• In OYO State Politics

You may choose to love him or hate him but one thing that can’t be ignored about the former governor of Oyo State Senator Rashidi Ladoja is, his remarkable influence in politics and other aspects of life in Ibadan and, by extension, the state and even in the Southwest.

For more than three decades now, Ladoja has consistently been in the forefront of scheme of things as far the state is concerned. And those who are familiar with the happenings in Ibadan and the state generally could testify to this fact. Long before he ventured into politics, Ladoja had been successful as a businessman. Having previously worked and served in different positions of Total Nigeria for thirteen solid years.

He has been a permanent feature in not just Oyo’s mainstream politics, but also in matters of diverse interest in Ibadan. He was elected a senator in 1993 during the aborted Third Republic. He was once a governor, the first to have been impeached and reinstated in the history of Nigeria’s politics.

Now, High Chief Ladoja is an elderstateman and a community leader. He’s the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, a beaded-crown wearing Oba, and member of the Olubadan-in-Council. Except for his age, Ladoja, as always, is still waxing stronger. Even with the age, he enjoys a kind of special grace. At 80 (he will be 80 by September 25 this year), Ladoja remains both mentally and physically fit. He’s as busy as ever. His Bodija residence remains a meeting point for political and traditional matters.

But how can a man who last held a public office seventeen years ago could still be relevant up till now? That’s one interesting thing about Ladoja that many don’t understand. Unknown to many, there are some outstanding qualities in Ladoja that have attracted prominence and relevance to him over the years.

The very interesting of these qualities is his simple lifestyle. Despite his ‘rich’ status, Ladoja remains as simple as possible. In fact, his simplicity is second to none. He believes wealth is not to be flaunted but to impact lives. That has been his view about life and he had strictly adhered to it. Even as a sitting governor, Ladoja maintained his simple lifestyle. He always wears Ankara. He told Vanguard in an interview that he was motivated to be wearing Ankara during a visit to Benin Republic while he was governor.

He said: “I have been wearing Ankara particularly when I was governor of Oyo State and Obasanjo was President of Nigeria. We both travelled to Benin Republic. Obasanjo was wearing Ankara and I remember the President of that country at that time, Kereku, telling his people, ‘Look at the President of the greatest nation in this region.

He is wearing Ankara. You people have been wasting your money buying imported fabric. His country is rich and he himself is rich yet he chooses to live simple by wearing what is produced in his country.” That was when I saw the sense in what he said and I decided to stick to my wearing of Ankara manufactured in Nigeria.

“But all along, dressing so gorgeously does not really make you a big or important person. I feel more comfortable dressing the simple way I do.”

Another thing that Ladoja did to warm himself to the hearts of Oyo State people was the way and manner in which he handled the issue of civil servants as governor. He never joked with civil servants and pensioners. They enjoyed prompt payment of their salaries and entitlements throughout his tenure. That is one of the things that has highlighted his tenure as governor. That is why Ladoja is, still today, loved and respected by workers in the state. Aside this, people also respect Ladoja’s brain. He’s highly intelligent. He’s not just a chemical engineer for the fun of it. Ladoja not only possess academic excellence but also native intelligence. People love and adore his wisdom, and his brilliant intervention on critical issues. That, obviously, has really helped him in building a political empire as a great mobilizer. He is a leader of leaders. He has a formidable political structure solidly on ground in the state.

He’s a grassroot man to the core. He has successfully built political soldiers. And that explains why he has remained an icon in politics. That also explains why it’s very rare to see a politician, young or old, in Oyo State today that would not reference Ladoja, despite the fact that he has withdrawn from partisan politics.

Politicians, young and old, from within the state and across the country still approach him for advice and support irrespective of their political affiliations.

– ADENIRAN NIGHT

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