NIGERIA- Former Oyo State Governor, Sen. Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja has expressed doubt over the success of the National Confab, saying his reservation was predicated on the timing of the exercise which would fall into the election time.

Ladoja, while speaking to journalists at his Bodija, Ibadan residence on Tuesday, asked rhetorically if there is any need for the conference. He noted that there would not likely be any value to be added to the country as a result of the conference if at all it is held.

“National Conference will lead us nowhere because we are going to be beclouded by election. I don't see it being thorough as it should be because of time.

“To me, It was a distraction meant to take away the mind of people from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis, I mean the G.7 governors”, the former

governor stated.

When reminded that his position was at variance with that of 'The Patriots', Ladoja said “I'm a patriot also, the fact that some people labeled  themselves as patriots does not mean they are the only patriots.”

“I also love Nigeria, I want us to be proud of our country. I want good things for Nigeria, I mean well for the country just like any other patriotic Nigerian, so, my view or opinion does not necessarily need to be the same with some people,” the Accord chieftain added.

He explained further that part of the problems to face on the confab would be how to choose candidates that would participate in the exercise and by the time the programme would start, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would have blown the whistle for election.

“Unfortunately, rather than facing the issue for which the confab is set up, all what will be happening is how to secure upper hand in the coming election and you will say a conference has been held, that cannot be a genuine and sincere conference,”  Ladoja said.

Speaking about his recent alliance with his successor, Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala, Sen. Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja revealed that things did not work out as planned because the latter refused to dump Peoples Democratic Party for Accord Party.

Ladoja said him and Akala have forgotten about the past and trying to forge ahead for the benefit of the good people of Oyo State, only for his (Akala) refusal to join Accord due to some “privileges” he is enjoying.

“Akala approached me if we could work together. We didn’t even talk or think about what happened in the past. Yesterday is gone. We can only learn lesson from it and use it to plan for tomorrow. All I want is to work for the benefit of Oyo State.

“We set up a committee but personal interest changed many things. Bayo is not ready to get out of PDP.

“Our party does not have any privileges to offer. I think he doesn’t want to leave PDP because of the privileges he enjoys there. As far as am concerned, our doors are open.” Ladoja said.

Furthermore, the former governor described the present condition of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as precarious, saying the party has lost its focus.

According to CEOAFRICA.com correspondent, the former governor explained that the party (PDP) has abandoned its founding objectives as it is now comprise with politicians who are opposed to the principles of democracy.

Ladoja said several crises which is currently rocking the party, coupled with that which led to his impeachment in 2006, has discouraged him from returning to the party for now.

Analyzing the ongoing crisis in the party and past crises including the one that led to his impeachment in 2006, Ladoja said the reason accounts for why he cannot consider returning to the part for now.

Ladoja cited the just concluded Anambra governorship election as an instance which showed the flaws currently embedded in the party, saying the party couldn’t organize ordinary state primary to produce a candidate until one week before the election.

He also said efforts of the party’s National Chairman, Alh. Bamanga Tukur, in restructuring the party is being frustrated by those he described as “the undemocratic elements”.

“Tukur came in to correct this ill but I think he is seeing more than he thought.

“It is difficult. May be God will be kind to us one day such that we can have democrats in the majority in the party because whatever they do largely affects the country,” he said.