Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja was the governor of Oyo state.
Lamidi Adedibu was the kingmaker in Oyo state.
Alao Akala was Ladoja’s deputy.
On the day Senator Ladoja was sworn in as governor of Oyo state (May 29, 2003), Adedibu’s thugs pulled down the statue of Obafemi Awolowo that replaced that of the unknown soldier in front of Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.
The governor reported to their boss, Adedibu, who did not scold his boys. They simply said that man who built and erected it, Lam Adesina was no longer governor.
Then, they started collecting money from traders at Bola Ige International Market and other places including illegal rates at motor parks.
Ladoja was not comfortable with all that and so he made effort to put a stop to all that and that was when he started having problems with Adedibu who I have observed that most politicians from Oyo state see as a worthy leader till today.
Then, Obasanjo wanted a third term but Ladoja stood against it and so Obasanjo gave Adedibu ‘fulu’ support, he de-robed the governor.
If the governor spoke with the state’s police commissioner and Adedibu spoke with him, he would listen to Adedibu.
On Jan 12, 2006, some well armed thugs invaded the state’s house of assembly and pronounced the governor impeached after the speaker had rejected to impeach him.
These thugs were protected by the police.
Alao Akala, as deputy governor, took over and he became a sworn enemy of his boss.
Ladoja was restored to his office on Dec 12, 2006 after he had won at both the appeal and supreme courts on Nov 1 and 11 respectively.
Till date, I do not know why he was not returned immediately as it is the practice but I remember that Obasanjo who, after leaving office, became an advocate of rule of law and democratic practice, was the one in charge at that time.
Obasanjo and Adedibu took the structure of PDP from Ladoja going to the next election and handed it over to Akala who then defeated his boss before Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi defeated him too in 2011
On Monday, His Royal Highness, Oba Olakulehin, has joined his ancestors and next in line is Chief Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja as the Olubadan of Ibadan.
It is good that Obasanjo is alive to see this day while Adedibu and Akala have since transited.
Bayo Oduyemi writes from Lagos State, Nigeria.
