•Inaugurate 14-man committee
Former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja and his successor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, yesterday jettisoned their political differences as they inaugurated a 14-man committee to work out modalities for synergy between them ahead of the 2015 election.
Akala led his supporters to the Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan residence of Ladoja, for the inauguration of the committee, which was also witnessed by supporters from the other camp. It was a celebration as the supporters sang and prayed for the success of the synergy.
After a closed door meeting, both Ladoja and Akala addressed journalists, boasting that their grassrootsoriented politics would be sufficient for them to defeat the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state.
They then reeled out the names of the committee members comprising of seven- man from both Ladoja's Accord Party and Akala's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction.
The committee members are Mr Bayo Lawal, Abubakar Tawakalitu, Adeola Akintola, Hon Adeolu Adeleke, Wahab Oyelade, Yinka Adewuyi, Hon. Ademola Ojo, Chief JG Adetoro, Mrs. Kemi Olorunsogo, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, Mr. Wale Ohu, Prof. Soji Adejumo, Mr. Wole Opadeye, Wahab Gbadeyero. The committee was given one month to submit its report.
Meanwhile, a PDP chieftain in the state, Alhaji Rasheed Adebisi, has urged the party's national leadership to call Akala to order. Addressing journalists in Ibadan, Adebisi flayed what he described as Akala's recent parley with Ladoja. He said: "Akala's recent meeting with Ladoja is not PDP's idea.
The party has no hand in their alleged romance. The parley is against the interest of PDP. "Akala cannot be meeting with Ladoja on behalf of PDP without the consent of the state party executive members. The members of the committee are Akala's people and not PDP's persons.
I am using this medium to call on the PDP at the national headquarters to call Akala to order because his act, if unchecked, is capable of derailing the peace which the party is currently enjoying.
"Though we know that the romance will end in futility, we don't want Akala's action to destabilise our party. We know that Ladoja is not returning to PDP as being rumoured, but only using Akala to cause disaffection in PDP."
Adebisi, however, asked the PDP national leadership to tell Akala to either remain in the party or pitch his tent with Ladoja, if he (Akala) was not sure of the path to thread in 2015.
But the media aide to Akala, Mr. Abraham Ojo, denied the allegation, insisting that the former governor would not engage in any activity that would destabilise the party.
He said: "Akala is a force to reckon with in PDP, having contributed and still contributing to the success of the party. Every step he is taking is in the interest of PDP. He has the interest of the party at heart. He has repeatedly stated that he has no plan to dump the party.
National Mirror