Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan

 

Alhaja Abosede Adedibu, the wife of the late strong man of Ibadan politics and party leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Lamidi Adedibu, on Thursday in her Molete home stated that her late husband would be rejoicing in his grave over Engr. Seyi Mankinde’s victory in the just concluded Oyo State governorship election.

 

While speaking to our correspondent, Adedibu’s wife said: “It is 11 years ago my husband past away and the political party has since died with him.”

She thanked the governor-elect for resurrecting the party in the state and now making it attain an enviable status.

 

“When it was announced that Engr. Seyi Makinde had won, I started rolling on the floor. I said it is 11 years exactly after Baba’s death and PDP has come back? I really give thanks to God that He used Makinde to bring back PDP to the state. Engr. Makinde even said it that ‘Yeyeluwa,’ Baba must be happy in the grave now that his party has returned to power.

 

“But I’m not happy because most of those who passed through Baba’s school of politics left our family after Baba’s death. I thank a few of them about 40 ℅ who stood by us like Arapaja, Teslim Folarin, Elder Wole Oyelese and others. I say thank you all. I don’t want to mention those that forsook us. They will say ‘we cannot serve Baba and also serve his wife. But for those that still believe in the legacy of Baba and those who don’t believe, I say God will bless you all and I thank God I survived the challenges.”

 

While reacting to a rumour mill that all is not well between Former Governor Adewolu Ladoja and the governor-elect over lobbying for positional slots in the government, Alhaja Adedibu maintained that due to the initial coalition of Ladoja’s party and other political parties which gave PDP victory in the state, there must be a sharing formula of posts in the government saying although this cannot be a reason for rift between them.

 

“I believe this is what Baba Ladoja is asking for and I know the governor-elect will not violate the sharing agreement because Makinde is a man of his words; therefore, I don’t see any problem emanating from that.”

 

She as well maintained that because Makinde was the major financier of the political party, that would not bring rancour between him and the party leaders, noting that the party leaders were well mannered and Makinde too has respect for them.

 

She added that the expectations of people in the state were enormous while she prayed for the governor-elect for the wisdom to stir the state to a greater height.

 

On the recent visit of Makinde to incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Mrs. Adedibu noted that contrary to many people’s notion, it’s not a bad signal to the PDP circle. She said PDP party leaders and members followed him there.

“It is a way of extending hands of fellowship to each other and to show a good spirit of sportsmanship,” she said.