Posted by By AKEEB ALARAPE, Ibadan on
Governor Rasidi Ladoja of Oyo State Sunday broke his silence on the raging feud between him and his estranged godfather, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, describing the latter as a wasted institution.
Governor Rasidi Ladoja of Oyo State Sunday broke his silence on the raging feud between him and his estranged godfather, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, describing the latter as a wasted institution.
The governor also debunked the allegation that his government was behind the killing of two aides of Adedibu, Messrs Lateef Olaniyan and Taofeek Daropale in recent times.
In an interactive session with journalists at the Government House, Ibadan, Agodi, Ladoja described Adedibu as an institution he would have loved to develop rather than destroy.
"I know Baba very well and Baba knows that I know him. He is my Baba and I respect him. I will do everything to protect him because I see him as an institution.
"The unfortunate thing, I think, is that he doesn't apply it correctly. He is an institution that I wanted to develop, if he had given me the opportunity of doing it. But I think he is happy with what he is.
"I really love him. For somebody without high education to get to that level in life, you have to understand that Baba is a genius. The only thing with him is that when Baba is fighting, Baba fights with his eyes closed. And that is wrong," the governor stated.
On the July 16 assassination of Mr. Lateef Olaniyan a.k.a. Lati Osogbo, a close aide of Adedibu, the governor described it as an unfortunate and sad incident, but said his government has nothing to do with the murder.
He said that he had gone to the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr. Sunday Ehindero, to personally lodge a complaint on the sordid manner police detectives are investigating the murder.
On his perceived ambition for 2007 and the seeming opposition of Adedibu's camp, Ladoja said everything lies in the hands of God.
"Baba is only advertising. He has advertised so much in Nigeria, he didn't get what he wanted. He now carried his advertisement to England. He said he is looking for replacement for Ladoja come 2007. He said Ladoja would not win election in 2007. But Baba has forgotten he only has one vote. 2007 is in God's hands. When it is February 2007, we will now be talking of the election that will come in May. If you say it will be late then, do you know whether I will even be alive by that time?
"In this country, we have seen somebody who won elections and was not allowed to rule. We have seen somebody who was about to win an election as the only candidate and he did not even get there. So, let's leave that to God," Ladoja stated.