Why Gov. Seyi Makinde & I Are Very Close - Ex-Oyo First Lady, Yinka Ladoja Speaks On Her Political Journey

Former first lady of Oyo State, Alhaja Mutiat Yinka Ladoja has revealed the reasons behind her cordial relationship with the governor of the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

The Maye Iyalode of Ibadanland and wife of the former governor Rashidi Ladoja, Yinka Ladoja made these revelations while featuring on a radio programme in Ibadan.

Few days to the just concluded gubernatorial and house of assembly elections in the state, the former first lady was on Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Ibadan. Where she was able to address some partinent issues, especially the governor's purported 'hostile' body language towards the Islamic faith.

She wondered where the wild notion of governor Makinde's being anti Islam emanated from. Saying that she has known Makinde to be organizing Ramadan Lectures and sending people to Hajj for the past ten years. Even long before he became governor of Oyo State.

"How can a man who has been consistently organizing Ramadan Lectures at NTA in the last ten years be anti Islam. He wasn't even governor when he built Omituntun Mosque," she said.

Speaking further, Mrs. Ladoja also pointed out the fact that governor Seyi Makinde even has a Muslim background.

"He has a Muslim background. His grandfather from Aigbofa Compound of Oja'ba was a Muslim. It was his own father, late Pa Olatunbosun Makinde who converted to Christianity. In fact, his Muslim name is Saheed."

On why Makinde commands a lot of love and respect among the people of Oyo State. 

"Governor Makinde, naturally, is so passionate, humble and kind. He is a philanthropist. And he has said it right from the onset that he wanted to serve. He made me understand that there is nothing in government that he can't afford. But he wants people to enjoy dividends of democracy. It's my joy that he has done all he promised to do. He will still do more in the Omituntun 2.0. I'm proud of him. He is a God sent to liberate the people of Oyo State."

According to Chief Yinka Ladoja, she is in the best position to know all these sterling qualities of governor Seyi Makinde since they have been close for about twenty one years now.

She said: " Seyi Makinde is the market I am selling. He's marketable because he is loved by the people of Oyo State. Our paths crossed in 2002 during electioneering period of that year. He was like an onlooker then with a group of about twelve men. The group was called Fortune Group. They were monitoring the happening within the political circle.

After the election, he went back to America where he was based then. It was in 2009 that he came back and started talking about going into politics. In 2011, I was one of those who followed him to his village, Ajia to launch his power project.

That was what actually attracted him to me. I was amazed because not many of his mates then would have ever thought of embarking on such project. I was also there when his father died in 2012. After the burial, when he wanted to go back to America he came to pay me a thank you visit. It was in the course of his visit that he overheard me taking to the doctor on the phone about a girl we wanted to provide an artificial legs for.

I was persuading the doctor to reduce the cost and all that. I never knew he was paying attention. But to my utmost shock, I saw Makinde's message a week after. He cleared the bill. The girl of that time is now a grown lady. She has her HND. In fact, she is currently observing a year mandatory service.

That and many others are the things that convinced me that we have many things in common. Since then it has been mother and son relationship for us.

When he wanted to contest in 2014, I told him I was not sure it was the right time but since it is your wish. I also told him that I know he would be governor one day. But that the particular time was what I didn't know. I have always know him to be very smart and intelligent."

When asked where she got her political skills from, Chief Yinka Ladoja has this to say. "I was born into politics. My mother was a great politician in Ibadan. She is from the popular Akintola Compound of Oke-Mapo. She was in the Action Group, alongside the likes of the first female senator of the Western Region, Mrs. Wuraola Esan and the late former Iyalode of Ibadanland, Alhaja Humuani Alaga.

I was young then but I used to follow my mother to their meetings at Mrs. Esan's place. They had meetings in our house as well. The likes of late former governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina knew me from my childhood.

In fact, my mother was one of the founders of Isabarudeen Girls School in 1958. Mrs Adio was the first Principal. So, I understand the political terrain of Oyo State like the palm of my hand. As a matter of fact I would have contested during the time of late Chief Bola Ige but I was pregnant then. After I gave birth, I didn't leave politics. I bought my first car during the era of Chief Bola Ige. He was my leader and mentor in politics.

I have known him right from my childhood. They were together with the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo and co. Bola Ige's home at Oke-Ado and Awolowo's home at Oke-Bola were like my second homes. I was eleven years old when I first entered Government House. The military governor then was General Adeyinka Adebayo. That was the first time I ate at the Government House in company of my mother." 

Credit: citypeople