Ladoja alleges threat to life

A former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has raised the alarm over an alleged plan to kill him ahead of the April general elections.

Ladoja is contesting the governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party.

A statement made available to our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital on Thursday by his media aide, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, attributed the alleged plot to some people he described as “the powers that be in Oyo State and some groups.”

He claimed that the plan was hatched in an unnamed popular printing press premises in Ibadan owned by an unnamed businessman.

The statement added that the masterminds of the alleged plot saw the decision to eliminate the former governor as the only way to stop the threat the Accord Party posed to some parties in the state.

Ladoja’s campaign organisation called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, and the Director of State Security Service to probe the plot and take appropriate actions to nip the plan in the bud.

It observed that if carried out, the plan was capable of causing a breach of peace in the state and the country.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Bolanta, however told our correspondent on the telephone that the former governor had not reported the alleged threat to his life to him.

“I am hearing from you for the first time. If there is any threat to his life, he should come and report to us so that we can further beef up security around him,” the police boss said.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, has said that he wishes his former boss and predecessor a long life.

Alao-Akala’s message was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Mr. Dotun Oyelade, in reaction to the allegation.

The statement reads in part, “Former Governor Ladoja has alleged threat to his life. Haba! If a man could not assist his people with a war chest of N150b in three years, of what benefit will his death be?

“He will be alive Insha Allah to witness further transformation in the state till 2015. Governor Akala of course, wishes Senator long live.”

The allegation came barely three days after Bolanta summoned all political party leaders in the state to a meeting where he warned them to refrain from violent acts that could threaten the success of the April polls.