While a number of eyes were trained on the plateau awaiting news of the removal of the London bail-jumper in that quarter, the convoluted nature of Nigerian politics served up a non-surprise with the sack of Rasheed Ladoja from his post as Oyo State governor.

Embroiled for a while now in a typical ‘all or nothing’ battle with Lamidi Adedibu, his erstwhile godfather and irredeemable ‘strongman of Ibadan politics’, Ladoja’s fate was all but sealed when the national leader of his party, retired Colonel Ahmadu Ali, started making utterances in the military parlance that is also the preferred mode of communication for their ultimate principal. All that gibberish about Ibadan being a garrison town and the garrison commander being the final authority--not to mention the reprehensible violence that made Ladoja flee government house at some point--was just part of a script that has 2007 as the year of its command performance.

Inasmuch as there were salutary attempts to observe the provisions of section 188 of the Constitution which outlines the procedure for removing a governor, the endgame in Oyo State, regardless of Ladoja’s misdeeds or the lack thereof, had the same traits of constitutional violations that were evident in the case of former Bayelsa State governor DSP Alamieyeseigha.

Top among these violations is the not-so-new dispute of what constitutes 2/3 of--in this case--the Oyo State House of Assembly. With 32 members at full complement, knowledgeable constitutional authorities posit that 2/3 of the Oyo State House of Assembly is higher than the 18 members who met to kick Ladoja out. At the very least, the argument goes, 2/3 of the Oyo State House of Assembly should be nothing less then 21 members. But ‘the hand of Jacob, voice of Esau’ gimmickry at the heart of this swindle cares little about such niceties.

And he won’t be the last

It is all too apparent now that the powers that be can have their way in virtually any situation they desire. As such, even the on-going exertion to amend the constitution is seen by some analysts as merely a superfluous exercise aimed at placating the international community because, if it were just for the home populace, it is really not necessary to achieve any plot devised by those ultimately responsible for Ladoja’s ouster.

After the faulty impeachment of Alamieyeseigha, the prevalent question of the day was “who’s next?” In addition to that, Nigerians may now ponder just how the barmy craving to hang on to power indefinitely is going to unleash itself on a public that has been condemned by abject poverty, among other ills, to a state of incredible docility.

Despite this seemingly bleak reality, your correspondent must ask: “Nigerians, when shall we take our country back from these power-drunk feudal lords and their connivers?”

Robot  # 1 | 14.01.2006 13:13

While a number of eyes were trained on the plateau awaiting news of the removal of the London bail-jumper in that quarter, the convoluted nature of Nigerian politics served up a non-surprise with the sack of Rasheed Ladoja from his post as Oyo State governor. Embroiled for a while now in a typical ‘all or nothing’ battle with Lamidi Adedibu, his erstwhile godfather and irredeemable ‘strongman of Ibadan politics’, Ladoja’s fate was all but sealed ...Read the full article.

MENGISTU -THE GREAT ONE  # 2 | 14.01.2006 17:20

A few hours ago the wife of former governor of Kano state, Alhaji Abubaker Rimi was brutely murdered in her residence. You will recall that Alhaji Rimi recently decamped from the PDP party. Just trying to keep you informed here

Monsi  # 3 | 14.01.2006 17:42

WHATEVER IS GOING ON IN OYO IS ARRANGED FROM ASO ROCK,OBJ DIRECTED THE POLICE TO PROTECT THE SO CALL ADEDIBU AND CO,WHO IS ADEDIBU TO COMMAD THE POLICE TO ACT AGANIST A SERVING GOVERNOR.....OBJ SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL THIS UNCIVILISE ACT....ALL THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE WAY AND MANNER OBJ RUN THE AFFAIRS OF STATE.....DONT YOU GUYS SEE HIM ON CNN? WHAT DID THIS MAN OBJ THINK OF US NIGERIANS,WHERE IN THIS WORLD AT THIE 21ST CENTURY WILL A HEAD OF STATE(PRESIDENT) DO WHAT THIS MAN IS DOING ON THE CNN......DONT MIND ME....WE ALL KNEW WHAT HAPPEND IN 203 ELECTION,SO OBJ IS A HEAD OF STAE,NOT PRESIDENT...LOL........SHAME SHAME SHAME....welcome to nigeria the heart beat of africa,...hahahahaha,he is just a big masquerade....OF ALL THE ADVERTS ON THE CNN FROM DIFF COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD WHERE DID ANY PRESIDENT HAVE TO GET MESSED UP LIKE THAT,WITH SUCH A CRAKED VOICE AND AN HANDKERCHIEF.....THE WHOLE WORLD NOW SEE NIGERINS THRU THIS MONKEY MAN OBJ......WHAT A EMBARRASMENT......I THINK THE MAJOR PROB OF THE MONKEY OBJ MAN IS TO BECOME EVERYTHING AT A TIME,WHILE HE KNOWS NOTHING.......MUST WE ALL BE LOYAL TO THIS MONKEY MAN OBJ ,ARE WE STILL UNDER THE MILITARY? OR IS NIGERIA AS A WHOLE A VILLAGE AND OBJ AS HE IS CALLED BABA INSTAED OF MR PRESIDENT THE CHIEF? WELCOME TO NIGERIA HEART BEAT OF AFRICA .....shame shame on obj and his family gbenga and the rest......

Prophetic Lines  # 4 | 15.01.2006 13:09

"Nigerians may now ponder just how the barmy craving to hang on to power indefinitely is going to unleash itself on a public that has been condemned by abject poverty, among other ills, to a state of incredible docility." Man, kudos. I like your short and direct dtyle and you have really made a point here. See what has just happened in Kano. What else will happen now? may God help us.