Political vents are fast playing themselves out in the pace setter state, Oyo. True to its claim, the state is showcasing the beauty of democracy. The Accord Party (AP) has become the ultimate beautiful bride, and its leader and gubernatorial candidate, Senator Adewolu Rasheed Ladoja, the beneficiary and chief stabiliser.
Sure, Ladoja’s new role in the Senator Abiola Ajimobi government is causing serious ripples in the state Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). It is giving the leadership nightmares: “You cannot expect otherwise. Ladoja has ‘eaten’ deep into Ajimobi government,” a source told Daily Sun.
Accord Party, the stabilising factor
Before his inauguration, Ajimobi held at least three meetings with Ladoja at his Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan, residence. Ajimobi came on his own and on his initiative. AP made it clear to the governor-elect then that the party was ready to work with Ajimobi as governor and not with the ACN. That whatever understanding reached should be between the governor and AP.
Ladoja specifically insisted what is paramount is the interest of the people of Oyo State. That whoever works in this direction would secure the support of Accord Party.
Sources at the meetings said Accord preferred to work with the governor rather than the ACN “because they did not want the party (Accord) to die. They feared Accord can be consumed by ACN if it works directly with it.” Ajimobi, on his part, gave a firm commitment that Accord will not die.
The understanding with Ajimobi paid off handsomely. Accord secured 20 per cent appointments across board with the governor. These include commissioners, special advisers/assistants, boards/parastatals, local government chairmen and councillors.
Already, the accord is yielding bountiful result for Accord. It was able to get the post of Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly. Not only that, when the House reconvenes, Accord is sure to coast home with Deputy Chief Whip and Deputy Minority Leader.
During the negotiation for the House Speaker, Accord stoutly objected to an Oyo man occupying the post for the fear of alleged Alaafin’s influence. The governor explained that he is “from Ibadan, my deputy, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, is from Shaki East in Oke-Ogun and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Waidi Olajide is from Ibadan.”
The areas left out are Oyo and Ogbomoso, the home of ex-governor Adebayo Alao-Akala. However, the ACN had a poor showing in Ogbomoso, but performed brilliantly in all the Oyo local government areas. So, the “natural choice” for the Speaker is Oyo. Accord agreed, but rejected Alaafin’s candidate. That was how they settled for a woman Speaker, Monsurat Olajumoke Sunmonu.
Discomfort in ACN
Expectedly, the leadership of the ACN was not comfortable with the Ajimobi/Accord pact. The leaders are complaining bitterly and loudly. In a bid to break the alliance, ACN leaders hurriedly secured the support of seven PDP members in the House. But Ajimobi would not buy into this. He reportedly informed the party leaders that he had earlier approached PDP, but he was ignored. He stood his ground that he could not go back to break his accord with Accord.
Again, ACN made another desperate attempt. It reached out individually to Accord members in the House. But they met a stone-wall. Accord members made it clear that they could only take instructions from their leader, Ladoja.
An agreement with the PDP members would have favoured the ACN leadership, as the PDP legislators were not demanding appointments from Ajimobi. But the governor believed an understanding with Accord is far better and more convenient than with PDP. “It is also reliable since Accord said they are ready to cooperate with anybody for the overall interest of the people of the state,” sources claimed.
Why Ladoja/Akala talks failed
Even after losing the election, Alao-Akala did not completely lose hope. He wanted to remain relevant as the leader of his party, PDP, in the state.
He was said to have initiated talks with his ex-boss, Ladoja. He too came to his house to negotiate. Ladoja, sources said, told him that his doors are opened to anybody who has the interest of the state at heart. Alao-Akala jumped into it. He explored and exploited.
The immediate past governor dangled the carrots and promised to nominate two Accord members for ministerial posts. To show his seriousness and commitment to the pact, he paid Ladoja’s entitlements as former governor, an exercise that he ignored for four years as governor.
Alao-Akala then went to town with the “bargain” struck with Accord. He reportedly informed President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Tony Anenih of the new love between him and Ladoja. The accord, however, could not stand the test of times.
It collapsed when Accord Party stumbled on the list of ministerial nominees that Alao-Akala sent to Abuja. The list contained only one Accord nominee instead of two promised by him.
The next time Alao-Akala came around, Ladoja told him point blank: “You are not reliable, and not to be trusted. What if we had not stumbled on this list? You would have deceived us that you sent two of our members’ names.” There and then the pact collapsed.
Big role for Oyo in South-West
Apart from Ondo State, Oyo is the other state in the South-West where ACN does not have majority control in the state Assembly. Ondo State is under the firm grip of Governor Segun Mimiko’s Labour Party.
The Oyo State House of Assembly is unique and a delight to behold. The 33-member House is made up of ACN 14, PDP 13 and AP six. Since ACN and PDP are sworn enemies, AP has become the beautiful bride.
And the party is playing the role and reaping bountifully.
Apart from the 20 per cent across the board appointments it secured, its leader, Ladoja has assumed an important role in Oyo politics. He cannot be ignored. He is being courted by ACN and PDP.
Ladoja, sources said, played a vital role in calming the workers down on the N18,000 minimum wage palaver. He advised Ajimobi to pay the workers old salary and plead for three months to sort things out. The governor was skeptical the workers would turn down the request.
Ladoja offered to reach out to the workers. He appealed to their leadership to accept Ajimobi’s proposal. The workers agreed and put on hold their plans to go on strike. The Accord leader even made some input into the inauguration of Ajimobi. Party sources put it this way: “Ladoja advised Ajimobi that if I were you, I would invite all the ex-governors of the state, all party chairmen and secretaries to the state box. Alao-Akala ought to come to the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, venue of the event with the splendour of a governor.”
Posts won’t go round PDP members
It is also believed within the Accord Party that the PDP would return to woo back Ladoja into their fold. They believed that the posts even at the federal level cannot go round: “There are many people involved in the campaign for Jonathan. Especially those states where PDP lost the governorship.
Oyo is one of them.
“All these people look up to Abuja for ‘compensation’. After the scramble for posts, it will dawn on members to reform the party, especially in the South-West. That is when they will remember people like Ladoja. They will beg him to come back. We have our conditions which we are keeping close to our chests. Whenever they come, we will put them forward.”
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