Criminal Politics: Violence, “Godfathers” and Corruption in Nigeria

Adedibu’s War Against Ladoja
Rashidi Ladoja served as Governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2007. Adedibu
supported Ladoja as the PDP candidate in the 2003 elections Adedibu helped to rig,
partly by providing the muscle needed to fix the polls. Ladoja confirmed this fact to
Human Rights Watch but said that once he was in office, he tried immediately to
break free of Adedibu’s influence. 166
Ladoja told Human Rights Watch that he fell out with Adedibu shortly after coming into
office in 2003 because he refused to allow Adedibu access to the treasury—he alleges
that Adedibu ordered him to turn over 25 percent of the government’s security vote—or
roughly N15 million ($115,000) per month—directly to him. 167 Ladoja also refused to
allow Adedibu to name the Commissioners who would serve in his cabinet. 168
In an interview with Human Rights Watch, Adedibu described Ladoja as an
“ingrate.” 169 Current Governor Christopher Alao-Akala agreed. “Ladoja should have
involved him in forming the government,” he said. “You cannot exclude this man
from decision-making.” 170 Former state Governor Kolapo Ishola, who met with Human
Rights Watch at Adedibu’s home, expressed a similar view: “The problem with
Ladoja—he did not consult Baba on appointments, he did not ask whether he had
candidates for appointments, for patronage, for contracts. Adedibu did not have a
say, he was angry.” 171
Violence Engulfs the Legislature
By August 2005 tensions between Ladoja and Adedibu had caused the State House
of Assembly to split in two, with a majority of 18 out of 32 members publicly
supporting Adedibu in every matter related to his struggle with Governor Ladoja for
166 Human Rights Watch interview with Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Ibadan, February 8, 2007.
167 Human Rights Watch interview with Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Ibadan, February 8, 2007.
168 Ibid.
169 Human Rights Watch interview with Chief Lamidi Adedibu, Ibadan, February 7, 2007.
170 Human Rights Watch interview with Christopher Alao-Akala, Ibadan, February 10, 2007.
171 Human Rights Watch interview with Kolapo Ishola, Ibadan, February 7, 2007. Ishola served as Governor of Oyo State during
the brief civilian interregnum between the 1992 elections that were annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida and General Sani
Abacha’s assumption of the Presidency.
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