Ladoja, Alao-Akala unite for 2015

Two former political opponents, Rasheed Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala, former governors of Oyo State, in Ibadan on Tuesday closed ranks to forge a common front.
The meeting at Ladoja’s Bodija residence was aimed at providing a formidable alternative to the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led administration in the state.
Ladoja told newsmen that closing ranks with Alao-Akala did not mean that he had defected to the Peoples Democratic Party but an alliance to assuage the sufferings of the people in the state.
He said that the development would enhance the politics of the state unlike the hi-tech politics being played by some people.
Alao-Akala, who debunked the reports of his possible defection to Accord Party, said that he was still in the PDP and was reuniting with his boss, Ladoja, to provide the state with an alternative
He said: “When Bola Tinubu was meeting with Buhari (Muhammadu Buhari), did he quit the ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) or did Buhari in turn quit his party, CPC (Congress for Progressive Change).
“We are the grassroots politicians in the state and the people know that from our antecedents.”
He urged Ajimobi to conduct the local government election in the state if he was sure of his performance, adding that the ACN would not win a council out of the 33 local governments in the state.
Femi Babalola, a PDP chieftain, described the coming together of the two politicians as healthy for the development to the state and Oyo politics.
Babalola said that the reunion would salvage the declining politics of the state and re-invigorates it.
He said: “There is no doubt that Ladoja and Alao-Akala own the state politically.
“The coming together of the two is to synergise and help the common man on the street.”
The two political leaders inaugurated a committee to study and harmonise the alliance.
The committee, which has one month to report its findings, has Bayo Lawal, Ademola Ojo, Alhaji Abubakar Tawakalitu, Adeola Akintola, Adeolu Adeleke, and Wahab Oyelade as members
The others are: Yinka Adewuyi, Kemi Olorunsogo, Chief J.G. Adetoro, Nureni Adeniran, Wale Ohu, Prof. Soji Adejumo and Wole Opadeye.