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2007:
Oke-Ogun PDP move against Ladoja
By Sola
Shittu
Reporter,
Ibadan
Politicians
of Oke Ogun extraction in Oyo state have come together in Iseyin to fine
tune strategies and put together funds intended for vigorous pursuit of
the ambition of the area to produce the next governor of the
state.
People of
the area have always complained that they have been marginalized in the
scheme of things and want an indigene to be the Oyo state chief executive
come 2007.
Daily
Independent investigations revealed that a Federal Minister from Oyo North
bankrolled the meeting but would not want to be seen playing overt roles
so as not to incur the wrath of President Olusegun Obasanjo who is said to
be not well disposed to any of his lieutenants having anything to do with
the 2007 general elections. In pursuit of the power shift, a multi million
Naira fund raising is also under way.
The
money, according to Daily Independent sources, was aimed at raising fund
for the project and attracting supporters to the cause from other parts of
the state in particular and the country in general.
Already
the group is said to have penetrated the Ibadan camp, especially
politicians who are not well disposed to the present administration in Oyo
state. A professor at the university of Ibadan who confirmed the story
said: � I can assure you that Oke Ogun people have the sympathy of Ibadan
politicians, aggrieved People's Democratic Party (PDP) big wigs, who
though worked for the victory of the party in 2003 but have since been
left out of the scheme of things in the state".
He stated
further that the disenchantment with the present administration in Oyo
state is one of the reasons why the clamour for power shift to Oke Ogun is
gaining support even among Ibadan politicians. Consequently the Oke Ogun
people is believed to be rallying round Dr. Ismail Adewusi, the Lagos
state commissioner for finance, who hails from Eruwa in Ibarapa for the
2007 governorship election.
Adewusi,
though in Alliance for Democracy (AD) is a very strong force in Ibarapa
politics who is also said to be working towards wrestling of power from
the grip of Ibadan people who have dominated the scene since the second
republic.
Since
1983, when the Late Chief Bola Ige was defeated by Dr Omololu Olunloyo in
a controversial election, Ibadan has produced four Governors in the state
and are still bent on producing the next governor in 2007. Although it is
not yet certain whether Governor Rashidi Ladoja is interested in a second
term, there are other powerful Ibadan politicians who are also eyeing the
Agodi Government House.
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