Posted by By ALARAPE, Ibadan on
Strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, Sunday evening returned to the ancient city of Ibadan amid jubilation from his supporters, saying news reports about his ill-health were mere farce.
Strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, Sunday evening returned to the ancient city of Ibadan amid jubilation from his supporters, saying news reports about his ill-health were mere farce.
Sources close to Molete residence of the old politician had claimed that he had taken ill and rushed out of his house last week for emergency attention at the National Hospital, Abuja. The absence of Adedibu from his Molete home, which was very usual, further confirmed the story about his ill-health.
But while attending to newsmen who visited his residence yesterday evening upon hearing about his return, Adedibu explained that he was only away to Abuja to perfect his travel plans to United States of America (USA) when the rumour about his ill health hit the air waves.
'At 80, I am still healthy enough to do what my contemporaries could not do. I am the only person that is still active in politics among all those that we started politics together in 1950. Why then the noise about my health. If I can still be very active politically today they should all thank God for his grace over me. Among the people that we started politics together, I am the only one standing," Adedibu stated, amid cheering from his supporters.
Adedibu further explained that he would have traveled out for his yearly holiday, which he observes in June of every year but for the installation of the new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1 and the Election Petition Tribunal.
'In the history of my life, I have never slept for one day in the hospital. I am very well. So, I don't know where those who said I am on admission at the hospital got their information from.
'Since 1983, it is my tradition every year to travel to either London or America where I spend my yearly vacation on every June of every year. I don't miss it.
Since after election, I had wanted to travel but I was thinking about the Election Petition Tribunal. So, I said let me wait after some time to see the outcome of the Tribunal. But, so far, I don't see anything too serious about the Tribunal that will warrant my continued stay here.
'Now that I have to travel, I decided to go to the Embassy for my Visa and some people were saying I was admitted at the National Hospital Abuja.
Where do they get such information from? After leaving the Embassy, I went to the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, to inform him about my preparation to travel for my vacation. So, there is no problem at all. I am very well", he added. He, therefore, disclosed that he has fixed the date of his trip till after the installation ceremony of the new Olubadan in August.
Asked why he has not intervened in the protracted face-off between the state workers and the government over minimum wage, Adedibu explained that he deliberately wanted to remain silent so that the workers would not call him names that it was Adedibu that has been asking Governor Adebayo Alao- Akala not to pay them.