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Tag: Ladoja

  • Ladoja faults comments on Olakulehin’s health status

    Ladoja faults comments on Olakulehin’s health status

    The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, has faulted the position of some Ibadan high chiefs over the health status of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.

    Ladoja, addressing reporters after Eid-el-Fitri prayer at his home yesterday in Ibadan, said the comments were mere expression of personal opinions since the chiefs were not medical personnel.

    Otun Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Abimbola Ajibola, was recently quoted by the media as saying the Olubadan designate is ill and needs time to get well before his coronation.

    “Has anyone seen him since last Friday? Those who attempted to visit him after Friday were unsuccessful. They are coercing him. We should allow him to recuperate,” he said.

    However, Ladoja told reporters that such views were speculative and not based on medical facts.

    “The comments of Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Ajibola and others on the health status of Olubadan- designate are mere personal opinions, which should be disregarded.

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    “All persons who have been speaking on Olubadan-designate’s health are not medical personnel; therefore they lack merit to speak.

    “Only God can determine lifespan, who to become king and how long a person will last on the throne,” he said.

    The former governor said a meeting to take decision on issues concerning Olubadan stool has been fixed for tomorrow.

    He said the case he filled in court on issues bordering on Olubadan stool was to defend his right against the threat by some Ibadan high chiefs that collected crown because he refused to join them.

    He expressed his willingness to withdraw the case once they cooperate with him in the interest of peace of Ibadanland.

    Ladoja said if he eventually becomes Olubadan of Ibadanland, he will not victimise any high chief.

    “There are standing rules forbidding other persons to wear crown at the Olubadan palace, except Olubadan alone.

    “The crown collected by Ibadan high chiefs are just to enhance their prestige, which does not affect Olubadan tradition and process.

    “They are free to wear their crown as they like, but not at Olubadan’s palace because there cannot be two people wearing crown at Olubadan’s palace, “he said.

    Ladoja said there was need to revisit reports of 2014 National Conference, noting that the report has taken care of many issues the country is facing.

  • Olubadan: Obas give Ladoja ‘wear the crown condition’ for truce

    Olubadan: Obas give Ladoja ‘wear the crown condition’ for truce

    Former Oyo State Governor High Chief Rashidi Ladoja is in a dilemma over the condition to accept to be crowned as an Oba like his colleagues for total resolution of the disaffection between him and other members of the Olubadan-in-Council.

    Ladoja rejected the elevation of members of the council to royal majesties in 2017 and 2023. He did not just reject the elevation, he also challenged the elevation of other colleagues in court in 2017 and won, a development that forced them to surrender their crowns as a condition for enthroning the late Oba Lekan Balogun in 2022.

    Read Also: Ladoja, other Olubadan-in-Council members in truce move

    When Governor Seyi Makinde re-crowned the high chiefs as Obas last year, Ladoja again rejected the offer and challenged it in court. All the nine Obas and Governor Makinde, who is the approving authority, are respondents in the current suit.

    But with the demise of Oba Balogun, Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan, inched closer to the throne. He is next after Oba Owolabi Olakulehin to mount the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadan land.

    Things took a new turn as the Obas shunned the former governor, a development that can jeopardise his chances of mounting the throne when the crown returns to Otun line.

    The Nation gathered that with the intervention of Ibadan elders, Ladoja is willing to withdraw the suit. But the major condition given him by the Obas is for him to accept the crown, which he has rejected, as they argue that the elevation was the wish of the people of Ibadan land.

  • Olubadan: Ibadan elders wade in on Ladoja, Obas feud

    Olubadan: Ibadan elders wade in on Ladoja, Obas feud

    Prominent elders in Ibadanland have met former Governor Rasidi Ladoja, who is also the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland over the feud between him and some High Chiefs promoted to the status of Obas in the town.

    The Nation gathered that Ladoja, and other High Chiefs who are now Obas are at loggerheads over the stool of Olubadan of Ibadanland.

    The stool of Olubadan of Ibadanland became vacant following the demise of the 42nd Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, at the University’ College Hospital (UCH) at 81.

    The Nation learnt the next Olubadan, according to traditional arrangement in Ibadanland, is the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.

    Going by Ibadan chieftaincy arrangement for Olakulehin to become Olubadan, he must be nominated by the next person to him in his line Otun Balogun Tajudeen Ajibola, at a meeting convened by the most senior chief in the other line, (Ladoja) within 21 days of the demise of the monarch.

    Shortly after the demise of Oba Balogun, Ladoja made attempt to call a meeting to begin process for the coronation of Olakulehin but it was shunned by other High Chiefs now Obas.

    The High Chiefs, who shunned the meeting on Tuesday, at Olubadan palace in Oja Oba, Ibadan, include the Osi Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole Foko; the Ashipa Olubadan, Abiodun Kola-Daisi; the Ekerin Olubadan, Hamidu Ajibade; the Ekarun Olubadan, Adebayo Akande; the Otun Balogun, Tajudeen Ajibola; the Osi Balogun, Lateef Adebimpe; the Ashipa Balogun, Kola Adegbola; Ekerin Balogun, Dada Isioye; and the Ekarun Balogun, Abiodun Azeez.

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    The absence of the High Chiefs at the meeting has became source of tension in Ibadanland.

    It was gathered that some prominent indigenes of Ibadan on Wednesday met Ladoja and appealed to advert the looming crisis. 

    A source close to the ex Governor said the meeting held at the residence of a former President of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) Chief Bode Amao on Wednesday.

    The source added that the meeting was attended by Primate Emeritus of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Primate Sunday Ola Makinde; some Mogajis (family heads) and other prominent indigenes of Ibadan.

    “Some elders in Ibadan have met the former governor of the state, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja on Wednesday. The meeting was held to prevent the looming crisis.

    “The meeting was held at the residence of Chief Bode Amao. It was attended by Primate Ola Makinde. We also have some other elders in Ibadan at the meeting.

    “It was Primate Ola Makinde that initiated the meeting and it was agreed that the meeting should be held at the residence of Chief Bode Amao because of his age. Some registered Mogajis (family heads) also attended the meeting. It was held at Bode Amao’s residence in Iwo Road on Wednesday,” he said.

  • ‘Ladoja epitome of excellence’

    ‘Ladoja epitome of excellence’

    The Aare-Onibon Balogun of Ibadanland, Olooye Adegboyega Adegoke, has rejoiced with Oyo State former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, on the occasion of his 79th birthday.

    He said considering the celebrator’s political and mentorship record, he could only be described as a leader of leaders, a democrat and an epitome of excellence, who believed in democratic norms.

    Adegoke added: “Senator Ladoja is a political enigma who in the past fought and won several political battles in and out of office. I recall with nostalgic feelings, his exploits as the governor of Oyo State.

    “His achievements, hard-fighting core and political prowess while in office as the governor of Oyo State, among others, still remain unbeaten, particularly in workers’ welfare and the education sector.

    “His policies while at the helm in Oyo State remain a template for other governors that came after him.” 

    Olooye Adegoke said he and his family and political associates prayed that the Al­mighty God should continue to protect Ladoja and his family and grant him more strength to mentor young people, as well as long life to attain the throne of his forefathers.

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     Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin has showered encomiums on Sen. Ladoja as he marks his 79th birthday.

    Ogundoyin, in a congratulatory message to the elder statesman in Ibadan, said every 25th of September is the birthday of one of the best governors of Oyo State.

    He described the celebrator as a political mentor of mentors and a leader of leaders.

    “I am thankful to Allah for sparing the life of our father and mentor, former governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja to witness his 79th birthday, which comes up every 25th of September. 

    “The Otun Olubadan remains an exceptional political role model and father figure, who has made history in Oyo State as a politician, a governor, a national parliamentarian, a high chief, a business man, an agriculturist and a philanthropist of repute.”

  • Ladoja, Lanlehin, others adopt Makinde as joint candidate

    Five opposition parties in Oyo state on Tuesday publicly presented a coalition governorship candidate to run against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for Saturday’s poll.

    The parties in the coalition include African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the New Progressive Movement (NPM).

    The coalition adopted the PDP candidate, Seyi Makinde, for the governorship poll while retaining their separate structures for the house of Assembly elections.

    The former governor, who is also the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland and a chieftain of ZLP, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, made the public presentation of the joint candidate during a press conference which at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

    The event was also attended by party leaders and stakeholders in the coalition.

    The coalition put to rest the much touted and anticipated coalition in their bid to defeat the ruling party.

    While reading a speech entitled “An alliance for the freedom of Oyo State,” the ADC governorship candidate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, said the parties decided on the move as a workable solution to what it described as “unpalatable situation where Oyo state has been remotely controlled in the last eight years.”

    Talks on the coalition have been rife but with fears mounting on the workability.

    The coalition is the first time in the history of the state that opposition parties agreed to ‘gang up’ against the ruling party.

    Lanlehin said: “It is no longer news that a good number of parties in Oyo state have deliberated intensely over the last few weeks and have come to the resolution that there is an urgent need to free our dear state from the shackles of outside oppression and domination.

    “We have therefore decided that in order to present an effective and workable solution to the unpalatable situation where Oyo State has been remotely controlled for the past 8 years by outside forces and all manner of constituted authority, there is the need to form this alliance of political parties in the state.

    “We have firmly resolved to present one candidate in the person of Engineer Oluseyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party for the office of Governor at the elections holding on 9th March, 2019.

    “He shall be heading by the special grace of God and the power of the people of Oyo State, a Government of Unity which will cater for the interest of all our people irrespective of political association.”

    Governorship candidates Sharafadeen Alli (ZLP), Bolaji Ayorinde (SDP) and Col. Feyisayo Ladoye (NPM) appealed to their supporters to vote for Makinde.

    Giving a short remark before raising Makinde’s hand, Ladoja said “It is my pleasure to present to you the agreed candidate for the election coming up on Saturday March 9, and who Insha Allah, will become governor-elect on that day, and will be subsequently sworn in on May 29 as governor of Oyo State.

    “He is my son. I present to you Engineer Seyi Makinde.”

    In his acceptance speech, Makinde who expressed happiness at the coalition noted, the election would put opportunity before the people to do two things.

    “Two weeks ago, the people of Oyo South Senatorial District rejected Ajimobi and now is the time of the entire people of the state to reject Bayo Adelabu who is going to be the third term of Ajimobi.

    “The second thing is that we want Oyo State money to stay in Oyo state and that is what voting for PDP will do for the people of this state,” Makinde stated.

  • Court acquits Ladoja of N4.7bn fraud charge, slams EFCC

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday acquitted former Oyo State Governor Chief Rashidi Ladoja of the N4.7billion fraud charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 11 years ago.

    Justice Mohammed Idris held that the commission did not prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

    He said the prosecution, led by Festus Keyamo (SAN), who handed over to his junior, Olabisi Olufemi, failed to prove a single ingredient of the 11-count charge.

    Justice Idris, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal last June but concluded the trial through a fiat, found Ladoja and his co-accused not guilty in all the counts.

    He faulted the prosecution’s handling of the case, saying that the EFCC shielded the main culprits from prosecution, while meting out “absolute injustice” to the defendants.

    Justice Idris was the third judge to adjudicate on the case after Justices I.M Sanni and A.R. Mohammed.

    The case went up to the Supreme Court due to interlocutory appeals filed by Ladoja.

    The EFCC last November 5 re-arraigned Ladoja following an amendment of the charge.

    He was charged with his former Commissioner for Finance Waheed Akanbi on 11 counts of money laundering and unlawful conversion of N4.7billion state funds.

    In the amended charge, the EFCC said Ladoja “compelled” a broker to sell the state’s shares and converted the money to personal use instead of remitting N1.9billion realised from the sale to the state.

    Justice Idris held that the prosecution’s evidence was full of inconsistencies.

    “The prosecution was not consistent in the amount of money allegedly missing in the sale of Oyo State’s shares. These contradictions were not explained during the trial,” the judge noted.

    According to him, the EFCC’s witnesses failed to provide credible evidence in the course of trial.

    “The highest burden of proof before getting to ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ is of course clear and convincing evidence. The case of the prosecution is too low on credible evidence.

    “The failure on the part of the prosecution to prove even one count of several ingredients of an offence means it has failed to prove the guilt of the offence beyond all reasonable doubt,” Justice Idris held.

    He said the EFCC called witnesses who he said ought to have been charged with the alleged offence.

    To Justice Idris, the Federal Government cannot win the fight against corruption by shielding the corrupt.

    His words: “I must state that this country cannot sustain the fight against corruption in the manner in which this case has been prosecuted, where those that should be proper defendants to the case are shielded away from prosecution and kept away from facing the law. This is unacceptable. This is injustice. And this court will not partake in injustice.

    “There is no doubt that corruption affects us all. It threatens sustainable economic development, ethical values and justice. Corruption distabilises society and endangers the rule of law. Therefore, there is a need for a fair and just prosecution of criminal cases in the fight against corruption.

    “Prosecutors in this fight must be committed to promoting a justice system founded in fairness, equity, compassion and responsibility.

    “In the light of all I have said, I find that the prosecution has not established counts 1 to 11 against the defendants herein beyond reasonable doubts.

    “I am unable, in the circumstances, to find any of the defendants guilty on any or all of the counts as charged. The first and second defendants are, therefore, hereby discharged and acquitted on all counts.”

  • Oyo ADC: More supporters ditch Ladoja for Lanlehin

    Many loyalists of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja in Ibadan declared their decision to stay back in African Democratic Congress (ADC) and support the party’s guber candidate, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, rather than follow the former governor to Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). Their decision was announced by leaders of the support group in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The meeting, which was moderated by Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, who is the ADC House of Representatives candidate for Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency, was attended by over 100 loyalists of the former governor. While they insisted that Ladoja remains their leader, they said they will support ADC and Lanlehin, who was introduced to them by the former governor.

    In a three point-communique released after the election, they announced their continued membership of the ADC. “While the group will continuously recognise and respect the leadership of Sen Rashidi Ladoja, we remain committed to the ADC and we affirm our unalloyed support for the governorship candidature of Sen Solagbade Olufemi Lanlehin (SOLAN) and all candidates under the banner of ADC.”

    The communique was signed by Chief Solomon Ayansina and Hon. Olusoji Oladejo Success, Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively. Also in attendance were Chief Laide Lanihun, Pa Laditi, Hon Nureni Adisa, Hon Tayo Oyetunji and Hon Babatunde Olaniyan (Akoro). Others included Hon Abiola Ladoja, Alh Wasiu Emiola, Engr Akeem Olatunji, Hon Segun Oyewole, Professor Fajembola and Hon Nurudeen Akanni.

     

  • Ladoja: situations forced me to dump ADC for ZLP

    •Oyo ex-governor denies dumping Lanlehin

    Former Oyo State governor and ex-chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator Rashidi Ladoja, yesterday said he left the ADC for members of the Unity Forum who were dictating virtually everything in the party.

    He also denied leaving his anointed governorship candidate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, in the cold.

    The former governor said Lanlehin refused to follow him to his new party, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    Ladoja addressed reporters yesterday at his Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan home.

    The former governor said members of the Unity Forum, who broke away from the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in May, were behaving as if they had won next year’s elections.

    According to him, they imposed their members as candidates of the party, having no regard for him and other party leaders, particularly Chief Michael Koleoso.

    He said some of their impositions would not promote inclusion which is necessary for any political party to win elections.

    Ladoja alleged that the national leadership of ADC did not give room for inclusiveness in decisions to be made by the party in Oyo State.

    While confirming his defection to ZLP, the former governor unveiled Chief Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s governorship candidate.

    He expressed confidence that all his followers would defect with him.

    When reminded that some of them had declared that they would stay back in ADC, Ladoja said it was because he was yet to publicly announce his defection to his new party.

    The former governor said he enjoys loyalty of his followers but also pointed out that people are free to make their choices.

    He added: “My apprehension was that the way we were going, we might not be able to win the election because some areas in Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun and Ibadan were not catered for at all. And our friends (Unity Forum members) were dodging discussions on their decisions.”

    The former governor accused the forum members of taking unilateral decisions and then came back to appeal to him to overlook their impositions.

    He said the last straw was the imposition of the deputy governorship candidate, Mr Saheed Alaran, who hails from Iseyin, the same town that produced the House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates.

    As for Lanlehin, the former governor said he explained the need to leave for another party to him but that he rejected the idea.

    He said Alli sought his approval to join ZLP to contest as governor and that he approved his decision.

    Ladoja emphasised that the most important thing is that Governor Abiola Ajimobi must not be allowed to install his successor.

     

  • Ladoja dumps Oyo ADC for Zenith Labour Party

    A deep crisis hit the Oyo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at the weekend when one of its leading lights, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, dumped the party for Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    It was learnt that Ladoja’s decision followed unresolved disagreement over the deputy governorship candidate, Mr Saheed Alaran. Alaran, who hails from Iseyin in Oke-Ogun area of the state, was said to have been picked unilaterally by a bloc within the party, the Unity Forum, which comprises of former All Progressives Congress (APC) members who defected in May after losing out in the party’s congresses.

    Alaran is a member of the forum.

    Alaran’s selection was said to have irked Ladoja, who believes that he and other leaders of the party should have been consulted before such a decision was made.

    According to a reliable source, Ladoja, who is a former governor, believes that picking another Iseyin indigene as the deputy governorship candidate, besides the House of Representatives candidate from the town, would jeopardise ADC’s chances in Oke-Ogun.

    Ladoja was said to have given the Unity Forum 48 hours to drop Alaran for another person from any other area in Oke-Ogun for inclusion purpose.

    But the forum stuck to Alaran’s candidature, a development that made Ladoja to find solace in ZLP

    It was gathered that the former governor has since sent the name of a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Sharafadeen Alli, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s new governorship candidate in Oyo State to meet the commission’s deadline for substitution of candidates’ names.

    Ladoja’s former Finance Commissioner, Waheed Akanbi, had emerged as the governorship candidate of the ZLP in October.

    He was said to have been prevailed upon by Ladoja to allow Alli, a lawyer and former Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, to fly the party’s flag, The Nation gathered.

    Alli is smong the aggrieved 12 governorship aspirants challenging the election of the ADC candidate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, before an Abuja Federal High Court.

    Last week, the former governor raised the alarm that the Unity Forum had changed the winning formula designed for the party ahead of the 2019 elections.

    With Ladoja’s and Alli’s exit, the ADC is said to be decimated.

    Before theirs, one of the aggrieved aspirants, Dr Kola Balogun, had joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and he was given the Oyo Central senatorial ticket.

  • Alleged N4.7b fraud: ‘Ladoja didn’t buy vehicles for lawmakers to avoid impeachment’

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that former Governor Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja did not buy any vehicle for 14 lawmakers loyal to him in 2005 to escape impeachment.

    A former Oyo State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Titilola Ademola Dauda told Justice Mohammed Idris that the vehicles were the products of a contractual relationship they had with a firm, VT Leasing.

    Dauda testified as the first defence witness in the ongoing trial of the ex-governor and one of his former aides, Waheed Akanbi, for alleged fraud of N4.7 billion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He said: “I had a contractual relationship with VT Leasing, an incorporated company, on a car supplied to me. The agreement was that I should pay a particular percentage upfront and thereafter on rentals.

    “I entered into agreement with VT Leasing. I paid both my contribution and rentals. I am not owing VT Leasing. No member of the Assembly was given any vehicle. Each of the 14 members benefitted from the VT Leasing arrangement.”

    The witness faulted claims by a prosecution witness, Chief Adewale Atanda, that the vehicles were bought for them by Ladoja to save him from impeachment.

    Atanda, who was a Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to Ladoja, told the court that he used his assets and personal guarantee to secure an N80 million loan from Wema Bank Plc to buy the vehicles.

    But Dauda said the agreement that led to the delivery of the vehicles to him and 13 others was not guaranteed by Atanda.

    The witness averred that he personally paid all his expenses in his four-month stay at Heritage Court and Inns, a hotel owned by Atanda, after he relocated to Lagos with his colleagues for fear of being killed, if Ladoja was impeached in December 2005.

    Responding to a question during cross-examination by EFCC’s lawyer Olabisi Oluwafemi, the witness denied receiving any money from Atanda throughout his stay in the hotel.

    A stockbroker, Tajudeen Ajani Bayonle, also testified during yesterday’s proceedings.

    The witness, who told the court that he was not familiar with the facts of the matter, said he was invited by one of the defence lawyers because of his technical knowledge of stockbroking business.

    Further hearing in the trial continues today.

    Ladoja and his co-defendant opened their defence, following the dismissal of their “no case” submissions by the judge.

    They were, for the second time in about two years, re-arraigned on November 5 by the EFCC on an 11-count charge of N4.7 billion money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    They pleaded not guilty.