By Adeyinka Adeniran
A legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Niyi Akintola on Saturday narrated how the Olubadan-designate, Oba Rasidi Ladoja used his money to finance the activities of the June 12 Pro democracy movement and National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
The support, he said affected Ladoja”s businesses and made it suffer serious setbacks.
Akinola, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and former Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly said Ladoja’s financial contribution to the movement remains unknown to many people.
He spoke while featuring on a popular Yoruba programme known as “Gbagede Oselu”, monitored on the state owned Television station, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Ibadan.
Ladoja, according to him, joined the pro democracy movement after Late General Sani Abacha led Military junta seized power in 1983.
The monarch, prior to this time represented Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly
Akintola recounted that, during the period Ladoja has the largest palm plantation in Cross Rivers State, which was then adjudged to be the largest in the whole of West Africa with the proceed from the plantation and his other businesses used to finance the operation of the Movement.
Akintola said, “Ladoja”s businesses suffered serious setbacks because of his supports for the June 12 pro democracy activist.
“It is on record that during the period Ladoja has the largest palm plantation in Cross Rivers State which was then adjudged to be the largest in the whole of West Africa.
“The proceed from the plantation and his other businesses were being used to finance the operation of the Movement.”
He however lamented that many people that sacrificed their lives for the nation’s democracy are not the ones enjoying its dividend.
Akintola added that the likes of Comrade Mashood Erubami have nothing to show for the stability of governance in the country.
Comrade Erubami, according to him, had unsuccessfully contested for various political positions, saying “some politicians who are occupying various political offices in the country have no link with the struggle for democratic rule in the country.
“People like Mashood Erubami went to prison several times during the NADECO days. These are individuals who paid the price for democracy, yet their contributions are often overlooked.”
