Better Oyo Movement (BOM), a group at the vanguard of the state’s development, has reacted to a campaign of calumny it alleges was sponsored by the Oyo State governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, to disparage a former governor of the state, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, over claims that the latter is working for the enthronement of a governor of Islamic extraction, telling the governor that disrespecting Senator Ladoja will only lead to his defeat in Saturday’s governorship poll.
BOM recalls that several news media had gone to town with a release from a group, The Future is Now (TFN), which used unprintable words on the person and status of Senator Ladoja, over what appeared to be the High Chief’s nil-support for its candidate, Governor Makinde.
The group, whose statement was authored by Comrade Segun Akindele, its Coordinator, alleged that the former governor was backing the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Teslim Folarin, and had invited two Muslim clerics from every mosque in Ibadan, to his house, instructing them to work for the enthronement of a Muslim as governor come Saturday’s governorship poll. The group consequently insinuated that the Ibadan High Chief was pursuing an Islamization agenda capable of disrupting the peace and harmony of Oyo State.
Describing the release as infantile, poorly-conceived and grossly ill-advised, BOM, whose release was signed by its Chairman, Dr. Femi Fakunle and Secretary, Engr. Tunji Hammed, argued that the release was typical of the “voice of Jacob, but the hands of Esau,” wondering what Governor Makinde stands to gain by lampooning an elder statesman of the hue and stature of High Chief Ladoja.
“Perhaps Governor Makinde had forgotten, that it was this same Governor Ladoja whom he now lambasts using bag-carriers, who rallied the likes of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin of the ADC, Barrister Sarafadeen Alli of the ZLP and other frontline governorship candidates to convoke a never-seen-before coalition for whom which eventually culminated in his victory in the March, 2019 governorship polls.
“Perhaps Governor Makinde had forgotten, that without the network of Governor Ladoja, and the untiring efforts of Senator Lanlehin and Barrister Alli, he wouldn’t have won that election against the then ruling party which had already won two out of three senatorial seats, and nine of the 14 available federal reps.
“Well, since betrayal is the governor’s stock-in-trade, his volte-face betrayal of the coalition agreement a perfect example, he cannot but constantly look over his shoulders and insinuate inanities, once things become unfavorable, and plots go south. The question to ask, without acting as High Chief Ladoja’s spokespersons, is that must the Ibadan High Chief support Governor Makinde, or why is the governor now crying like a child whose candy was seized?
“If he knows he’s performed admirably like his propaganda machine continually spews, why can’t he rely on that performance, instead of shopping for needless endorsements from personalities and parties? Having spent almost four years in office, can’t that record be sufficient enough to earn him re-election?” the group asked.
Calling on High Chief Ladoja not to be embarrassed by the childish antics of the governor and his unfortunate yesmen, BOM assures the Otun Olubadan that it will always hold him in high esteem, like it is sure indigenes and residents of Oyo State also will, not only because of his standing as a man of honour, but also because of his contributions to the sociopolitical development of the state, a legacy modern-day disrespecters like Governor Makinde, and his faceless supporters like TFN, can never erode.
