Oba Samuel Odulana THE last is yet to be heard about the car gift distributed by Oyo State governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala as The Nation learnt yesterday that the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana, also rejected the Sallah car gift sent to him at the weekend.
Former governors Rashidi Ladoja and Lam Adesina had rejected the same offer on Thursday. They described the Subaru Sport Utility Vehicles as ‘Greek gift.’
But the Deputy Governor, who hails from Ibadan, and a group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of Ibadan origin yesterday said that those criticizing Akala are not doing so for the purpose of the collective good of Ibadan but to achieve personal gains.
Arapaja, who spoke at the opening of the Akala-Arapaja campaign office at Yemetu, Ibadan yesterday said members of the PDP faction criticizing the governor are only expressing frustration at their failed efforts to gain the control of the party in Oyo State.
Arapaja said: "The battle for the control of PDP in the state is tied to the inordinate ambition of some Ibadan politicians to secure 2011 governorship ticket of the party against the wishes of the majority of party members. I wish to state here that their opposition to Akala’s government is not based on performance or non-performance. Rather, it is based on greed and selfishness. They are suffering from frustration occasioned by their failure to capture the soul of Oyo PDP through the back door."
Aligning with the Deputy Governor in a statement, the Forum of PDP members of Ibadan origin in the present administration condemned the celebration of the rejection of the gifts in the media, saying it does not portray the politicians as statesmen.
The group, led by Prof. Soji Adejumo and Dr Kola Balogun, said Adesina and Ladoja’s latest gesture has exposed their "ungodly gang-up, bitterness and unwarranted hatred" which it said, cannot stop Adebayo Alao-Akala from emerging the first ever governor to serve the state for a second term.
SPEAKING under the aegis of the Forum of Political Office Holders of Ibadan land, the politicians stated that with the celebrated rejection of the noble and well intentioned gifts from the governor by some politicians, particularly two former governors, it has further become glaring that the former leaders were simply exhibiting sheer jealousy and hatred against Alao-Akala.
"This is an ungodly gang up of well known enemies who are now afraid that a non Ibadan governor, having surpassed their performances put together in all ramifications is all set to break the jinx of second term in Oyo State. This is a clear case of jealousy and hatred of a very dangerous dimension. But like their other ill-motivated projects, it will fail flatly, " the statement said.
Adejumo, who is the Chairman, Oyo State Universal Board for Primary Education (SUBEB) and Dr. Kola Balogun, the State Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives, said it was sad that while Alao-Akala was showing love and obediently heeding the advice of well-meaning Nigerians, including the National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, that he should find means and ways of bridging the gap between him and the aggrieved politicians in the state, Governor Akala was only being reciprocated by malice through rejection of friendly gifts.
The statement read in part: "It is irritating, while the governor is seeking peace and promoting love in the spirit of the season, these people are publicly fanning the embers of hatred and disunity not only in the political circles but in all spheres of the state. This act is unbecoming of people who had been duly honored and given good opportunities to serve the state", adding: "They should have been statesmanly enough to do it without any form of press celebration."
Reacting to the criticism, the Personal Assistant to Ladoja on Media, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo dismissed the group, saying it is not strange that they are protecting their means of livelihood.
He challenged them to walk the streets of Ibadan and identify themselves as Alao-Akala’s associates and watch the reaction of the people to them. 
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