PDP Defends N500Million Ladoja Received From NSA

The Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Oyo chapter, has risen in defense of Rashidi Ladoja, a former governor of the state, accused of receiving N500million from the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) The federal government last week published two separate lists of alleged public funds’ looters including Ladoja – all of who are members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Akeem Olatunji, who speaks for the Oyo-PDP, said Ladoja’s inclusion among the said looters was “demeaning and surprising” because it was “outright falsehood and fabrication of unsubstantiated claims against perceived political opponents” made in a bid to score cheap political points”.

Olatunji said Ladoja had sold one of his properties to the NSA office, for which he was paid N500million.

He said Ladoja “had a legitimate business transaction with the office of NSA on the sales of one of his property at VGC in Lagos”.

“The property was valued at N600 Million and N500 Million was paid leaving a balance of N100 Million but Mr Dasuki who was the NSA was removed before the conclusion of the transaction while the new NSA withdrew from the transaction, hence the reason for the return of N500 Million earlier deposited by the NSA office, this happened in 2016.

“We feel compelled to find out what actually transpired between someone highly regarded as the face of PDP in Oyo State and the Leader of the party, Sen Rashidi Ladoja, and the office of NSA, we discovered that it is a case of vendetta, witch-hunting and political persecution of a man considered as the greatest threat to APC survival in Oyo State”.

“PDP in Oyo State as a newly rejuvenated and re-branded party frowns at corruption and would not condone it in whatever form believing a just and equitable society as well as good governance can only be a product of a discipline and morally upright party as represented by the new PDP in Oyo State.

“The party, PDP, wishes to remind President Muhammad Buhari not to forget he is no more a military President, we are in a democratic dispensation where rule of law not rule of barrel prevails,” the statement said.

Ladoja was Oyo governor between 2003 and 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, which he also left to establish the Accord Party. He returned to the PDP last year.