-door meeting.

    At yesterday’s meeting at Bodija in Ibadan, Alao-Akala was the first visitor to Ladoja at his home, but the latter was not around to receive him.

    On his return, Ladoja headed to Alao-Akala’s home, about one kilometre away, and had two-hour closed-door meeting with his erstwhile deputy.

    Pictures of the visit showed Ladoja, Akala and others in a happy mood as they wined and dined together.

    A PDP lawmaker, Segun Odebunmi, as well as Alhaji Ado Marafa and erstwhile the state’s Accord Chairman, Bashiru Lawal, among others, watched the scenario.

    Ladoja and Alao-Akala had been at loggerheads since January 12, last year, when Ladoja was “illegally” removed from office to pave the way for Alao-Akala as Acting Governor and later elected Governor under the PDP.

  • Ladoja: I’m prime target of Olubadan chieftaincy law review

    Ladoja: I’m prime target of Olubadan chieftaincy law review

    The Osi Olubadan of Ibadan and former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja has said he is the prime target of the government’s review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration law.

    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 the judge him.”

     

  • Ladoja, Balogun, Kola-Daisi’s son, 27 others now Ibadan obas

    Ladoja, Balogun, Kola-Daisi’s son, 27 others now Ibadan obas

    THE history of obaship in the ancient city of Ibadan, changed dramatically yesterday after Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State presented letters of conferment of obaship titles to 30 high chiefs and baales. 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 yesterday, 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.

    Cross-section of the new obas of Ibadanland during the presentation of Conferment Letters by the Oyo State Government at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan…yesterday.

    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. Ladoja said the development was against the law and contempt of court.

    “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.”

  • Ladoja, Makinde give conditions to return to PDP

    Ladoja, Makinde give conditions to return to PDP

    The National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, yesterday visited former governors of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, as well as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the last general election, Seyi Makinde and former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, among others.

    Markarfi, who first visited the Bodija homes of the former governors, also met other key individuals.

    The former Kaduna State governor said the visit was part of the reconciliation effort of the party’s national leadership to bring back aggrieved members into the PDP.

    Some of the notable leaders on the entourage of the PDP chairman included a former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; a former member of the House of Representatives, Mulikat Adeola; Chairman of the party in the Southwest, Eddy Olafeso; Senator Hosea Agboola; Senator Femi Lanlehin and former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana.

    Ladoja and Makinde gave conditions for their return to the PDP.

    They sought the assurance of the party’s leadership that there would be internal democracy and a level-playing field for all.

    Makinde said he was 99 per cent back into the party, adding that he would complete his return when other conditions he gave were fulfilled.

    Although Alao-Akala was out of the country at the time of the visit, hundreds of his supporters were on ground to welcome and receive the reconciliation team.

    Makarfi said a lot of problems contributed to the crisis that threatened the PDP, which he said was the reason the party, instead of going forward, went backwards.

    He regretted that the crisis affected Nigeria as a nation, saying the party needed to get its acts together for the good of the people.

    Makarfi said: “The only way forward politically in Nigeria is for the only party with national widespread, the PDP, to come back to its basis and bring all its members back, create a level-playing field and entrench internal party democracy so that the slogan of ‘power to the people’  will become real.

    “Ladoja is a great observer of things in Nigeria. He loves the country, the people of the state and he always speaks for them, either in power or when out of power. We are here to take you back to where you belong because the party needs you as well as the people of Oyo State and Nigeria. I have the mandate of everybody in the party to bring you back.”

    The PDP caretaker committee chairman also said he was aware of the contributions of Makinde to the party, adding that he was amazed by the reception his team received from Makinde’s supporters.

    The party chief thanked Makinde for being patient and loving the party.

    Ladoja said he and his followers left the PDP because of the lack of internal democracy and respect for members.

    The former governor said it was important for the party to learn from the crisis as it failed to manage the success it recorded as a political party.

    He insisted that for him to return to the party, he needed the assurance that there would be a level-playing field for everyone, including those who would return.

    Ladoja said: “It was only in the PDP that its governors were impeached wrongly. What is the essence of being in a group that cannot protect you? That is why I said we got it wrong in the party. I have no problem with anybody in the party.

    “We need the assurance that we will be equal in the party so that it will be known that we formed the party together in 1998. We are not asking for anything special. These are the areas we must look at.”

    Makarfi said at the November election convention of the party, there would be constitution amendment to address issues that Ladoja and Makinde raised.

    He added that there were injustices that must be corrected for the party to become stronger and meet the aspirations of the electorate.