OBJ killed dreams of PDP's founding fathers - Ladoja

FORMER governor ofOyo State, SenatorRashidi Ladoja, on Monday, berated former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, for allegedly killing the dreams of the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of his selfish agenda.He was speaking with newsmen at his Bodija Ibadan residence during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.While responding to the question on whether he would be willing to return to PDP going by the pressure mounted on him by the party, Ladoja said the time was not ripe for him to return except certain steps were taken to redress some mistakes of the past which he said had affected Oyo State in terms of political patronage.He said the refusal to appoint Chief Sunday Awoniyi as the party's national chairman in 1999 paved way for Chief Obasanjo to ride roughshod on members of the party.He remarked that the former president removed successive national chairmen of the party in quick succession and installed 'surrogates' who could be at his beck and call and deviated from the lofty and cherished ideals of the party which made it to be the toast and envy of all in 1998. 'This is the situation. We are at the level of saying is it necessary for me to go' I cannot be in a party where I would not enjoy the dividends of my work. There are fine gentlemen in PDP. We are blessed with people of dignity. Where did we derail' We derailed when we did not appoint Awoniyi as chairman because Awoniyi would not have allowed himself to be used by Obasanjo. Obasanjo then got Chief Banabas Gemade in and removed him again putting Ahmadu Alli and so on and so forth. We have to find a way of redressing that trend and that is what I stand for,' he said.Confirming the olive branch being extended to him to consider rejoining the PDP, Ladoja said, 'They have sent emissaries and I am still receiving emissaries from them. They want me back in the party but this would give me the opportunity of reviewing the relationship between PDP and Oyo State during the time PDP was in power.
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