Taofeek Arapaja, deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday foreclosed any chance of former governor Rashidi Ladoja supporting ‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, as he went hard on the Ibadan high chiefs.
Among many other unprintable words, Arapaja, who was once deputy governor, said Ladoja was greedy and cannot be easily satisfied.
In the now-deleted Facebook video on Fresh 105.9 FM monitored by OYOINSIGHT.COM, the former Nigeria’s ambassador to Jordan asked the people of the state not to be swayed by the antics of Ladoja.
OYOINSIGHT.COM understands that all efforts by Makinde to get Ladoja to his side had proved abortive. Only last week, former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Olusegun Mimiko of Osun and Ondo respectively as well as Reuben Famuyibo and others have been begging the old politician to support Makinde for another term.
Ladoja, like he did in 2019 for Makinde, has been talking to major opposition parties to support Teslim Folarin, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Ladoja has been going all out to reactivate old political contacts to the advantage of the three-term senator, especially since APC recorded good showing during the presidential and national assembly election in the state.
Against late former governor Abiola Ajimobi and Adébáyọ̀ Adelabu, the APC candidate in the 2019 election, this newspaper recalls how Ladoja organized opposition elements Olufemi Lanlehin, a senator and gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC; Sharafadeen Alli, now senator-elect. Makinde, with the efforts, defeated Adelabu. Not long after, the relationship turned sour as Lanlehin and Alli parted ways with the governor after reneging on agreement reached during the coalition.
In the no holds barred interview on Dende Oro, a weekly political programme anchored by veteran broadcaster and Fresh 105.9 FM’s head of station, Abolade Salami, Arapaja, apart from cursing politicians who are opposed to the re-election bid of Makinde, said Ladoja is not easily satisfied “despite the fact Governor Makinde named an estate after him; named the circular road after him. Still, he is not satisfied. Except someone who doesn’t like progress and development, Governor Makinde has done well. What do they want again,” he said.
