By Ola Ajayi
Like a stone dropped in an ocean will generate many endless ripples, the political gulf between Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and Ibadan indigenes is widening every passing day.   The indigenes have not hidden their displeasure with the governor.

Though, the governor tried to use his police experience to win them to his sides by some appointments he made, it seems the baits are not enough to pacify the indigenes who are now, hell bent  on having an Ibadan man as the next governor of the state.

Any Ibadan man who falls headlong to the carrot being dangled by the governor in form of an appointment is seen and treated like an outcast.

Tokyo and Akala

With the unfolding events in the state, it seems the elite in the ancient city are tightening the noose against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Ogbomoso born governor.

The tempo had earlier gone down a bit before the last Thursday’s murder of the former factional chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Alhaji Lateef Salako a.k.a  Eleweomo who bowed to the heavy hammer of death during the last controversial ward and local government congresses.

His death has further worsened the situation as an Ibadan man who is seen as the son of the soil-Senator Teslim Folarin has been arraigned before an Ibadan Magistrate Court on a two-count charge of felony and killing of the union leader.

Though, the case is still in court, many of the indigenes of the city are not holding the law responsible but the governor who they alleged had connived with the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta.

During the arraignment of the senator and three others yesterday, the comments that were made by majority of the supporters of Folarin who had thronged the premises of the court were suggestive that the issue had assumed a dangerous dimension that needs to be treated with utmost caution.

Though Senator Folarin had washed his hands clean of the killing of the union man, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Ona Ara Local Government, Akanran, Mr. Taofeek Olayiwola maintained that   “Senator Folarin who had chosen to stay away for reasons best known to him stormed the venue of the congress with 25 mobile policemen and about eight buses loaded with people suspected to be political thugs.

He also alleged that“Senator Folarin ordered his aides to release gun shots which caused people to scamper for safety including Alhaji Salako and they identified and pursued Alhaji Salako, caught up with him, shot him, stabbed him and waited until he died”.

To him, “The fact that Senator Folarin was there when Alhaji Salako was being killed showed that the action was a predetermined one meant to eliminate Alhaji Salako who was believed to be a stumbling block to Senator Folarin’s attempt to forcefully take over the PDP structure in Ona-Ara Local Government against the wish of PDP members in the Local Government,”.

Contrary to the claim of Folarin that two of his supporters were felled by attacker’s bullets in the melee, Olayiwola argued that there was no attack on him, neither was there any killing adding that there was no official report of the purported attack.

If the claims of the senator were true, he said he should bring those people killed on his sides out for all to see.

As the claims and counter claims continue, the matter seems to be multiplying the opponents of Governor Alao-Akala who are springing up in the city by day.  Those who could be described as the brains behind Akala’s success at the 2007 polls are already leaving his camp.

The list is endless. But to date, Abass Oloko who was the engine room of the governor in the last election said he would be the most foolish man on earth to continue to stay with the governor who would hardly listen to other person’s advice.

Also, Folorunso Lana, who played an active role during the controversial 11 months is now on the side of the opponents. He was the one that held the brief for the reinstated chairman of the NURTW, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, aka Tokyo.

Political observers are of the view that the governor has now been left in a circle and getting out of it with his second term ambition intact is a white elephant task. His opponents kept saying he is a lone man at the battle front as some people who the governor thinks are on his side are actually on the other side.

Vanguard gathered that when the opponents went to Ogbomoso to organize a rally that later turned bloody, one of the cabinet member s of the governor congratulated the opponents for a successful rally.

When Folarin was arrested, many notable indigenes of the city stood firmly by him. Those with him were the fourth Republic Senator, Senator Lekan Balogun, Elder Wole Oyelese, former Minister of Power and Steel, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, founding member of the PDP in the state, Senator Ayo Adeseun, former Chief of Staff in the administration of Rashidi Ladoja, Chief Sarafadeen Alli, Alhaji Alli Oyedeji (a.k.a. Alli Dodo), former member, Oyo state Pilgrims Board, Alhaji Abass Oloko and the eight embattled lawmakers who are also opposed to Akala re-election.

Unlike in the past that he would have been left to his fate, they were in detention with him so that no harm would be done to him. At the State CID where he went to write a statement, all his political associates stood with him throughout the night.

Vanguard gathered that the plot against Akala’s exit thickens by day.  For about three weeks, Vanguard gathered that the Ibadan elite have mounted pressure on the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to forget the issue of primaries so that a widely acceptable candidate who can match Akala strength with strength could be picked. They vowed to ensure that all things being equal, they would not rest on their laurels to scuttle the second term bid of the governor .

While the likes of the former Deputy Governor  in the state, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi, Elder Wole Oyelese, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo are left in the PDP to thwart the dream of the governor,  a former Governor of the State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has gone to the Accord Party to achieve his aim. All these are aimed at seeing Akala off the Agodi Government House in May this year.

The latest development may have made Folarin a hero. Until now, no one thought he had hundreds of supporters that thronged the court. Some could not hide their love for him that they continued to weep for him.

But, they consoled themselves that the issue would further strengthen the cord of togetherness that holds them together and would endear more people to the side of the senator.

It is a fact that the death of Adedibu has created a big vacuum in his camp. If he were alive, this chaotic situation would have been avoided.

To Adedibu, Folarin was the apple of his eyes and he would not have allowed anybody to play any dirty game with him.

On the other hand, the case would affect the political fortune of Folarin. It was gathered that he was to collect his nomination form this week, and by his arraignment, his perceived opponents have scored a point-spoiled his political ambition.

Even if he is let off the hook, already, he has been distracted and embarrassed. No one ever thought he could be docked being the number 7 man in the country.

And with his gentlemanly nature, he may want to withdraw into his shell. Before he came out in full force by talking against the governor, he had been an easy going person, they see him as being too  soft for the tumultuous political atmosphere in the country.

His arrest has started another ‘war’ in the state. As the April poll draws near, it is expected that more political cloud would gather. All hands are on deck to see who wins the battle. Akala or lbadan indignenes.