SAN FRANCISCO, September 12, (THEWILL) – National leader of the Accord Party and former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has noted that the change begins with me program being touted by the Federal Government should begin with President Mohammadu Buhari.
Ladoja stated this while speaking with newsmen at his Bodija home shortly after observing the Eid-prayer at the University of Ibadan Central Mosque adding that Nigerians will follow the change when it is observed in the President and his cabinet members.
He insisted that the Edo governorship election would not have been postponed if the All Progressive Congress (APC) was sure of winning adding that said nobody was convinced by the argument being put forward on security concerning the election.
“Its mixed, look at what Emir Sanusi said. Sanusi does not believe that there is sincerity with the anti-corruption crusade. He said he as Emir can source $1m by telephone at N197 and sell it at over N400 which means he knew some people are doing it,” he said.
“You see economy and corruption go together. As long as you have a lot of roadblocks there will be more corruption. Liberalisation is better. Do you need to bribe anybody to get GSM today? Go and try it in the days of NITEL.
“They will ask you to go and bring the ladder and you had to bribe them for them to render the service. Corruption is not only public servant or politician thing. It is endemic in us and it is caused by blockade, redtape. Remove the red tape and you will see.
“Sanusi has said it that the dollar has gone up but there is corruption there. I don’t have anything against religion but I believe that we should not do something that is not sustainable. There is no corruption and yet some people can buy at N197 and those that want to employ people and do business can go and buy at over N400 and we want the economy to improve?
“All these do not add up. Who does he want to please? That is subsidy, if you do it for Muslim you have to do it for the Christians.
“I think the change starts with President Buhari. Look at what INEC said about the change in date in Edo State elections. They said it is colossal waste and nobody has convinced us about the postponement.
“They said security reasons. Billions of naira have gone down the drain. We are wasteful. I am not in their party. My party has no candidate in Edo. I just know that it is wrong. We have fixed this date for a long time.
“Are you now going to ask WAEC to change the date also? We are still playing games. I am sure that if APC were sure that they will win Edo election they will not have postponed.”
The former Governor also carpeted Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo State Governor over the creation of local government development areas asking the government to be more creative and not be lazy.
Story by David Oputah.
