Ladoja, former Oyo governor, returns to PDP

Rasheed Ladoja, former Oyo governor, who defected to
the Accord Party to contest the state’s governorship
seat in the 2015 general elections, has returned to the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ladoja, along with Seyi Makinde, a chieftain of the
Social Democratic Party(SDP) in the state, moved to
the PDP on Thursday in Ibadan, when Ahmed Makarfi,
chairman of the PDP national caretaker committee,
visited the Oyo capital.

The former governor, who won the seat on the ticket of
the PDP in 2011, said he was returning to his home,
adding that it was not his wish to leave the PDP when
he did.

“When I left the PDP some years ago, it was because
of the injustice done to me,” he said.

“We left because the PDP leaders, at that time, were
not ready to protect the interest of all members. We
are back now because the new leadership has
promised to right all wrongs and avoid mistakes of the
past.

“I have discussed with members of the Accord party
and they have asked for amnesty; we need assurance
from Makarfi that Accord Party members will be given
equal treatment and a level playing ground.”

In his response, Makarfi said he came to Ladoja “to
take you back to where you belong”.

“We want you to return to your great beginning; we
want to start all over again as one family,” he said.

Makarfi expressed optimism that Ladoja’s presence
would add value to the PDP in Oyo state, adding that
he (Ladoja) had committed no crime to warrant a plea
for amnesty.

He implored PDP members to forget the past and work
toward party unity and assured Ladoja and new PDP
members of equal opportunity for all.

Makinde, in his remark, assured Makarfi of his group’s
total support to the ideals of the PDP, urging him to
protect the interest of his members.

Richard Akinjide and Yekini Adeojo, two PDP
chieftains, who spoke at the occasion, commended
Makarfi over his efforts to reconcile warring factions
and “especially for wooing new members into the fold”.

Akinjide particularly promised to assist Makarfi toward
rebuilding the PDP and urged him to carry all members
along, so as to create a sense of oneness.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that
hundreds of Accord party, SDP, and PDP supporters
received Makarfi who also visited Chief Christopher
Alao-Akala, another former Oyo governor being wooed
by Makarfi. (NAN)

TheCable