Oyo PDP game plan for 2015

Gov. Ajimobi

The fear of going into political oblivion beyond 2015 is forcing leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State to close ranks amidst doubts of a sustainable peace, writes Remi Adelowo

It was secret meeting only known to a few leaders in the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). And that was deliberate.

For PDP members in Oyo State, the one and only priority at the moment is reclaiming the Agodi Government House from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2015. Nothing is being left to chance. To achieve this objective, the last few months has witnessed a flurry of overt and covert moves aimed at putting the divided party house in order.

Back to the secret meeting: Sometimes late last year, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi had arrived at the hilltop residence of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, early on a Saturday morning.

The Agenda

The meeting was called to serve two purposes: first; a re-approachment between Alaafin and the former president, who had fallen out in the run-down to the 2011 general elections; and secondly, to enlist the support of the traditional ruler in favour of the PDP for the 2015 elections.

The Nation learnt that the Alaafin, as blunt as ever, laid bare his grouse against the former president and the former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, whom he accused, undermined his authority as a paramount traditional ruler while at the helm of affairs in the state.

He was also reported to have told the former president of taking sides with Akala to rubbish his person and status.  The Alaafin specifically made reference to the former president’s utterances at a campaign rally with Akala in Oyo town early last year, during which he made uncomplimentary remarks of his person and also refused to pay a courtesy call to his palace as demanded by protocol.

The meeting reportedly ended on a convivial note, with both parties agreeing to bury the hatchet. 

Other meetings of strange bedfellows

The Abeokuta meeting opened a floodgate of more reconciliatory moves (formal and informal) by feuding top PDP members in Oyo State. One of such parleys took place in Ibadan about three weeks ago. In attendance were an Ibadan High Chief and former lawmaker, Senator Lekan Balogun; former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin; former deputy to ex-Governor Akala, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, another former deputy governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi; Akala’s ex-Chief of Staff, Dr Saka Balogun; former SSG, Chief Olakojo; ex-Minister, Chief Wole Oyelese, Minister of State of FCT, Chief (Mrs) Jumoke Akinjide, to mention but a few.

Ordinarily, the meeting could be likened to a congregation of strange bedfellows but not in politics where just anything is possible.

Prior to the 2011 elections; the PDP in Oyo State was enmeshed in a deep crisis with some of the leading lights not seeing eye-to-eye.

It was a battle that claimed lots of casualties. The anti-climax was the arrest and detention at Agodi Prisons in Ibadan of Senator Teslim Folarin for the alleged murder of a factional leader of NURTW in the state, Alhaji Lateef Salako (Eleweomo), who was believed to be a staunch supporter of Akala.

One of the resolutions at the Ibadan meeting was the need to forge a united front to dislodge ACN in 2015, with the hitherto sworn enemies promising to forgive and forget.

Oladipo’s meeting with Ladoja

The seriousness attached to the reconciliation of PDP members in Oyo State was further re-enforced when, last week, the National Vice Chairman (South West) of the party, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo held a closed-door meeting with the former governor, Rashidi Ladoja, at the latter’s Bodija residence.

Ladoja, a former PDP member before he decamped to the Accord Party where he flew the party’s flag as the governorship candidate last year, has become a power broker of sort in the state.

Though he lost to ACN’s candidate, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at the  polls, his party produced six members in the State House of Assembly as against ACN’s 13 and PDP’s 11. Ladoja thus became the beautiful bride to be courted by PDP and ACN on who would become the Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

After an intense horse-trading, the ACN eventually produced the Speaker, while Accord Party nominated the Deputy Speaker. Ladoja was also allotted two slots in the state executive council.

Ladoja may move to PDP

In the last couple of days, the biggest news in the state is the planned movement of Ladoja’s return to PDP in the next few months. But if that happens, the biggest immediate political puzzle would be what becomes of his party’s gentleman’s agreement with ACN?

Sharing of offices ahead 2015

Barring any last minute change of plans, The Nation reliably gathered that various party and elected offices had been shared amongst the various interests in the party. Ladoja’s faction; sources disclosed, would produce the state chairman of the party, with Teslim Folarin penciled down for the governorship ticket. Ex-governor Akala, it was further learnt, is likely to be fielded as the party’s senatorial candidate for Oyo South currently occupied by Senator Ayo Adeseun of ACN.

Akala’s volte-face

The programme was called ‘Bulls Eye’ on a private radio station based in Ibadan. Ex-governor was the guest on this particular edition. While responding to a question on his relationship with Folarin and his alleged culpability in the murder of Eleweomo in 2010, Akala, in a full turn-around, had absolved the former Senate Leader of any wrong doing. He added that Eleweomo’s killing may not be unconnected to the internal wrangling within the NURTW in the state. 

This was contrary to his earlier stance as governor when he had vowed to get to the roots of the murder of Eleweomo.

According to a PDP member in the state, “Akala’s volte-face should not surprise anyone. Both Akala and Folarin have realised they need each other at this time. Eleweomo was just a pawn in a game of chess. Akala’s statement was also to prove that PDP members have resolved their differences,” he said.

Arisekola, Kola-Daisi & Alaafin’s roles

These three influential indigenes of Oyo State are quick to tell anyone who cares to listen that they are not politicians.

However, the reality on ground is that no one becomes the governor of the state without their support.

But the big question now is: who would they support for the 2015 governorship?

In the case of Aare Arisekola Alao, taking a decision would not be a tea party, as he is not only regarded as Folarin’s godfather, but a close ally of Chief Kola-Daisi, who is an in-law to the incumbent governor, Abiola Ajimobi. (Daisi’s son, Kolapo is married to Abisola, Ajimobi’s daughter). Arisekola is also one of the closest allies of Alaafin, with their relationship dating back to over 40 years.

While it is guaranteed that Kola-Daisi and indeed the influential Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) would likely support Ajimobi, if he indicates his interest to run for a second term, analysts say Arisekola and Alaafin’s backing for the governor all depends on how the later manages his relationship with the duo in the next three years.

ACN’s counter-strategy

The ruling party in the state, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) fully aware of PDP’s plots, is quietly working on a counter-move to checkmate PDP ahead the 2015 elections.

The Nation gathered that ACN is determined to break the ‘one-term jinx’ in the state once and for all.

Part of the strategies being worked on is to woo some members of Accord Party in the House of Assembly to ACN in order to make the House ‘trouble-free’ for Ajimobi. According to a source, “Don’t be surprised if you start seeing a rash of defections from Accord to ACN”.

The other strategy is the resolve of Governor Ajimobi and his party to execute unprecedented developmental projects across the state and make the second-term ambition of the governor  easier to accomplish.