Posted by By MUYIWA OYINLOLA, Lagos, ANDY ASEMOTA, Katsina on
A rousing welcome awaits victorious Governor Rashidi Ladoja today, as pro-democracy groups and civil societies arrive Ibadan from various parts of the country to receive the man of the moment back to his seat as Chief Executive Officer of the state.
A rousing welcome awaits victorious Governor Rashidi Ladoja today, as pro-democracy groups and civil societies arrive Ibadan from various parts of the country to receive the man of the moment back to his seat as Chief Executive Officer of the state.
Also, in a bid to stop his estranged deputy, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, from scuttling his resumption in office aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling that nullified his impeachment, the governor has fixed a meeting with the state Head of Service (HOS), General Managers and Head of Parastatals for 8.30 am today.
In a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Ayodele Adigun, the meeting would hold at the Executive Chambers of the Governor's office and would be presided over by Ladoja himself.
Reports say Akala's camp had plans to file a motion exparte that would stall the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling as well as the planned resumption of Ladoja as governor.
It was alleged that part of the plans to scuttle Ladoja's resumption was the media briefing held by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Jonathan Johnson, following the directive of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Sunday Ehindero, where Ladoja was told to resume by 2pm today while his deputy hands over latest 12 noon.
This condition, Daily Sun learnt, was to buy time for Akala and his godfather, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, to enable them file the necessary papers in the State High Court that would scuttle the implementation of the ruling of the apex court in the country. But yesterday, members of pro-democracy groups and civil societies like United Action for Democracy (UAD), Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Campaign for Democracy (CD), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), arrived the city of Ibadan for a rousing reception for Ladoja.
A member of UAD who spoke on the development, stated that Ladoja must be encouraged to resume before the Federal Government scuttle his victory again.
'He (Ladoja) has been patient enough. He has exhibited uncommon courage that is not associated with our politicians. He went the whole hog to demonstrate to everybody, even his opponents, that he is a lover of democracy guided by rule of law and due process. He has won our love and he should be encouraged and assisted to enjoy the sweat of his struggle", the source stated, while pleading for anonymity.
Meanwhile, security situation at both the Government House, Agodi and the State Secretariat, remained the same yesterday as there was no additional men on the ground, apart from the usual deployment of a unit of riot policemen that have been manning the gates of the secretariat for the past one month, to suggest that security has been beefed up for Ladoja's return.