OYO APC SLAMS LADOJA OVER POST-ELECTION MOURNING COMMENT

 The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has described the former governor and the defeated candidate of the Accord Party in the last gubernatorial election in the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, as an avowed anti-democratic and anti-social being whose penchant for placing personal interest above that of the society could not be rivaled.

Ladoja garnered 254,520 votes to emerge second behind Senator Abiola Ajimobi who polled 327,310 votes but the former governor refused to accept the final results as collated and announced by the Independent National Wlectoral Commission (INEC) citing some irregularities which he had promised to prove before the Election Petition Tribunal set up in the state for the 2015 general elections. However, Ladoja said in an interview published yesterday by a national newspaper that the people of Oyo State were in a mourning mood over the announcement of Sen. Ajimobi as the winner of the election.

Reacting to Ladoja's comment, the APC in Oyo State in a statement issued by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, said that it was disturbing to note that the former governor would not sheathe his sword after loosing the election which he had hoped to position himself for a

life-long emperor and also enthrone a political dynasty for his family members and trusted aides.

"Describing the mood of the people as mournful after securing a vital victory for the continuity of good governance as against the impunity, reign of terror and nepotism which marred the his administration by the same Ladoja is the height of disrespect for the people of Oyo State. It is also tantamount to declaring war against democracy and the society having once benefitted from the democratic system even though in a questionable circumstance.

"Ladoja has again exhibited his disdain for the larger society due to his avaricious nature. For the avoidance of doubt, his Accord Party was roundly defeated in all the six political zones in the state including Ibadan less city where he enjoys the highest degree of sympathy from the people. If he had problems with the voters in the state throwing up a preferred candidate in a widely acceptable election to govern the state at his expense, he should handle the pains of masses rejection with decorum rather than insulting the sensibility of the citizenry.

"In the imagination of Ladoja, there was a palpable pensive mood in town following his monumental failure at the polls but the truth of the matter is that on those gullible beings who take him for a saint, despite evident record of sharp practices and vulnerability, throng his house daily wearing mournful looks to sympathize with him (Ladoja). If not a handful number of Accord Party sympathizers who feel a terrible loss after Ladoja's yet another failed attempt to lord himself over the people again, who else would be sad about an assurance of continuity in good governance, restoration of values and wholesome transformation in the pacesetter state.

"The likes of Ladoja would take the peaceful atmosphere which heralded the re-election of Sen. Ajimobi for mourning on the part of the people because if he had been the one elected, many innocent lives would been lost to celebration while opposition members would have had a cause to run away from the state on account of harassment, intimidation and threat peculiar to the people in the collapsing Ladoja political movement. In all of this, we sympathize with Ladoja who has had to retire from politics in an inglorious manner since he didn't appreciate the fact one must quit while the ovation is the loudest." Sadare stated.