The groups were made up of loyalists of Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Senator Lekan Balogun, Elder Wole Oyelese, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo and Senator Teslim Folarin. Ladoja was a former governor of the state, Balogun, an Ibadan high chief and member of the Olubadan-in-Council, while Oyelese was a two-time minister of state in the Sani Abacha regime. Adeojo was once PDP vice chairman, South-west and Folarin is the current Senate leader. All of them were of Ibadan extraction.
It was gathered that three of the leaders of the opposition, Ladoja, Balogun and Folarin may had, owing to their respective and ambitions or pursuit of personal goals, betrayed the common stand of the groups that were bent on preventing Akala from realising his second term bid.
Sources specifically singled out Ladoja as the arrowhead of the new move. According to the sources, the former governor, sensing that he had the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) hurdle to cross, allegedly opted to jettison his gubernatorial ambition.
He was said to have approached Balogun to withdraw his support for Folarin who was also nursing the ambition of replacing Akala in 2011. Ladoja’s alleged game plan was to have any of his two SSGs (secretary to the state government), Messrs Dele Adigun or Sharafadeen Ali, succeed Akala.
The former governor was said to have succeeded in convincing Balogun to abandon the Folarin project. The new calculation was to have Folarin back in the Senate. Their thinking was predicated on the belief that the Senate president would likely be zoned to the South-west after the 2011 general elections.
Folarin, a two-term senator and Senate leader, it was believed, stands a good chance to succeed Senator David Mark as Senate president.
Daily Sun learnt that already, Ali had wormed his way to Balogun, courting him as his new leader. Findings showed that Ali and Adigun were of late having strained relationship with Ladoja, their former boss. Sources said the duo had told the former governor to step down, “because he is no longer sellable.”
However, the moves by Ladoja, Balogun and Folarin were causing serious discomfort and disquite in the opposition camp. Oyelese was said to be exceptionally furious and viewed it as a betrayal.
He vowed to checkmate what he described as “a stab at the back.” He too is nursing a governorship ambition. To make do his threat, Oyelese last Friday, reportedly sought and got Adeojo’s support to launch a counter-move against Ladoja, Balogun and Folarin. Daily Sun was informed that Adeojo used the better part of last weekend to go round confronting them and promising to do everything within his power to put a stop to their moves.
Further indication of the crack in the opposition was the recent declaration of a former deputy governor, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi, to run for governorship. He was the late Lamidi Adedibu nominated deputy governor in the 11-month government of Akala before Ladoja was reinstated as governor after his ill-fated impeachment.
Gbolarumi was, believed to have been, sponsored by Alhaji Aziz Arisekola-Alao. Opposition against Akala, however, cast doubt on the sincerity and commitment of Arisekola to unseat the governor. They saw the move as a “deliberate move by the Arisekola to weaken the opposition against Akala.”
In a telephone interview, Oyelese was quick to point out that; “there is no truth in it. No doubt, Adigun and Ali are very ambitious, but they need more training.
“Not once in our discussions, was anybody out of the four initial leaders; myself, Adeojo, Ladoja and Balogun, brought in or considered. Inclusion of Adeseun (member, House of Representatives from Ogbomoso) and Folarin was a later idea. “We only brought them into meetings and not for governorship. At no time were Adigun and Ali part of our high level discussions. We are aware that Ali is very ambitious, and there is no crime in that.
“People of Oyo State and loyal members of the PDP should be expectant. Very soon, they will know our candidate. Not at anytime did I raise objection about anybody’s ambition, not the least my junior brothers; Adigun and Ali, because it is their right. “They should leave my name out of the controversy, because I am still in the race to the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.”
Balogun’s aide, Olakunle Oladipo, told Daily Sun in a separate telephone chat: “It is a big lie. Opposition against Akala is very intact. To demonstrate this, after marking Alaafin’s birthday in Oyo today, all the principal opposition leaders without an exception, will move to a rally in the town. With time, we will let the good people know our candidate for the gubernatorial race. There are still some gray areas to be effectively ironed out.”
Alhaji Abass Oloko, ex-Akala aide and now loyalist of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Arisekola Alao, however makes a case for the perceived candidate of the billionaire businessman. “Gbolarumi is not a novice in politics, he midwived Akala’s first 11 months in office, through the late Lamidi Adedibu. He is the most senior aide of Adedibu around.
“Aare is not a politician. He has nothing to do with Gbolarumi’s obtaining a nomination form for governorship. He felt he has been marginalised as a former deputy governor of the state. He did not want to give a loophole to Akala having a easy ride back to office. None of those opposing him (Akala), has obtained a form. That is very dangerous.
“Aare did not give Gbolarumi or any other person money to get form. The decision is Gbolarumi’s.”
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