The Patriot Institute of Journalism and Arts (PIJA), Lance Magazine is a public-centric independent media organisation dedicated to fighting injustice, fostering social justice and community development through the telling and retelling of the marginalised-oriented stories.
It is such a coincidence that the former governor of Oyo state, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, whose death was announced this morning, January 12, was sworn-in as governor this same date in 2006 (January 12). It was the day Senator Rashidi Ladoja was removed as governor and Akala was elevated from the position of Deputy Governor.
Senator Ladoja was having a running battle with his then godfather (now late) Chief Lamidi Adedibu over control of the party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and state resources. Adedibu thus deftly used the members of the Oyo State House of Assembly (with the connivance of the then president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo) to upstage Ladoja through impeachment, with Akala being sworn-in immediately.
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Akala governed Oyo state for 11 months 4 days after which the impeachment of Ladoja was upturned and declared illegal by the Supreme Court.
Akala reverted back to being Deputy Governor. He however went ahead to win the governorship ticket of the PDP for the 2007 election, the contest he won gallantly and was sworn-in as governor for the second time on May 29, 2007.
Today, when he should be celebrating the 16th anniversary of the milestone, that changed the story of his life, he went to be with his maker. In fact, ogbomosoinsightonline.com had completed a story for publishing online to commemorate the anniversary when news filtered in that the ‘Great Tiger’ had passed on. May his charismatic soul rest in peace.
Enoch Oyedibu
Fact-checking with OSINT, airing the marginalised, doing critical and accountability reporting are what I do. I lead a group of professional investigators at PIJAlance Magazine Research and Investigations Desk (RID). Got a story, check contact us to hit me.