Former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, has dismissed the claim by former National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, that he has crucial information regarding the murder of Chief Bola Ige as a complete falsehood.

In a recent interview, Chief Akande also said Senator Ladoja entered a no case submission for the suspects accused of assassinating the ex-Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

But the ex-governor has denied the allegation, saying old age has probably affected the memory of the former Osun State Governor to remember what happened during the period.

Senator Ladoja wondered why Chief Akande, who said he knew many things about the assassination that he would not disclose, did not tell the public what exactly surrounded the killing of the former AGF on December 23, 2001.

Senator Ladoja, next in the hierarchy to the Olubadan of Ibadan, said this when speaking with reporters in his Bodija residence in Ibadan.

 

Speaking in an interview with Edmund Obilo, Chief Akande suggested that Senator Ladoja might have important information about late Chief Ige’s killing.

He alleged that Chief Ige was killed by the government and described his death as a “state murder” — but never affirmed a specific person who committed the crime.

Chief Akande claimed that Senator Ladoja withdrew a case related to the murder that had initially been pursued by his predecessor, former Governor Lam Adesina.

“I was the chief security officer of Osun State at the time, not Oyo State. Lam Adesina was the chief security officer of Oyo State and he went to court and the governor that took over from him, Ladoja, withdrew the case from court. He might be able to tell you more, he might know more than I do know,” Chief Akande said.

“There are many things that die with people. I know Lam Adesina went to court over the matter, and I also know his successor, (Rashidi) Ladoja, withdrew the case. Ask Ladoja; he would know more about Bola Ige’s death”, he added.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain also expressed regret that ex-governor Adesina had confided in him about certain details he could no longer disclose.

Chief Akande noted that key figures, including the former Oyo state governor, who could have shed more light on the case, had passed away.

“Because there are many things you don’t want to tell the public. I don’t want to tell anybody. Now Bola Ige is dead, and Lam Adesina too is dead, so who will be my witness? Nobody,” he added.

Addressing journalists at his residence in Ibadan, Senator Ladoja described Chief Akande’s claims as false.

He said that the case was pursued up to the Supreme Court during his tenure, and denied ever having withdrawn any charges.

“I didn’t withdraw the case; my government didn’t withdraw any case. The case was even prosecuted till apex court, Chief Akande lied against me. This is not the first time people said he lied; someone like Baba Adebanjo even said he lied in his book.

“We are not all happy as a result of Chief Bola Ige’s death, and we are all concerned about his death. I was very close to Chief Bola Ige while alive”, he said.

In 2016, former President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that the investigation into the murder be reopened, but there has been little progress since.

An aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) for the vacant seat of the Anambra South Senatorial District, Mr Chidi Amamgbo, has advised the Federal Government to withdraw security details attached to politicians and other very important persons (VIPs) in the country.

According to Mr Amamgbo, who is a U.S.-based Nigerian-born lawyer: “All prominent personalities, from governors to senators, House of Representatives members, and other notable public office holders need to be stripped of police protection.

“Knowing this, stakeholders will quickly show commitment to internal security by overhauling the system if they no longer have access to police escorts”.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital, Mr Amamgbo said the measure would help the government develop the right strategies to tackle insecurity and make the country safe again.

“It’s either we rise together or fall together. It’s either we provide security for everybody, or we cannot have our own mini-army while everybody else dies.

“The security situation in the country currently requires a law that will make it impossible for security agents to be assigned to wealthy people,” he said.

He advocated an upward review of security votes to governors, especially in states “where insecurity has become so pronounced that people now live in fear and hardly run their businesses or sleep in peace.”

Mr Amamgbo added, “Security votes allocated to governors should not be seen as pocket money. A committee made up of well-meaning citizens, who are professionals in their various fields, should be constituted to handle the funds, ensure proper utilisation, and enforce accountability.”

He also mentioned that Anambra South was worse hit by the prevailing state of insecurity in the country such as kiddnapping, cultism and sit-at-home, among others ravaging the state.

According to him, for several years, Anambra South, particularly Ihiala, Nnewi South, and Orumba South, have been under siege by non-state actors.

“They have turned our once-thriving communities into theatres of war and bloodshed. Our people, who are predominantly traders, industrialists, farmers, and professionals, now live in perpetual anxiety, unable to go about their lawful businesses,” Mr Amamgbo lamented.

He stated that the unfortunate development had led to the destruction of businesses, economic downturn and displacement of families from their ancestral homes.

He also said that the security challenge had broken law and order, with security agencies stretched beyond their limits.

Mr Amamgbo, therefore, called on the state government to step up efforts to flush out criminals in Anambra South.