- ADC Secretary, Hon. Wasiu Emiola
For some weeks now, the Oyo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has enmeshed in crisis; some members of the party are not happy with the way candidates of the party were picked. They felt since the political relevance presently being enjoyed by the party is a combined efforts, all members should be justly treated. But one man who is at the centre of all these is nobody than the former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.
He has been accused of imposition among other things. In fact, so tense was the situation about two weeks ago that Ladoja was said to be ready to dump ADC for Zenith Labour Party. But Ladoja camp have since responded and described the said story as a mere rumour. That and many other issues also formed part discussion as ADC Secretary in Oyo State, Alhaji Wasiu Emiola shares his thoughts with City People Correspondent, Dare Adeniran, on the crisis rocking the party and how is going to be resolved. Why Ladoja has consistently remained a major subject in Oyo State, why he is not ready to dump APC. Their party’s plans to wrestle power from the ruling party APC come 2019. You can’t afford to miss excerpts of the interview. Read on.
Q/. You are one of the ardent followers of former Governor High Chief Rashidi Ladoja; from PDP to Accord back to PDP and now ADC. How do you see the happenings within your new party and what is your role in it?
I am presently the state Secretary of ADC and we are trying to build the party into an enviable position. A standard that will be a pride and envy of all political parties in Oyo State.
What is happening within my party is expected of a larger family where we have democrats; those who believe in their rights and want to use all what they have legally to aspire and champion there rights, that’s what we are having.
So if you sum up all these you find that definately what is happening presently within the party is not surprising at all. I want to tell you that it is a good development because at the end of the day the party will live up to expectations and will be able to deliver.
Q/. How do you plan to reconcile the aggrieved members in order not to create more division within the party?
Like I told you there has never been division but interest; knowing your right and going for it. But I can tell you cathegorically that reconciliation is ongoing and very soon you a positive result from our party. Then you will see everybody working for a common candidate. Let me also tell you this, all of the 13 guber aspirants have interest of the part at heart and they have a common goal. The goal is simple, that all must make sure that this inhuman government doesn’t reproduce itself.
Q/. And do you think the reconciliation is realistic judging by the story that the Unity Forum and other group in the party felt cheated?
That is a big rumour. How do you mean that some groups within the party felt cheated? Let me just tell you this, out of three senators that will be contesting under my party presently, two of them are from Unity Forum. Senator Soji Akanbi could be regarded as part of them because he is from APC, he is not from Ladoja camp. Monsurat Sunmonu is not from Ladoja group too. Our of 14 House of Reps seats, they are having about eleven.
Q/. If all these figures are right what then was the genesis of their grievances against Ladoja?
That is exactly why I said that the story of somebody or some group being cheated doesn’t arise at all. It was all rumour because the Unity Forum that I know will never say that.
Q/. But there was a legal action against the party by some governorship aspirants?
But that was not from Unity, it was from an individual who felt cheated and thought he should go to court. The long and short of it is that all the legal actions whether from gubernatorial aspirants or any individual will all be resolved sooner. It is normal for those who are not favoured in any setting to complain, it is everywhere.
The kind of legal problems that APC is following is even more than what ADC is following.
Q/. Is it not normal for one to complain whenever his or her interest is not protected since they say politics is all about interest?
I think it depends on how you look at it. Group interest should supersede your personal interest, that’s my own believe and the way I feel the game should be played.
Q/. Up till last week the story out there was that Senator Rashidi Ladoja was going to leave ADC ZLP. Why did he change his mind and decided to stay put in the party. Is it because his preferred candidate, Femi Lanlehin has eventually emerged guber candidate of the party?
The main issue, the main political issue in Oyo State since 2003, is Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja. He has remained a major issue; it either you are with him or you are not with him. He is the only person that is not in government but always in the news. Because people have seen the charismatic leadership in him. When he joined Accord he breaths life into the party. When he left Accord, where is the party today in Oyo State? When he re-joined PDP, it was PDP everywhere and when he left the umbrella has been tored into shreds. He is not going to any Zenith Labour Party. I can tell I am a strong political son of Senator Ladoja and I can tell you cathegorically that Senator, among oldee leaders like Baba Koleosho, will lead us to the promise land.
Q/. What about this believe in some quarters that Senator Ladoja is too domineering and would always be in a party where he will have total control. That he is fond of imposition?
I just told you that out fourteen House of Reps seats, Unity Forum are being given 12. Would that have happened if he is a dictator as being insinuated by some people.
Q/. Some are saying the same thing happened in PDP, that Ladoja was trying to lure his opinion on other members and when that was rebuffed that was why he left the party again?
That is absolutely incorrect. What happened in PDP was that he left the party because of impunity at the first instance. And he later said that now that you PDP has come back and you’ve told me that the impunity, the imposition are no more there and I hope it would not resurface.
About a year ago, precisely November 8 or 9 that was when we had state congress in PDP. Elections were conducted and people emerged into various offices. But up till the time we left PDP nobody could say these are the executives of the party.
What happened was that those who lost at that congress were trying to cut short and to get what they couldn’t get through the back door and we just woke up one morning, on a Saturday and they published names of officers wherein they have removed some key officers that belong to Senator Ladoja. He didn’t leave the party, he gave them ultimatum, 14 days.
I must tell you and I must confess to you that he even find it difficult to live PDP. He didn’t want to leave but you couldn’t have done anything else because it was something done with disdain, do whatever you want to do we have done it. And they kept on telling him that we are sorry, we are not aware of it, we will change it tomorrow even he went to Abuja because of the issue.
He held meetings even with the late Chief Tony Anenih.
Q/. As one of the closest persons to Senator Ladoja, how would you describe his kind of politics, his style?
He is a straight forward person, a strategist. He is a go-getter and he believes strongly in planning. He is one of those that will not embark on any journey without first do a thorough travel planning. What are my strategies? How do I get this or that done?
Q/. What are the chances of your party as far as the coming 2019 election is concerned?
I can tell you conveniently and confidently that it is ADC people of Oyo State are waiting for and we are ready to take over the mantle of leadership in the state and come 2019 the governor that will occupy the seat at Agodi Government House is Senator Olufemi Solagbade Lanlehin.
Q/. How would you describe your own political style?
Constituency. Identify your objective, identify your goals, egalitarialism, welfarism and be consistence with what you are doing.
For story submissions and inquiries, please email us at citypeopleonline96@gmail.com