Posted by OLA AJAYI, Ibadan on
ANXIETY that the political crisis in Oyo State may linger heightened yesterday after Governor Alao Akala warned his impeached predecessor, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, against carrying out his threat to continue in office as the governor of the state.
*Amid anxiety over impeached gov's threat
ANXIETY that the political crisis in Oyo State may linger heightened yesterday after Governor Alao Akala warned his impeached predecessor, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, against carrying out his threat to continue in office as the governor of the state.
Akala said he would deal with Ladoja if he carried out his threat.
The impeached governor had, last Friday, said he would resume duty tomorrow at the Governor's Office, Agodi, Ibadan, based on the court ruling declaring his removal by the State House of Assembly, after he had been investigated by a panel set up by the acting chief judge of the state, Justice Afolabi Adeniran, illegal.
'I am in charge in Oyo State and anybody who may want to cause trouble in the state, I would deal with him according to the law of the land", Akala said, yesterday, apparently referring to Ladoja's threat.
The governor, who was sworn-in, last Thursday, after the state House of Assembly had pronounced Ladoja impeached, allayed the fear of the people of the state arising from the ousted governor's threat, saying: 'What do you expect on Monday? See, let me assure you there cannot be any chaos as the security operatives are on ground to check the situation. This is not the first time that a governor would be removed"
The governor, who was on inspection of vehicles attached to the offices of the former commissioners in the state, disclosed that the commissioners had earlier been ordered to hand over the government property in their possession unfailingly by 12noon yesterday." I told them that everything must be submitted 12 noon today and that is why I am here," Akala said. When being conducted round by the Head of Service, Mrs Modupe Akinbode, it was discovered that all the vehicles had been turned in except the one attached to the office of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Christianah Babalola, who was conspicuously absent. Akala, himself a former police boss, right there ordered her immediate arrest for unlawfully being in possession of government property.
He asked workers in the state to resume duty tomorrow without fear of attack from any quarters as adequate security had been provided for them.
To the public and the entire residents of the state, he said assuringly: 'Look, there is nothing to worry about." Ibadan is as peaceful as anything. There is law and order. Anybody coming to work on Monday or anybody coming for his lawful duty will be protected. So, I am appealing to everybody to come to work."
On Ladoja's claim that Justice Bolaji Yussuf of Oyo State High Court had declared his swearing-in as governor illegal, the retired Assistant Commissioner of Police said he was not interested in joining issues with anybody, pointing out: 'Anyway, I am not a lawyer, but do you know there was a judgement too before the panel was set up? So, just join them together. I am not a legal man, but all I know is that I am in charge of Oyo State"
Meanwhile, heavy presence of mobile policemen was noticed at the entrance of the State Secretariat with armoured tanks and bomb disposal vehicles strategically positioned.
At the house of the impeached governor, sympathisers were seen around wearing forlorn looks. However, some close associates of Ladoja distanced themselves from him. Some people who were interviewed expressed their sympathy for both the sacked governor and the fledgling democracy.