Former President Olusegun Obasanjo spoke to Saturday Tribune early on Friday when he paid a condolence visit to former Oyo State governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, at his Ondo Street residence in Bodija, Ibadan, over the death of his mother, Alhaja Alimatu Ladoja, who was buried on Thursday.
The visit of Obasanjo was not without the usual drama for which he is known.
Saturday Tribune was informed of Obasanjo’s visit a few minutes after 7 o’clock on Friday morning.
When Saturday Tribune got to Ladoja’s residence at 7:50 a.m., Obasanjo had already arrived (he got to the house at about 7:40 a.m.) and was in a discussion with Ladoja and the immediate past Secretary to the Government of Oyo State, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo.
On sighting the reporter, Ladoja asked how he got to know Obasanjo was around in his house, with a reply from the reporter that journalists had their news antenna all over the country and were always on the trail of newsmakers.
As soon as Obasanjo realised it was a journalist that Ladoja was talking to, he said softly: “What are you looking for here? Get out!”
Ladoja intervened and pleaded with Obasanjo to allow Saturday Tribune take a photograph of the trio.
Responding, Obasanjo burst into jocular remarks and said to Saturday Tribune: “You have missed a lot. If you had been here earlier, you would have seen me when I was weeping. I wept profusely and I even raised songs in honour of the deceased. So, take your photograph and we will call on you when we are done with our discussion.”
The encounter between Obasanjo and Saturday Tribune went thus:
Tribune: What can you say about the deceased?
Obasanjo: (feigned weeping)….Don’t you see I am crying?
What can you say about Mama’s life?
Mama, Mama, Mama….she was a good mother. Rashidi (Ladoja) is now motherless.
Ladoja (cuts in): I don’t have a father too, except you (embraced Obasanjo)
Obasanjo: Rashidi has now joined the club (of complete orphans). We thank God that Mama left a worthy legacy, good children. She left what those of us who are her children can glory in. May the Almighty grant the deceased eternal rest and continue to keep the children. Mama, who left behind a good son as Rashidi Ladoja, truly has left behind a great legacy. But this great son that Mama left behind can be naughty at times. But when I scold him, he listens to me and corrects himself.
Ladoja, others laughed…
From his comment on Ladoja’s mother’s death, Obasanjo was asked if all was now well between him and his political godson, President Goodluck Jonathan.
Obasanjo’s reply was: “Ara e o ya-” (You are not well.)
This response drew laughter from around, while the former president hopped into his Jeep from where he told Ladoja he would not be available for the eight day prayer for his late mother because he would be out of the country then.
Also, a former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, was one of the earliest callers at the residence of Ladoja to commiserate with him over the bereavement.
Oyinlola, who was at the residence on Thursday morning, urged Ladoja to take solace in the fact that his mum lived well and died at a ripe age. He asked God to continue to keep the children and the family.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi was also at Ladoja’s house on Thursday night in company with some members of his cabinet. He described the deceased as a mother in a million and one who left behind successful children.
Meanwhile, Senator Ladoja has said his mother’s constant prayers and culinary delights are what he would miss most about her.
He disclosed this in an interview with newsmen shortly after the remains of her mother were buried at his father’s house in Yemetu.
In an emotion-laden voice, Ladoja said: “Where do I start from? Do I start from the food? Less than six months ago, she was still my best cook. I prefer eating her food to any other person’s food and she was always very happy to cook for me.”
Ladoja said his mother was his best confidant as well as the “last General” from whom he received orders which were followed by him without asking questions.
“Now, there is nobody that can tell me ‘You must do this!’ My father used to say that ‘when you have no father and no mother, you have nobody who can give you orders.”
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