Again, Lam Slams Ibadan Elders

By Wale Adele - 26.01.2006

FORMER Governor of Oyo State and the leader of Action Congress, AC, in the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, has taken exception to a recent statement credited to Alhaji Adegboyega Arulogun, the spokesman of Ibadan Elders Forum.

Alhaji Arulogun had while defending the position of the Ibadan Elders Forum in adopting Sen. Abiola Ajimobi of the ANPP in the last governorship election, insisted that the AC candidate, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, and his godfather decided to rebuff an invitation sent to them before Ajimobi was adopted.

But Alhaji Adesina in a letter he personally signed, noted that the contents of Arulogun's letter was insulting both to himself and his party, challenging the former's understanding of godfather in politics.

The former governor also denied ever receiving any letter from the Elders Forum and urged the forum to make public the name of the recipient of the letter and when it was delivered.

His words "By all standard, I am a full-fledged Ibadan Elder. I advise that what all Ibadan elders should do is to unite and not divide Ibadan.

Nothing prevented the Ibadan Elders from inviting members of other political parties into their meeting before taking a final decision on who should be their gubernatorial candidate."

He said Alhaji Arulogun betrayed his partisanship. "This is naiveté and tactless method of handling political issues that require deft handling, an approach that made Action Congress look stupid in the local government election in Oyo State. He concluded that he had shown his clear hatred for the AC and its members.