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PDP meets on Ladoja, Adedibu face-off
ABIODUN FELIX, Osogbo
FURTHER
attempt to resolve the lingering feud between Gov. Rasheed Ladoja of Oyo State
and his estranged political godfather, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, would be made
today when chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) converge in Ibadan,
the state capital.
Deputy national chairman (South) of the
party, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, disclosed the fresh initiative to newsmen in
Osogbo, the Osun State capital week-end, even as he restated the ban on party
faithful campaigning for the 2007 presidency.
Chief Oyedokun expressed optimism that the
party would resolve amicably the feud between Ladoja and Adedibu for the sake of
peace.
The party, he said, would also inaugurate
its Oyo State caucus at the meeting.
The crisis between Gov. Ladoja and Alhaji
Adedibu commenced a few months after the governor’s inauguration.
Despite official denials of a rift between
the two leading political gladiators, Alhaji Adedibu later opened up on the
matter accusing the governor of running a one-man show since assuming office.
Adedibu accused Gov. Ladoja of sidelining
him and others who toiled to ensure the governor’s election, upstaging the
Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the process.
He said the governor jettisoned names of
some party loyalists given him for appointments in favour of his (Ladoja’s) own
list, pointing out that they felt betrayed.
Asserting that he would fight the governor
to stand still over the matter, Alhaji Adedibu vowed to ensure fairness in the
distribution of government patronage.
Skirmishes occurred between supporters of
both personalities including a major one ahead of the March 27 local government
poll.
On the 2007 presidency, Oyedokun warned
those already campaigning for same to desist or face the wrath of the party.
He gave the warning in Osogbo, at a news
conference.
Oyedokun said the coast is not yet clear
for any campaign for the 2007 presidential race.
According to him "may I at this juncture
also warn those who are already running round to pick aspirants particularly
presidential hopefuls, that the ban imposed by the party (PDP) still subsists."
Oyedokun described the links of former
military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Gen.
Buba Marwa (rtd) to the 2007 presidential race as "diversionary and premature,
adding that "infact, it is an anti-party activity."
According to him, at the right time when
the ban is lifted, we would be free to make our collective choice, when no
poaching will be allowed in the South-West," he further stated.
Oyedokun insisted that those who are already campaigning
and forming groups ahead of the 2007 presidential election, are incurring the
wrath of the ruling PDP party and may be sanctioned if they persist in the act.
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