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The strongman of Ibadan politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, on Tuesday
travelled to Abuja to honour the invitation of the Acting
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro.
The police boss had two weeks ago, summoned Adedibu to the force
headquarters so that he could respond to a myriad of petitions against
him by some people within and outside the state.
But the
Peoples Democratic Party chieftain did not honour the invitation when
he was initially summoned through a letter dated October 31, 2007 and
signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Austin Obaedo.
The
octogenarian had complained about his failing health and assured the
police authorities that he would be their guest the moment he was
alright.
A source also told our correspondent that the politician
requested to visit the IG last week but had his offer turned down
because the police boss had travelled out of the country.
Unconfirmed
reports however indicated that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was
at Adedibu’s Molete’s residence in Ibadan on Sunday to convince him to
honour the police invitation in his own interest.
An aide of the
politician confided in our correspondent that the man left Ibadan for
Abuja in the early hours of Tuesday enroute Lagos.
The
Commissioner of Police in charge of Oyo State Command, Mr. Udom
Ekpoudom, confirmed on the telephone that the politician had gone to
Abuja, adding that he was supposed to travel last Thursday but for some
delays.
Adedibu, a strong member of the ruling PDP, was asked to
report at the Louis Edet House of the police on November 2, according
to the letter from the police.
He had been under intense criticisms over the social and political violence that had rocked the state since 2003.
The royal institution in the ancient town, through the Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, recently asked the man to quit politics.
The
authorities of the National Agency for Food, Drugs and Administration
and Control, through its Director-General, Prof. Dora Akunyili, also
accused the politician of disturbing its war against fake drugs in the
state.
Members of staff of the state-owned Broadcasting
Corporation had also petitioned the IG over the May 23 attack on the
three transmitting stations in the state allegedly by supporters of
Adedibu.
They claimed that no fewer than 19 people were injured
and that valuables like money and handsets of the workers were stolen
by the thugs used to carry out the invasion.
A Former director of
the Odu’a Investment Limited, Alhaji Olawale Oladoja, whose official
car was forcefully seized from him by suspected thugs working for
Adedibu, also petitioned the police hierarchy.
Oladoja alleged
an assassination attempt and armed robbery attack on him at the Agodi
Praying Ground after observing his prayers to mark the end of the
Ramadan festival.
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