You will lose again if you appeal Tribunal judgment – Ajimobi tells Ladoja

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has boasted that no amount of intrigues, blackmail and manipulations by the Accord Party and its gubernatorial candidate, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, can unseat him as governor.

He made this declaration on Wednesday while addressing hundreds of artisans, traders, market men and women, as well as religious bodies who thronged the Governor’s Office to congratulate him on his victory at the election petitions tribunal the previous day.

In a veiled reference to Ladoja’s pledge to appeal against the tribunal’s judgment, Senator Ajimobi said his mandate was of God, and that no amount of blackmail could change the will of God and the mandate freely given by the people of the state.

According to him, “When I heard that my egbon, Ladoja, said that he was not satisfied with the tribunal judgment and that he vowed to head for the Court of Appeal, I said he (Ladoja) should go to wherever he wants to go.

“But I want to assure you all and the good people of Oyo State that thousands of Accord Party and its candidate, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, cannot unseat me. This mandate is of God and popularly given to me by the good people of this state.

“We must all work together to develop Oyo State. We must never allow enemies of this state to thrive again. We give glory to God that he has taken care of all the troublers of our state. So what should be our concern now is how to ensure that this state is taken to greater height.’’

The visiting group comprised over 25 professional associations including the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Employees, National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation, NACOMYO, National Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria, Igede Development Association and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) among others.

While thanking the people of the state for their unflinching support for his administration, especially before, during and after he succeeded in breaking the second term jinx, the Governor promised to spare no effort to ensure all-round development of the state.

He pledged that his administration would continue to implement policies and programmes that would promote the well-being of artisans, traders and all professional associations as a deliberate step to boost small and medium scale businesses.