Two slump at pro-Ladoja politicians’ mass burial

At exactly 11.55 a.m. on last week Sunday when a blue Toyota Cabster with registration number Lagos KF975KJA which conveyed the remains of the deceased to the Sango Cemetery moved into the grave site, the atmosphere changed with sympathisers resorting to wailing and weeping. They could not control their emotions as they sighted the defaced […]

At exactly 11.55 a.m. on last week Sunday when a blue Toyota Cabster with registration number Lagos KF975KJA which conveyed the remains of the deceased to the Sango Cemetery moved into the grave site, the atmosphere changed with sympathisers resorting to wailing and weeping. They could not control their emotions as they sighted the defaced bodies wrapped in white clothes in readiness for the mass interment.

As the vehicle halted by the grave site, the wrapped contents were dumped into the grave one after the other and the burial process lasted barely 10 minutes.

The sympathisers comprising hundreds of supporters of ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo State who thronged the Sango Cemetery bursted into tears.

Notable among top party chieftains at the interment were Chief Sharafadeen, erstwhile Secretary to the State Government during the Ladoja era, as well as the state coordinator Yar’adua/Goodluck for president in 2007, Chief Yemi Aderibigbe.

Relatives of those that travelled with ex-Governor Ladoja for the ill-fated journey had as early as 7 o’clock stormed his Bodija residence to ascertain if their father, mother or child (ren) was in the razed bus which had collided with a stationary truck along the way to Okeho. The convoy was billed for a burial party of a relative of a former governorship aspirant under Action Congress (AC) in the 2007 elections, Alhaji Alli Oyedeji, a loyal member of the Ladoja group.

It was a painful experience as family members waited in turn to hear if their breadwinner was in the bus while the relatives of those that died could not hold back their emotions as they sniffed, sobbed and cried.

The driver of the ill-fated bus that conveyed the deceased was simply identified as ‘Baba Ijebu’ and was said to be on top speed while trying to negotiate a bend along Maya-Iseyin road before crashing into an heavy duty truck, the impact of which resulted in the explosion leaving of the passengers of the 18- seater bus burnt beyond recognition.