How do you feel turning 96? I feel that God has helped me. I did not know I would live up to this age. But God has made it possible for me to live up to this age. I cannot thank God sufficiently. But what comes up immediately after my 96th birthday is what makes me very sad.

And what is that?

I mean this trouble in Ibadan. This impeachment. It is a kangaroo court. Why? Why should they remove him now? Ladoja has been on for about three years now. It remains about one year now for him. Why can稚 they allow him to complete his term?

President Olusegun Obasanjo visited you yesterday (Wednesday). What was your discussion with him on the matter?

Well, I asked for a private discussion with the President. I took him away into my guest room because the whole of my sitting room was filled up with people. We entered into my guest room with Bode George, the Governor of Ogun State. And I asked my own governor (Ladoja) to follow. But the moment he saw Ladoja, he burst into anger. He said he was not in my house to discuss Ladoja痴 case. He said he did not want to see him. Then, I told him that if you don稚 want to discuss the matter, I can稚 be happy after this visit. I said do this for me by stopping this impeachment. Then, Obasanjo said he wanted to ask one question from Ladoja. I told him to ask any question he wanted. Then, he asked Ladoja who it was who revealed the discussion we had in Ota to the press after the meeting on Tuesday? The President must have been annoyed. He said only three of them were at the meeting. So, who was it that leaked it to the press? Then, he said Ladoja had to go out. That he would not discuss his matter. Then, I begged him, do this for me. So, after Ladoja had gone out, I discussed with Daniel and George. I asked them what can they do for me? But they said it was not my concern alone. That it was the concern of all of them too and that they had tried their best. Even they said that on one occasion, all the governors wanted to settle the matter and called Ladoja but that he did not come. They said instead of coming to Ota, he went to Ijebu-Ode for the birthday of Otunba Subomi Balogun. And then, they asked me what the elders of Ibadan had done to stop the impeachment. They said because the elders did not do anything, the matter had been allowed to drag for a long time. They saw me taking over the matter with the way Obasanjo left the room. He left us there.

So, Obasanjo left you in anger?

Yes, he left us in the guest room and came to the sitting room before us.

Did you ask Obasanjo what Ladoja痴 offence was?

But he has seen a copy of the offence. I don稚 know any point in the offence. Only one point was mentioned yesterday and that is that he paid government痴 money into his account. Well, I don稚 know. He could have paid it into another bank. And I even think that could be overlooked. That was the bank that was well known to him although he was a director of the bank. But I also believe he could have used another bank.

Do you also share the belief that the problem is not about corruption but the 2007 presidential race?

Well, I don稚 know about that. I heard about it also. But Ladoja came to me on Chrismas day and told me that he would do everything they wanted him to do.

How do you feel about the inauguration of Ladoja痴 deputy as the governor this morning?

Has he been sworn in?

Yes. What do you think?

Ah, ah, is there no more the rule of law? How can I be happy about that? They did not do it lawfully and systematically. How do you want to impose a governor on us overnight? It is more or less imposing a governor on us.

You consider that an imposition?

They can say anything but I consider it improper.

The PUNCH, Monday, January 16, 2006