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Nigeria: I'm a Disciple of Adedibu - Obasanjo
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Daily Trust (Abuja)
4 February 2008
Posted to the web 4 February 2008
Olumide Bajulaiye
Lagos
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Saturday in Ota declared that inasmuch as Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu's kind of politics brings results, he will continue to be his political disciple.
Adedibu was a politician of the Second Republic hue and had since been holding sway over Ibadan politics.However, he is currently standing trial having been charged to court by the Federal Government for being a threat to state security Obasanjo made the remark shortly after a closed door meeting he had with Adedibu and members of a delegation made up of Oyo Sate deputy governor, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, Senator Gbenga Babalola, Senator Teslim Folarin, Gen. Raji Rasaki, Azeem Gbolarunmi and the Lagos State executive committee of the party. The delegation was led by the former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George.
Alhaji Adedibu's entourage of over 70 buses, made up of all the 33 council chairmen, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, PDP secretaries and chairmen, arrived the Ota residence of Obasanjo at about noon and were treated to a sumptuous lunch.
Obasanjo said that he was impressed with the performance of elected officers of the party in Oyo State contrary to the expectations of detractors.
He said: " I cannot stop Adedibu from playing politics because no society can develop if the people in that area stay away from politics. Those calling on Adedibu to leave politics have not found any susbtitute for him. So wherever Baba Adedibu goes, I will go."
Speaking further the Owu chief said "Chief Olabode George remained the leader of the party in Lagos State and nothing can take away that party from him.
"Bode George has shown commitment to the party since he joined it, and he has also displayed unalloyed loyalty to the party. In the cause of my struggle in the PDP to sanitise it, I have courted enemies but I remain undaunted.
He noted that "Yoruba tradition places serious premium on respect for elders and whenever or wherever an elder makes any mistake, it is not proper to correct him in the public. Those who tried it in Oyo State know where they are now."
In his response, Adedibu, the strong man of Ibadan Politics declared that "our loyalty to Obasanjo has paid tremendously. Today, we have the governor, the senators, almost all House of Representatives members and all chairmen of local governments.
We thank God we did not get lost as our detractors. In PDP Obasanjo holds the ace and there is no controversy."
Adedibu denied speculation that President Yar'adua has dumped the former President saying "Yar'adua is not an ingrate. He cannot destroy the relationship that had long existed between the Yar'aduas and Obasanjo. Of all the 29 presidential aspirants, Obasanjo picked Yar'adua, the least expected in terms of preparation and willingness to run. How can he now come against Obasanjo?
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Also speaking.Bode George, stated that Engineer Funsho Williams' death cost the PDP victory at the governorship poll. "For 15 years, he prepared to rule Lagos State, at the eleventh hour, the agents of darkness brought the ambition to an abrupt end."
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