2019: Ladoja, Alli, Akala, others meet

Former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja on Thursday led other top leaders of the People’s Democratic Party in the state to the residence of his erstwhile deputy governor , Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala for broker peace ahead 2019 election in the state.

Also present is the PDP National Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and other national officers of the party.

Makarfi had at the meeting also confirmed the return of former Social Democratic Party Governorship candidate in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde as well as Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, who was the running mate to Alao-Akala during the 2015 governorship election under the Labour Party.

Makarfi, had warned intending returnees to hurry up, stressed that “while we reconcile and accommodate, we are not waiting for any individual to make up their mind”.

For the second week running now, Ladoja who left PDP for Accord in 2011 had been hosting his erstwhile footsoldiers who served under him but deserted the camp due to irreconcilable political differences in 2011 to work for the success of then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Safe for a former Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Hosea Ayoola Agboola and former PDP Chairman, Chief Jacob Adetoro who remained in PDP, Sarafadeen Alli, Alhaji Alli Dodo Oyedeji and a former lawmaker, Tunde Adegbenjo headed for then ACN.

The incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi who has been the major beneficiary of the crack within the hitherto solid Oyo PDP, jetted out of country few days ago and met with both Akala and Folarin with the social media agog of their meeting; regarded in the political circle as subtle move by the Governor to mend fence with the duo ahead of impending 2019 race.

Seyi Makinde had also been meeting with Ladoja, and a few other bigwigs as he officially announced his defection from the SDP to PDP two weeks ago.

Folarin, a former Senate Leader, who on arrival from London told reporters on phone that he has not left PDP but on consultations across political divides, visited Ladoja 48hours ago for a closed door meeting as political permutation and intrigues get underway.

At Thursday meeting in Bodija, Akala was the first to visit Ladoja in his residence but the latter was not around yo receive him. Shortly in return, Ladoja headed to Akala’s house, which was about a kilometer away and had two-hour closed door meeting with his erstwhile deputy.

Pictures of the visit showed Ladoja, Akala and others in frenzy mood as they wine and dine together to the consternation of their supporters. A serving PDP lawmaker, Segun Odebunmi, Alhaji Ado Marafa and erstwhile State Accord Chairman, Bashiru Lawal among others watched with keen interest.

Before now, both Ladoja and Akala had been at loggerheads since January 12th, 2006 when Ladoja was illegally removed from office to pave way for Akala as Acting Governor and later elected Governor under PDP.