LADOJA: THE UNTOLD STORY OF AN IMPEACHMENT
Obasanjo behind my
impeachment, not Adedibu, Akala
Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja is a Nigerian businessman and
politician who served as the governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2006; and from
2006 to 2007. He was impeached in January 2006, and reinstated in December
2006.
One of the most notable events of Ladoja's political
career was his impeachment in January 2006, which was the subject of much
political drama and legal battles. He was removed from office by the Oyo State
House of Assembly but was reinstated in December 2006 after the Supreme Court confirmed
the judgment of the Court of Appeal which nullified the impeachment.
After his term as governor, Ladoja continued to be active
in Nigerian politics. He later left the PDP and became a founding member of the
Accord Party, under which he ran for governorship again in subsequent
elections. Although he did not win, his influence in Oyo State politics
remained strong
The former Oyo State Governor, and Otun Olubadan of
Ibadan Land, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, recently revealed his own side of events
leading to his impeachment on January 12, 2006 and subsequent reinstatement on
December 7, 2006.
In a recent interview on Fresh FM to celebrate his 80th
birthday, He pointed fingers at former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the
mastermind behind his removal.
“You see, some people said it was Akala, it was Adedibu.
No, it was not any of them. It was Obasanjo. It was during the time of Ileya
(Muslim festival Eid-el-Kabi). We went to see Baba Obasanjo. I think it was on
a Friday or Saturday that we went to see him in Abeokuta. I was there with
Oyinlola, Daniel and Agagu.
Ladoja ssid he, along with other Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) governors in the South West, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Otunba Gbenga
Daniel, and Dr. Segun Agagu, had pleaded with Obasanjo in Abeokuta to halt the
impeachment plans.
“We did not call Fayose, because we knew that Fayose was
Baba’s son. So they knelt down and I knelt down with them. They were begging
him, ‘Baba, please, let Ladoja be.’“
“Baba then said ‘Rashidi, go and resign!’ I said ‘No, I
won’t resign!’ He said, ‘If you don’t resign, you would be removed’.
“I said ‘No, they cannot do it.’ He asked ‘why?’ I said ‘because you cannot get two-thirds. He said ‘two-thirds my foot’ and then he left the place in fury. Daniel ran after him.”
Oba Ladoja added: ” While we were reflecting on what we
were going to do, myself, Agagu and Oyinlola, a man came in, it was the former
World Court Justice Bola Ajibola.
“He said ‘what is wrong with you?’’
He said: “I know your problem. Your problem is that you
don’t want Ladoja to be impeached. They, Oyinlola, Agagau and Daniel said yes.
Justice Ajibola said ‘well, I’ve talked about it to Segun, he’s just adamant.
He said ‘but you’re leaders in your own rights. There comes a time when you
must have to stand up and fight.”
Oba Ladoja maintained: “ Then he told us the story of
‘Jafitafita.’ The story of ‘Jafitafita’ is simple. It is about tortoise and his
wife, yannibo.”
“I must put it on record that Prince Ajibola did
wonderfully for us because he told us exactly what to do and we “jafitafita.
When eventually we got the judgement of the Appeal Court. Baba said no. People
said this is a declarative judgement, he said they are going to stay its
execution. And eventually, it stayed until the Supreme Court confirmed the judgment
of the Court of Appeal.”
However, the Appeal Court later declared the impeachment
null and illegal, and Ladoja was reinstated on December 7, 2006.
Ladoja's accusations against Obasanjo are significant, given the former president's continued influential role in Nigerian and African politics.
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