The Nation Newspaper

Category: Election

  • Akeredolu to Ilaje, Akoko: vote wisely

    Akeredolu to Ilaje, Akoko: vote wisely

    The standard bearer of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Saturday’s poll, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has promised to alleviate the plight of the oil-producing communities in Ilaje and Ijaw.

    He urged them to vote wisely by voting for him on Saturday, assuring that an ACN administration would not disappoint them.

    Akeredolu and his running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, were in Igbokoda, the headquarters of the Ilaje nation on Saturday. Alighting from a chopper, he was besieged by a crowd of party supporters who had waited for his campaign train since noon. The ACN candidate was accompanied by Dr. Jibayo Adeyeye, Wale Akinterinwa, Segun Olulade and Wale Akintimehin. They were welcomed to the campaign grounds by the leaders of the party in the area, Chief Wale Omojuwa, Nimbe Tause, Adebambo Odowo, Olu Mekuleyi and Lucky Ayedatiwa

    Ilaje is the home of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke. The ACN rally coincided with the PDP rally in Akure, which was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and party leaders.

    At the rally, ACN supporters complained that their members in the coastal areas were not mobilised by the party chairman in the local government, urging the standard bearer to repeat the rally in the riverine communities because the party has a reservoir of goodwill in the locality.

    After addressing the Igbokoda rally, Akeredolu visited the palace of the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, to pay homage and explain his mission in the community to the traditional ruler, his chiefs and the people. The paramount ruler wished him success. He urged politicians to show tolerance and promote peace.

    Tause, who welcomed the ACN leaders to the campaign, assured Akeredolu of bloc votes. He said: “Iroko is already afraid. He is planning to rig the election. We will not allow him.”

    Odowo also said the Labour Party (LP) was jittery. He said: “Five Yoruba states are already cooperating under the umbrella of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the Southwest. Ondo cannot be different. Ilaje cannot vote for Papa Deceiving Party. Umbrella is necessary for the rain, but it cannot withstand a storm. We will sweep them away with our brooms.”

    Ayedatiwa said Ilaje looked forward to 2013 as a year of change and joy. He appealed to those in the LP and PDP to join the ark of salvation.

    Akintimehin said: “Akeredolu has conducted an analysis here in Ilaje. He knows the plight of the Ilaje. He will not misrule us. Let us go to our units and convince those still in the LP and PDP to vote for the ACN.”

    Mekuleyi said Governor Olusegun Mimiko has misused the oil money derived from Ilaje, adding that normalcy will be restored by the ACN government. He said:” Where is our oil money? ACN will develop Ilaje and our roads will be built. What we need to do is to vote for ACN and police our votes.”

    Akeredolu urged the Ilaje to vote wisely. He lamented the under-development of the oil-producing communities, stressing that they had laboured under the Labour Party in vain. He enjoined them to avoid violence whenever they are provoked by suspected LP thugs, assuring that victory is at hand.

    At Oka-Akoko, the crowd rejoiced on sighting Akeredolu, who was ushered to the podium by the governorship aspirants who had stepped down for him, including Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, Dr. Jayeola Ajatta and Dr. Segun Abraham. Before addressing the rally, the ACN candidate visited the palace of the Olubaka of Oka, Oba Adebori Adeleye. Community chiefs and elders prayed for him after he explained his mission. He promised to turn around the state by fighting the infrastructure battle.

    At the rally were Mr. Gboyega Adefarati, Mrs. Ogedengbe, Mrs. Ronke Ojo, Ambassador Yusuf, Tope Babaleye, a lawyer, Boye Ologbese, and Bola Ilori. Akinterinwa, who introduced the leaders, hailed the dedication of Prof. Boroffice to the party’s cause.

    He reminded the people about the position of Mimiko on how the governorship slot should be filled, saying since he has advocated one term, he should spend a term in office.

    Abraham also said the governor does not deserve the vote of the Akoko, having insisted that former governors Adebayo Adefarati and Olusegun Agagu should not have a second term.

    He added: “Aketi has come with a good news for Akokoland. Come out on October 20 to chase Mimiko out of power with your votes.”

    Ajatta said: “I am happy because of this crowd. Akeredolu has come with good tidings. Vote for him so that Ondo State can have a responsible government as they have it in Edo, Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun and Osun states.”

    Ilori, an indigene of Ondo Kingdom, said: “I am from Ondo Kingdom. If those of us from Ondo say we are tired of Mimiko, what should Akoko people do? I saw Akoko roads and felt ashamed of Mimiko. I apologise to you all. Akeredolu will put smiles on your faces.”

    Mrs. Ojo said: “Women are the largest voters. Let us vote for Akeredolu and defend our votes. He is the messiah.”

    Boroffice told his kinsmen that he is still in the Senate, contrary to the lies being peddled by LP that his position has been declared vacant. He said: “I am still in the Senate, but Mimiko will not be in Alagbaka again. Do not forget our deal. I have a prize for the unit, ward and local government that gives the highest votes to Akeredolu and I know that Akoko Southwest will get the prize.”

    Akintelure said: “ I have come to relay a message from God to you at Oka. Aketi will perform wonders in Akokoland. Reject Mimiko in Akoko as we have done in Ikaleland. Mimiko said it would be business as usual. We reject that for Akokoland”.

    Akeredolu said: “This crowd is not my doing. It is not because I am good. It is the handiwork of God. Let us thank God, sing praises unto the Lord and rejoice in Him. Where we are going, we are already there. ACN will rule Ondo State.”

  • ‘Ondo governor has admitted failure’

    ‘Ondo governor has admitted failure’

    THE standard bearer of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Saturday’s governorship poll, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said Governor Olusegun Mimiko has admitted failure with his statements on issues during last Friday’s debate.

    In a statement by Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, the Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO), Akeredolu said the Mimiko administration has disorganised the health sector by creating a dichotomy in staff welfare package, building a glorified maternity in Akure called the Mother and Child, while he has neglected other health facilities.

    He said Governor Mimiko has abandoned sport projects such as the Akure old and new stadia, Ile-Oluji Stadium, adding that it is pathetic that Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure is playing its matches in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State and this has alienated the club from its supporters, resulting in the loss of revenue through the money government could have made from gate-takings.

    He said infrastructures such as road and water are begging for attention.

    He added: “Mimiko is building a fountain in Akure where there is no potable water. He is powering street lights in Akure with generators while complaining of the inability to revive the moribund industries because of lack of electricity. He has not inaugurated a one Km road in his three and a half years in office.

    “Akeredolu is a man of proven integrity who can be trusted by the people. He is ready to replicate the infrastructural development in Lagos, which has become a benchmark in Sub- Sahara Africa.”

    ACO said it has uncovered a plot by the Labour Party (LP) to print the logo of the ACN on T-shirts to be distributed to LP thugs to cause mayhem.

    It alleges that this is part of the plot by LP to portray ACN as a violent party and pave the way for security agents to unleash terror on ACN by arresting its members.

    The T-shirts, it was learnt, have been made, awaiting distribution in Okitipupa, Ondo town, Idanre, Owo, Okeluse, Oka, Ikare, among others.

    “We are using this opportunity to call on the Inspector-General of Police and Ondo Commissioner of Police to note that ACN has nothing to do with the T–shirts being made to give us a bad name. We urge the public to report any violence to the police,” Ajanaku said.

  • Opinion poll gives it to Akeredolu

    Opinion poll gives it to Akeredolu

    THE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in Saturday’s governorship election, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akredolu, will win the poll, an opinion poll predicted at the weekend.

    The poll, conducted by Total Loyalty team, rates the ACN candidate ahead of the others in the 18 local governments in the state.

    In a statement, Total Loyalty President, Oluwatoyin Balogun, said the poll revealed “the people’s hunger for a change.”

    Another poll by Nigeria Gallop Poll Watch, in association with Track Pool Limited, United Kingdom, last week rated Akeredolu to win with 40.28 per cent ahead of the Labour Party candidate, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (24.84 per cent) and Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Olusola Oke (22.84 per cent).

    A breakdown of the result of the Total Loyalty Team in the 18 local governments is as follows:

    Akoko North West Local Govt- 75% ACN, 10% P.D.P, 15% L.P

    Akoko South West LG-70% ACN, 5% PDP, 25% L.P

    Akoko South East LG-80% ACN, 5%PDP, 15%L.P

    Akoko North East LG-65%ACN, 15%PDP, 20%L.p

    Akure North LG-90%ACN, 5%P.D P, 5% L.P

    Akure South LG 50% ACN, 15%PDP, 35% L.P

    Ese Odo LG-40% ACN, 50%PDP, 10%L.P

    Idanre LG 30%ACN, 25%PDP, 45% L.P

    Ifedore LG 35%ACN, 15%PDP, 50% LP.

    Ilaje LG-35ACN, 50%PDP, 15%LP.

    Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo LG- 35%ACN, 25%PDP, 40%LP.

    Irele LG-40%ACN, 50%PDP, 10%LP.

    Odigbo L.P 40%, ACN15%, PDP 45%LP.

    Okitipupa LG 40%ACN, 45%PDP, 15%L.P

    Ondo East LG 35%, ACN 29%, PDP, 45%L.P

    Ondo West LG 30%ACN, 15%PDP, 55%L.P

    Ose LG 80%ACN, 15%PDP, 5%L.P

    Owo LG 80%ACN, 15%PDP, 5%L.P

  • ‘Disregard Bakare’s prediction on Mimiko’

    ‘Disregard Bakare’s prediction on Mimiko’

    Rights activist Morakinyo Ogele has asked the electorate to disregard a statement credited to Lagos preacher Tunde Bakare that Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko will win Saturday’s poll.

    He said the preacher has a history of wrong predictions. He cited instances where Bakare’s predictions failed to come to pass.

    Ogele, a lawyer, said: “His prediction that Mimiko will win the election is negative to what is going on in Ondo State. His colleagues should warn him to desist from playing God.

    “Tracing the history of his predictions, none has come to pass.

    In 1999, during the presidential election, he predicted that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would lose, but at the end of the election, Obasanjo won.

    “Again, before the inauguration of Obasanjo as the president, he predicted that he would die, but Obasanjo is still living.

    “When we were protesting the removal of fuel subsidy in January, he predicted that the Jonathan administration would collapse within two weeks, but to date the administration is still in power.

    “We appeal to the police to caution him and probably charge him with giving a false information.

    “Bakare should not heat up the polity. He should be cautioned by Nigerians. Enough of his false predictions.”

  • Ondo in trying period, says ACN chieftain

    Ondo in trying period, says ACN chieftain

    AN Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain, Mr. Kayode Tinubu, has described the last three and a half years as a trying period for the people of Ondo State, adding that Saturday’s election would decide the future of the state.

    He lamented the dearth of infrastructural facilities across the three senatorial zones and accused the Mimiko administration of wasting the resources of the state.

    Tinubu described the governor as a chameleon who masqueraded as the messiah during the period the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ruled the state.

    He recalled that the progressives in the Southwest supported him during the time his mandate was stolen.

    The politician said it is ironic that the governor’s spin doctors have continued to relay to the public the audio-visual of the 2007 endorsement of his candidature by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in 2012, when the ACN family, including the Edo governor, is rooting for the candidature of Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    Tinubu said: “The last three and a half years have been a trying period for the people of Ondo State because their hopes and expectations have been dashed. We have traversed the length and breadth of the state and found its infrastructure in ruins. Ondo is the richest in the Southwest, but Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has performed better than the Ondo governor. The question is: where is the oil money? There must be a clean break from the past.”

  • ACN youths call for police, SSS bosses’ removal

    A week to the October 20 Governorship election in Ondo State, the Forum of Youths Leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria has called for the removal of the state Police Commissioner and the Director of State Security Service.

    Rising from a two -day meeting of the forum during the weekend in Osogbo, its National Co-coordinator, Mr. Okonkwo Oliver, who read the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting at the state secretariat of the party in Osogbo, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could not conduct or hold a free and fair poll in the state with the two officers around.

    He, therefore, called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to transfer the Police and the SSS bosses out of the state and should not be allowed to supervise the forthcoming election.

     

     

     

  • In Ondo, the die is cast

    In Ondo, the die is cast

    Six days to Ondo State’s governorship election, Damisi Ojo, in Akure, takes a close look at the final preparations, the battle zones, the leading candidates, their chances and the top politicians that can make the difference.

    By this week’s Saturday, electorate in Ondo State will be exercising their franchise as they elect a new governor that will take over power in the state for the next four years.

    Out of 63 political parties in the country, only 13 have shown interest and have been screened by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] for the polls in the state.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] will be represented by the former President of the Nigeria Bar Association [NBA], Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu [SAN], the incumbent governor, Olusegun Mimiko is the standard bearer of Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], candidate is Chief Olusola Oke, and the Congress for Progressive Change [CPC] flagbearer is Mr. Soji Ehinlanwo.

    Others are, Oladipo Bolade, National Conscience Party (NCP), Abikanlu James Olusola, National Solidarity Democratic Party (NSDP, Victor Oluwaremi Adetunsin, People for Democratic Change (PDC), Omoregha Olatunji, Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Adeyemi Bolarinwa, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Omoleye Afolabi Olorunwa, and Change Advocacy Party (CAP) Omoregha Olatunji.

    Already, for the past three months, since the electoral body gave the marching order to political parties to commence their political campaigns, these parties and their candidates had been selling their agenda to the electorate on the need to vote for them.

    But, since the commencement of the election process in the state, it is now clear to all stakeholders that the gubernatorial battle is primarily between three major political parties namely ACN, LP and the PDP.

    Stakeholders came into such conclusion because the three parties, more than the rest, are solidly on ground.

    The ACN and PDP chieftains have however resolved to send the ruling LP’s government away in the state, while Governor Mimiko believes he will score the majority votes to retain his exalted seat.

    On several rallies attended by Mimiko, the LP flagbearer had told the electorate, particularly members of the party, that he would defeat his opponents with landslide margin, stressing that he had touched all sectors in the state.

    But, Akeredolu and Oke have insisted that Mimiko had failed in all his electioneering promises. For example, Akeredolu, who was one of the legal team that reclaimed Mimiko’s mandate at the tribunal in 2009, have criticized Mimiko’s administration at several occasions, saying the state needs a change of leadership and a leader that would allow the state to key into the proposed South-West economic integration.

    As the D-day draws near, there is palpable fear that the election may not be violent free. The ACN and PDP, for example, had always accused the LP of using thugs to disrupt their rallies.

    ACN candidate’s Akeredolu campaign team had been reportedly attacked on most of its rallies in rural communities in the state. Also, thebMimiko Campaign Organisation [ACO] Director of Publicity and Media Relations, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, recently alleged that the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, had concluded plan to fill the state with hoodlums.

    Also, Olabisi raised an alarm recently that ACN national leadership had imported the factional leader of the Oyo State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lateef Akinsola, to cause mayhem during the election.

    Shortly after the three major contenders got their various political party tickets; different groups had been endorsing the candidates. For instance, Governor Mimiko before his declaration was endorsed by leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] in the state for second term, but this had been generally condemned by stakeholders in the state.

    Their chances:

    It is not yet clear who may likely emerge as the next governor of the state, particularly because ACN, PDP and LP have strategically elected their candidates from the three senatorial areas of the state.

    ACN flagbearer is from Owo Local Government Area in the Northern senatorial area of the state, where many have argued that it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state, because of the zoning system.

    The LP adopted Mimiko for second term. The governor is from Ondo in the Central senatorial district, while PDP who had witnessed political crisis in the state believed that the only way to return to power in the state is by picking its candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, an indigene of Ilaje local government, an oil producing community in the Southern senatorial district.

    The leadership of the party took this decision because they believed the poor masses in the oil producing communities will accept and vote for a party that picks their kinsman as a standard bearer due to the general belief of the stakeholders in the area that they have not felt the impact of the present administration of the ruling LP.

    With this, Oke, Akeredolu and Mimiko may be relying on catchment advantage from the three senatorial districts. But investigations show that due to the agitation of the people from the northern district areas of the state to produce the next governor, most prominent politicians from the six local governments have decided to back ACN in order to achieve this unifying objective.

    ACN, it would be recalled became the most popular opposition party, particularly in the state immediately after the last 2011 general elections, following the defection of notable politicians from the LP and PDP.

    Among eminent politicians in the northern district who defected to ACN were, a serving Senator, Ajayi Boroffice, the State Chairman of LP, Dr. Olaiya Oni, former Commissioner in Mimiko’s government, Prince Sola Amodeni, Hon. Saka Lawal, who was a former governorship aspirant of ACN but left after Akeredolu was picked and among others

    As demonstration of ACN’s popularity in the district, majority of the governorship aspirants of the party were from the North. Not only this, the two governors that have been produced by the progressive party in the past, were also from the northern district.

    Despite, the defection of few politicians, most especially governorship aspirants to other parties, ACN still remains relevant in the northern district.

    The serving senator, Boroffice, who was among leading governorship aspirants, had ordered his political supporters to work for Akeredolu and ACN to ensure the party takes of the leadership of the state.

    Another politician who is likely to help decide election in Akoko area, Prince Solagbade Amodeni, has also supported ACN national leadership’s decision in picking Akeredolu.

    Amodeni, who served under Mimiko as a commissioner and also as a chairman of Akoko South-East for two terms, is known to be a strong politician, enjoying enormous political loyalty in the local government. It is on record that he has never lost any election in his community, Ipesi Akoko.

    Besides, Akokos are clamouring for a change of government due to what they described as total neglect by the present administration. Also, some indigenes of Owo are now leaving their political parties to support the candidature of their kinsman, Akeredolu.

    One of the politicians, who recently joined ACN is Dr. Bode Ayorinde, a Pro-Chancellor of Achievers Private University in Owo. Ayorinde was a former aspirant for Owo/Ose federal constituency under the platform of LP.

    Another great politician working for the success of ACN in Owo is a businessman, and chieftain of the party, Chief Femi Adekanmbi. Adekanmbi was a former member of LP but left the party after he was dropped for the incumbent lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal constituency, Hon. Olorunda Omosule.

    In order to test his popularity, Adekanmbi joined the ACN and he was picked as the party’s candidate but lost the election to Omosule.

    Just of recent, four Mimiko’s aides from the Northern Senatorial District resigned their appointment and joined the ACN. They are Messers Kayode Agunloye [aka K.K] Soji Ojomo, Chris Anota and the aides to the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Opeyemi Igbede.

    ACN chances in claiming majority votes from Northern senatorial district, also received a major boost when a former LP House of Assembly aspirant from Owo Local Government, Hon. Kehinde Bello [aka HK] led thousands of LP members, including the party’s executives, to ACN fold. Bello, known as a strong grassroots politician in Owo, also ordered his group, Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership [MGGEL], which has over 3,000 members, to work for Akeredolu.

    However, the ruling LP and PDP may not allow the ACN to have an easy ride during the election because of some prominent politicians who still remain loyal to either LP or PDP.

    For Instance, the former State Chairman, Olaiya Oni and his political son, Hon Saka Lawal, who were known as election strategists, decided to leave the ACN following the emergence of Akeredolu and for the reason that Akoko man was not endorsed by the ACN national leadership as the party flagbearer.

    Oni and Saka was lured by PDP chieftains to their fold with a promise that Saka, who was a former Special Adviser to Governor Mimiko, will be picked as the running mate of the party candidate and by 2017 power will return to the northern district.

    Also, former Minister for Defence, Tokunbo Kayode, two former State House of Assembly Speakers, Victor Olabimtan and Taofeek Abdulsalam, are politicians who may spring surprises

    Olabimtan, who was one of the PDP governorship aspirants came from a community, Supare, in Akoko South West, where it is reported that he has never lost election to any political party despite the fact that the present Deputy Governor, Alli Olanusi is from the same community.

    However, it is not clear, if the three immediate past National Assembly lawmakers, Senator Bode Olajumoke and a former House of Representatives Lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituenacy, Dr. Lad Ojomo and Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, who represented Akoko North East/West in the lower chamber, will work for the party in the October 20, poll.

    Despite reconciliation meetings organised by the leadership of PDP, these three leaders from the northern part of the state had refused to show up in its political meetings.

    During the recent visit of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, in Akure, the state capital, with some national leaders of PDP for a rally to endorse their party candidate, Oke, the three former lawmakers who are still members of the party did not attend the political event.

    Obasanjo had to appeal to the aggrieved members to sheathe their swords and work for the party. He described those who are working against the progress of the party as dishonest people.

    In Owo, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, a chieftain of PDP was one of the aggrieved members of the party that had publicly declared his intention to work for Oke, who was described as his political son.

    Fawase hails from the same town where ACN candidate, Akeredolu came from. As part of his commitment to PDP, Fasawe, who was a close political associate of Obasanjo, have been working to strenghten PDP in Owo.

    In the LP’s camp, the party may be relying on the incumbent Deputy Governor, Alli Olanusi, Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Emiola Dare, and a former governorship aspirant of ACN, who recently returned to LP after his ambition to emerge as the governorship candidate of the party failed.

    Agunloye retraced his step back to the ruling LP where he left after the party leaders decided to drop him for Prof. Ajayi Boroffice as the party’s candidate for the senatorial seat in the last year’s general election.

    Agunloye, who pursued his governorship ambition through a political platform “Omoluabi,” left for LP after he lost the ACN’s ticket. He criticised ACN’s leadership.

    But, the National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, described Agunloye as a mole in the party. Akande alleged that the aspirant, who is from Erusu in Akoko South West Local Government is Mimiko’s agent, saying he had gone back to his master who sent him to destroy the party.

    Akande noted that reports from members of the party in the state and investigations conducted by the party confirmed that Agunloye was an agent of LP in ACN.

    With this development, several politicians who were received into the fold of ACN through “Omoluabi Platform,” like Femi Johnson, who is now the Deputy Director of Aketi Campaign in the Southern Senatorial District, Adewale Omojuwa, one of the leading aspirants for the Deputy Governorship slot, among others, refused to defect along with Agunloye.

    Looking at the Central Senatorial District, many political observers are of the opinion that Ondo Central has not got its fair share in power rotation of the state. Ondo Central District is made up of six local government areas, including Akure South, Akure North, Ifedore, Ondo East, Ondo West and Idanre.

    It is the district that houses Akure, the state capital, which many believed has the largest number of electorate because of its urbanisation.

    Our investigation however shows that the three major political parties, namely the Labour Party (LP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are on ground in the district.

    As things are, the ruling LP relies much on the district to garner majority votes that would catapult it into power for the second term

    Investigations also show that Ondo North has sympathy for Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    Electorates in the area, particularly the Akokos, are aggrieved over complete neglect of the area by the present Mimiko’s administration. It is believed that this is one of the reasons ACN leadership zoned its governorship ticket to Ondo North, where Akoko land is a major stakeholder.

    Also because of the dwindling popularity of LP, unlike in 2007, many prominent politicians in Ondo Central, particularly Akure South/North Federal Constituency, had dumped the ruling party either to ACN or PDP. One important politician here is the former commissioner and chieftain of the PDP, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, from Akure North.

    He joined ACN as a governorship aspirant, but because of the zoning formula, which did not favour Ondo Central, the leadership of ACN have him the arduous task of coordinating the October 20 elections for ACN.

    Alasoadura is presently the National Director of Planning and Strategy of the party. He is a grassroots politician who exerts a lot of influence.

    Another notable politician in Akure South is the incumbent lawmaker representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Ifedayo Sunday Abegunde.

    He recently defected from the ruling LP at the floor of the House of Representatives to join ACN ‘Abena’.

    Within the same constituency, we have the likes of the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under late Adefarati’s regime, Chief Wunmi Adegbonwure, a.k.a Omo Ekun, a prominent son of Akure, and a follower of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    He has been so committed to the cause of ACN and leads its Elders Forum.

    Equally influential is the former commissioner for information in the late Adebayo Adefarati’s administration, Prince Olu Adegboro, who is mobilising his people for ACN.

    Others in the progressive party within the same Central District are Chief Akin Olokunboro, a former member of the House of Representatives in the second republic who was then elected on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

    Dr. Akerele Adu, an Ijare politician of note in Ifedore Local Government, was a former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Insiders said he commands enormous respect in the communities.

    There is also Prof. Olu Aderounmu, a former provost of the Ondo State College of Education,Ikere-Ekiti, Engineer Ade Adetimehin, the Director of ACN Campaign Organisation in Ondo central senatorial district, who is from Idanre.

    He, apart from being the state Treasurer of ACN, is assigned to head the contact and mobilization committee of the party.

    In Ondo West, the home of the incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, also another seasoned politician and Special Adviser to Osun State Governor, Hon. Bola Ilori.

    He was a former Chairman of Alimosho local government in Lagos state, a former senior special assistant to Governor Mimiko and a mass mobiliser for ACN in Ondo State and particularly Ondo West.

    Also in Ondo West, the former PDP State Women’s Leader, Mrs Folake Akinjoko-Omojuwa, is now a chieftain of ACN, who is ready to tacke Mimiko in his ward during the October 20 election

    In PDP, in spite of its internal crisis occasioned by fractionalisation, we gathered that its leaders and followers in Ondo Central senatorial district are ready to work assiduously to regain the seat they lost to Mimiko and LP in February 2009 following the verdict of Appeal Court in Benin.

    It has also been rumoured that Mimiko is allegedly behind the wrangling within the PDP where a faction had publicly resolved not to work for the victory of its candidate, Chief Olusola Oke.

    It was also alleged that notable politicians like Prof. Olu Agbi, Segun Adegoke, and others are against Hon. Ebenezer Alabi’s executive commitee of the party. However, it has been observed that the present PDP leadership in the state has the support of former governor Olusegun Agagu.

    In the Central District, the former Deputy Governor, under Agagu, Chief Omolade Oluwateru, who is now the present Nigeria’s Ambassador to Uganda, is working in tandem with Alabi’s committee to ensure Oke’s victory

    We also have Hon Adedayo Omolafe, a former Akure South Local Government, former chairman of ALGON in the state and former aspirant, House of Representatives for Akure North/ South under the platform of PDP.

    There are also Chief Bisi Johnson, the former Chairman of Ondo West Local Government and Ondo State Local Government Service Commission (OSLGSC) who has sworn to tackle Mimiko in his home town.

    Other PDP top shots in the politics of Ondo Central are the immediate past Chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Tayo Dairo, Engr. Dele Osakuade from Ilara-mokin in ifedore local government. Others, like Prof. Olu Agbi, Senator Gbenga Ogunniya from Ondo West, Ademola Adegoroye and Segun Adegoke, who still claim they are in PDP but are alleged to be working for Mimiko secretly.

    The LP and its candidate, Governor Mimiko, in spite of the criticisms against the current administration, still have confidence in springing surprises that will enable them retain the seat beyond February 2013.

    The ruling party still relies on few chieftains in the party like commissioner for Works from Ilara Mokin who handles one of the juicy ministeries, Engr, Gboye Adegbenro, his counterpart from the same Ifedore Local Government, Engr. Clement, who is in charge of ministry of community development and hails from Igbara-Oke.

    There is also Hon. Abiodun Adesida, the former member, House of Representative, who recently decamped from PDP to LP, Mr. Sanya Oyinsan, incumbent Senator, Ayo Akinyelure, Chief of Staff (COS), Dr. Kola Ademujimi and Yele Ogundipe, a Mimiko’s Kinsman, who is presently the commissioner for finance.

    Our investigation shows that Ondo Central is very crucial to the three major political parties and their candidates, Dr Mimiko, Mr Akeredolu(SAN) and Chief Olusola Oke because of its bulk votes.

    Ondo South is believed to be the strongest among the three districts in Ondo State because of its strength which spread to the Atlantic Ocean.

    The area is dominated by prominent political leaders with vast experiences in politics.

    The district comprises six Local Government Areas which include Irele, Ilaje, Odigbo, Ile-Oluji/Okegbo, Ese-Odo and Okitipupa.

    Apart from the political strength of the district, the area is also believed to be the economic

    pillar of the state because of the deposit of oil minerals, particularly in Ilaje Local Government.

    Aside this, the area is blessed with Bitumen deposits which is rated as the second largest in

    the world with 42 billion barrel of Bitumen deposit located in Irele and Agbabu.

    The area has become permanent abode for politicians who are also professionals in different

    areas of economic and social development.

    However, Ondo South is also seen as determinant factor to decide the fate and chances of any governorship candidate in the gubernatorial election because of the caliber of politicians and the political value of the area.

    In recent times, the area has produced sons and daughters that occupy various political appointments like federal ministers, deputy governors, senators, federal commissioners, presidential aides and ambassadors.

    Between 1991 to1993, Dr Olusegun Agagu from Okitipupa Local Government was elected the

    Deputy Governor of Ondo State under Evang. Bamidele Olumiluas’ administration.

    Also,between 1999 and 2003, Late Barrister Afolabi Iyantan also from Okitipupa Local Government was elected as the Deputy Governor of the state during Late Chief Adebayo Adefaratis’ government.

    In 1999 , Dr Olusegun who contested the governorship election along with Late Chief Adebayo Adefarati was after his defeat appointed as a Federal Minster of various ministries under Chief Olusegun Obasanjos’ government, a position he occupied until 2003 when he later came back to contest against Chief Adebayo Adefarati in 2003 governorship election.

    As fate would have it, Agagu defeated Late Chief Adebayo Adefarati and in the process became the governor of the State.

    He governed the state from 2003 to 2009 when his government was sacked by court of appeal in Benin City.

    Agagu who is a leader in the PDP has control in South senatorial District and is desperate in sending the incumbent, Dr Olusegun Mimiko packing after october 20,election.

    His desperation, according to insiders, is to avenge the humiliation he suffered in February 2009, when the Court of Appeal in Benin City ordered him to vacate the office for Mimiko.

    Others include, Chief Mrs Osomo from Ese-Odo Local Government, who was appointed in 2003 as a Minister of Housing and Urban Development (2003 and 2005), Chief Olu Mafo from Ilaje Local Government, who was appointed a Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2003 to 2007.

    PDP governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke who hails from Ilaje Local Government is the immediate past National Legal Adviser to PDP and once a Commisioner Representing Ondo State on the Governing Board of NDDC from 2000 to 2004.

    He is now the gubernatorial candidate for PDP, and will put all arsenals together to secure majority votes from the District.

    However, ACN is no push over in the area with its aggressive campaigns particularly in Ilaje and Ese-odo axis.

    ACN governorship Candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu [SAN] is from Ese-Odo and may spring suprises in the area.

    Already, commoners in the riverine area who are aggrieved of the neglect of the area by Mimiko’s administration have been warning the ruling LP leaders against coming for campaigns in the area.

    In the District,there is also the incumbent Resident Electoral Commmissioner in Ogun State, Mr Sam Olumekun from Okitipupa Local Government.

  • NACOMYO seeks Muslim participation in guber poll

    The Ondo State Chapter of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation (NACOMYO), an umbrella body for all Muslim youth organisations, yesterday urged Muslims in the state to approach the governorship election in the state with the collective interest of the state and the development of Islam in particular.

    The Council, comprising 350 registered organisations through its political awareness committee in Akure, reviewed all its activities and workings since it was constituted and promised to update the entire Muslims in the state about their findings on each of the political parties and their candidates.

    The committee was put in place early this year to address the marginalisation of Muslims in the state and to work towards improving on the existing status of the Muslims representation and relevance in government.

    At the end of its meeting in Akure, the Committee in a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Imam Ismail Ododoloto and Secretary, Olukayode Rasaq Adesuyi, resolved to mobilise all its affiliate organisations across the 18 local government council areas to work and vote for the political party that meets its considerations as contained in the letter sent to each of the candidates through their party secretariat.

    Addressing the meeting, Ododoloto said necessary modalities have been worked out to reach the entire Muslims when the time comes, adding that, the committee would be fair to all candidates and parties while presenting its report.

    The Committee Chairman explained further that all the considerations would be summed up before the endorsement of a candidate.

     

     

     

  • Mimiko spends N6.8b to power empty industrial park

    Mimiko spends N6.8b to power empty industrial park

    Fresh facts on funds authorised for release by the administration of Governor Rahman Mimiko in the past six months indicate that the government put down a whopping N6.8billion ostensibly to provide funds for an Independent Power Project to service the empty Omotosho Industrial Park.

    According to the schedule of disbursements, N5, 863,706,323.20 was released for the provision of gas turbine for Omotosho Industrial park, N880, 000, 000.00 was released for the cost of gas pipeline and N59, and 700,000,000.00 went to the cost of engineering design and of the pipeline.

    When our reporter visited the Omotosho Industrial Park in Ore, Ondo State, yesterday, the site was covered with bush and no visible activity was going on.

    Residents and passers-by interviewed said there has been no activity in the area in the last one year and wondered why such a huge amount for the development of the industrial park had no impact on the life of the citizens.

    The Mimiko administration had rationalised the release of the funds with the need to provide two tri-fuel brand new 130 Gas Turbine Generator sets, each with 15 megawatts generating capacity at the cost of $17 million each and a cost of balance of plant for turnkey, delivery and commissioning at a cost of $21,348,164.52.The state based the conversion on the exchange rate of N160 to the dollar.

    The decision to commit so many billions to the project in the last year of the administration was perceived by top civil servants as a ploy to raise money for the elections because the administration had more than enough time to embark on and complete the project.

    A resident said the situation was double jeopardy for the people as there was neither power nor a park to give evidence to the huge money.

    “I used to believe that Governor Mimiko meant well for the people of Ore. But this revelation has finally exposed the lies and deceit with which he has ruled us. We voted for him because he promised to uplift Ore. Instead, he is using us to divert money for elections. We have no Independent Power project to give us electricity. We have no industrial park for companies to provide jobs for our people. We cannot vote for him again. This expenditure must be probed” said Mr. Ayo Akinjofe, a retired teacher.

  • Jonathan warns politicians against promoting violence

    Jonathan warns politicians against promoting violence

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday warned politicians against the use of political hoodlums to ferment violence in the next Saturday gubernatorial poll in Ondo State.

    The President said he was ready to provide adequate security to ensure that electorate are allowed to exercise their franchise without any fear.

    Jonathan who gave this warning at the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] governorship Candidate’s, Chief Olusola Oke, Grand Finale Rally held at Democracy Park in Akure, the state capital, said those who are planning to use thugs during the poll are only wasting their resources on projects that would never see the light of the day.

    His words, “I was told that some politicians in the state are mobilising thugs to rig the election in favour of their party, they are only wasting their time because on that election day, those hoodlums will not be useful to them.

    “This election will be free and fair, there will be enough security personnel that will man all the various polling units. PDP does not promote thuggery, and we are warning some desperate politicians who are planning to cause mayhem during the poll to desist from this.”

    Jonathan urged the electorate to vote massively for PDP candidate, saying he had seen that the people are agitating for a change in government.

    He described the state as one of the blessed states that has enough resources to make the people live a comfortable life.

    His words, “Ondo state is blessed, this state is one of the luckiest states in Nigeria, the state is blessed for farming, and also as one of the oil producing states in the country. My administration has already concluded the plans to encourage farmers in the state. Ondo State farmers will soon be rich, the farmers will soon be smiling, but we are urging them to vote for PDP.

    “PDP love Ondo State, and we want to rule this state in order to ensure its grows like other states, we have presented a credible candidate for you, a man of integrity, a man who will bring rapid developments to the state.”

    The National Chairman of PDP Bamanga Tukur, who led the National Working Committee of the party to the rally, said they are in the state to support the PDP candidate, and to dispel the rumours that they were not supporting Oke’s candidature.

    Tukur, who presented the PDP flag to Oke and his running mate, Hon. Saka Lawal, said they are assured that PDP would win the gubernatorial election.

    Also at the rally, the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo who is also the Chairman Presidential Campaign Committee for Oke, Senate President, David Mark, and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi all promised that there will be free and fair poll in the state.

    Mark particularly said that what PDP is giving to the country is an environment to conduct a free and fair poll.

    The Senate President said: “After voting, wait patiently to ensure that your votes are safe. Already we are aware the plans by some desperate politicians to rig the poll, but they are being shouting in the media that it was our party that is planning to rig, we don’t rig poll and we will never allow them to rig election.”

    Amaechi, who is the Chairman of Governors Forum, appealed to the people to support the PDP leaders in their bid to return to power in the state, saying that was the only way the people can benefit from the sympathetic gestures which other PDP states get from presidency.

    Oke, shortly after receiving the party flag vowed that PDP would win the coming gubernatorial election, saying that the people had known the difference between the previous PDP led government and the present ruling Labour Party [LP].

    “We will make the people smile again, in our government there will not be room for suffering, we will run a government that is transparent, we will improved the people standard of living. We will encourage industrialization; we will reduce the high rate of unemployment” Oke promised.

    Dignitaries, at the event were, Governor of Bayelsa Dickson Seriake, former Governor, Olusegun Agagu, National Vice Chairman of PDP, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, South West Deputy Chairman, Segun Oni, Women Leader, Ambassador, Kema Chikwe Senators, Bode Olajumoke, Hosea Agboola, Hosea Ehinlanwo, Dr. Olaiya Oni among others.