Former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja yesterday led other top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the home of his erstwhile deputy, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, to broker peace ahead of the 2019 general election.
Also at the parley was PDP’s National Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and other national officers of the party.
Makarfi confirmed the return of a former Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the state, Seyi Makinde, as well as Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, who was the running mate to Alao-Akala in the 2015 governorship election on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).
The PDP chairman warned intending returnees to hurry up, adding: “While we reconcile and accommodate, we are not waiting for any individual to make up their mind.”
For the second week, Ladoja, who left PDP for Accord in 2011, had hosted his erstwhile lieutenants who deserted his camp following irreconcilable political differences and worked for the success of then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
But a former Senate Deputy Chief Whip Hosea Ayoola Agboola and former PDP Chairman Jacob Adetoro, remained in PDP.
Alli, Alhaji Alli Dodo Oyedeji and a former lawmaker, Tunde Adegbenjo, joined the ACN.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who has been the major beneficiary of the crack within the hitherto solid Oyo PDP, left the country a few days ago and reportedly met with Alao-Akala and former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin.
The social media have been agog with their meeting, regarded in the political circle as the governor’s subtle move to mend fence with the duo ahead of 2019 race.
Makinde had reportedly been meeting with Ladoja and a few other political bigwigs before officially announcing his defection from the SDP to PDP two weeks ago.
On arrival from London, Folarin told reporters on phone that he had not left PDP but was on consultations across political divides.
He was said to have visited Ladoja 48 hours ago for a closed-door meeting.
At yesterday’s meeting at Bodija in Ibadan, Alao-Akala was the first visitor to Ladoja at his home, but the latter was not around to receive him.
On his return, Ladoja headed to Alao-Akala’s home, about one kilometre away, and had two-hour closed-door meeting with his erstwhile deputy.
Pictures of the visit showed Ladoja, Akala and others in a happy mood as they wined and dined together.
A PDP lawmaker, Segun Odebunmi, as well as Alhaji Ado Marafa and erstwhile the state’s Accord Chairman, Bashiru Lawal, among others, watched the scenario.
Ladoja and Alao-Akala had been at loggerheads since January 12, last year, when Ladoja was “illegally” removed from office to pave the way for Alao-Akala as Acting Governor and later elected Governor under the PDP.
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