Posted by From AKEEB ALARAPE, IBADAN on
Despite the go-ahead court ruling given to Chief Lamidi Adedibu-backed lawmakers of the Oyo State House of Assembly, over the plan to impeach Governor Rasidi Ladoja, the process suffered a setback yesterday as the peace panel set up to mediate in the crisis commenced its work.
Despite the go-ahead court ruling given to Chief Lamidi Adedibu-backed lawmakers of the Oyo State House of Assembly, over the plan to impeach Governor Rasidi Ladoja, the process suffered a setback yesterday as the peace panel set up to mediate in the crisis commenced its work.
Besides, Daily Sun authoritatively learnt that the Presidency also made a last minute effort to save the governor as a call was put through to Chief Adedibu at the peak of the celebration that greeted the court ruling of Wednesday, urging him to soft-pedal on the matter.
The peace committee raised by the national secretariat of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by the party's Deputy National Chairman (North), Barrister Ibrahim Shema, met with Adedibu and his team yesterday morning before going over to meet with the state governor.
Addressing newsmen after the private meeting, Shema stated that everything humanly possible was being done to ensure that peace was restored to the state and the party also.
"I have no doubt that peace and harmony would soon return to Oyo State. Baba (Adedibu) has been doing a lot to restore peace. Politically, every person in Oyo State is Adedibu's son. So, we thank all PDP members and leaders in the state. We are doing everything humanly possible to restore peace because there can never be progress without stability and peace", Shema stated.
He said that his committee was in Ibadan to effect a positive change in the state chapter of the party as well as in the governance of the state.
While eulogising the tremendous role Adedibu has been playing in the politics of the nation, especially in Oyo State, Shema said that the issue of godfatherism has come to stay, not only in Nigerian politics but in African politics as a whole.
"Sincerity is the most important thing a godfather expects from somebody he calls godson. And in African tradition, the young should respect the elders. Elders are the source of knowledge, source of inspiration and wisdom. The young should learn by understanding the old ones", the PDP chieftain explained.
While commenting on the peace meeting held with him, Adedibu told newsmen that everybody in the state desires peace and he too wants peace to reign in the state as Yoruba nation "is one big family."
The politician nonetheless rolled out some new conditions to be met by his estranged political godson, before a lasting peace could be assured in the state, apart from the earlier ones where he demanded for unconditional release of former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), Alhaji Lateef Akinsola a.k.a Tokyo, who is presently facing a murder trial.
Some of the conditions listed out include the retraction of a press interview granted to a national newspaper (not Daily Sun) by one of the loyalists of the governor, which Adedibu claimed abused the president, as well as a public apology to the president over the interview.
He also called for an immediate withdrawal of the court case instituted over the ownership of the state secretariat of the party, including a retraction and a stop to the public announcement of Chief Jacob Adetoro as the chairman of the party in the state.
When contacted on phone yesterday on the outcome of the meeting, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Dele Adigun, said the meeting was still on as at the time of calling.
He, however, foreclosed the making of the decision of the meeting public, saying that it was "a family affair."
Daily Sun also learnt that the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII, has summoned an emergency meeting to discuss the brouhaha that greeted the impeachment plot against the governor and discuss ways to nip the crisis in the bud.