Osagie Otabor, Akure

Some members of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) have threatened to leave the party over the choice of a running mate for the party.

The members said they expected the party leadership to pick its running mate from Akoko area in Ondo North Senatorial District but were shocked to hear that a former Commissioner for Works, Mr. Gboye Adegbenro, has been penciled down as Agboola’s running mate.

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, whose name was submitted as the party’s governorship candidate, hails from Ondo South Senatorial District while his running mate hails from Ondo Central.

On Friday, over 700 members of the ZLP, led by a cousin of Ajayi, Akin Sowore, defected to the APC.

A former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Taofik Abdusalam, former Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Yekini Olanipekun, and former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Simi Odunbakun, were top contenders from Akoko area eyeing to be Ajayi’s running mate.

Sources said Mimiko opted for Ondo Central to pick a running mate because his former deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, refused entreaties to nominate a running mate if he joined the ZLP.

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu heads Ondo campaign council

The source said Mimiko met with Olanusi at his Alagbaka residence on the need to join forces to wrestle power from the APC by mobilising Ondo North votes for the ZLP in the October 10, polls.

The ZLP members of ZLP said they were waiting for the party to make an official announcement before they start dumping the party for the APC.

“In as much as ZLP is not picking it’s running mate from Akoko, the party should forget about the votes of Akoko people.

“The APC candidate is from Owo and Owo Local Government is in the northern senatorial district. We will mobilise for him so that he will complete the eight years of Ondo North.”

Osagie Otabor, Akure

ONDO State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Thursday renewed his attack on the administration of his predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

He said the array of abandoned projects initiated by the late Olusegun Agagu, by the Mimiko administration, due to political differences, was a disgrace to governance and a disservice to the people of Ondo South Senatorial District in particular and the entire state at large.

Akeredolu, who spoke at the inauguration of newly completed projects at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OAUSTECH), said his administration had completed projects inherited from Mimiko, who he said neglected Agagu’s projects for eight years.

Read Also: Tunji-Ojo leads executives to back Akeredolu

The projects inaugurated were library, auditorium and administrative building, which were initiated by the late Agagu.

The governor hailed what he described as the great vision of the late Agagu for sincerity of purpose and commitment by making the establishment of the university a reality.

He said he was alarmed about the deplorable condition of things at the institution in terms of infrastructure, workers’ welfare and other essential facilities incidental to a conducive learning environment.

By Osagie Otabor, Akure 

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Monday came hard on his predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

He said his predecessor abandoned projects begun by the late Olusegun Agagu.

Akeredolu said the seaport project envisioned by the late Agagu was abandoned by Mimiko.

He said it would have become a reality if Mimiko had continued with the vision.

The governor said Mimiko also abandoned the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTEC), Okitipupa, adding that he left six months unpaid salaries.

He said he would defeat candidates from other parties in the October 10 governorship election.

Akeredolu, who spoke during the launch of distribution of palliatives donated by the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), promised to complete the seaport before the end of his second term.

He said over 200,000 households have received palliatives since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Read Also: Akeredolu denies reporting Mimiko to EFCC

Akeredolu said besides the most vulnerable that got palliatives, patients, expectant mothers and nursing mothers also received palliatives.

He said the items donated by CACOVID would get to 50,000 households.

The governor said: “We have been forced by COVID-19 outbreak to review downward our budget, just like every other state and the Federal Government. But God Almighty has made it possible for us to pay salary and implement programmes.

“Let us not be in doubt that a new foundation has been laid for Ondo while the sun is shining. Port Ondo is on the way. By the grace of God, I will complete it.

“If previous governments had shown concern, we would have had a seaport. Agagu started it, but we had a government that abandoned it.”

“That government abandoned OAUSTEC, Okitipupa.

By Osagie Otabor, Akure

A setback appeared to have hit the formation of a third force in Ondo State, as over 1,200 members of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) have declared support for the re-election of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

ZLP has been touted to be the third force to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the October 10 governorship election.

Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi has been cleared to contest on the platform of the ZLP.

He will join the party today.

But members of ZLP led by executives from the wards and local governments said they have pulled out of the party structure.

They were received by Governor Akeredolu.

Read Also: Ondo 2020: Akeredolu cries out over smear campaigns

A member of the House of Representatives representing Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who led the ZLP members, said the governor’s achievements have made his re-election a statewide project.

He said Ondo had witnessed industrial, infrastructural and other life changing projects.

Tunji-Ojo said: “Governor Akeredolu’s good deeds are everywhere in terms of education, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, industrialisation, human capital development, service delivery and workers’ welfare.

“He is a manager of resources and men. He has shown that excellence can be achieved and Ondo State can move forward.”

ZLP Deputy Chairman Abayomi Adebayo said Akeredolu’s approach to good governance made them to support his re-election. Organising Secretary Femi Ikoyi said they wanted to add value to Akeredolu’s re-election.

He said they were the political engine of ZLP, adding that with their alliances, the re-election of the governor would become a reality.

Akeredolu assured the ZLP members that they would not regret joining forces with him.

ZLP Chairman Joseph Akinlaja dismissed the political strength of those he termed former members of the party.

He accused Ikoyi and Adebayo of impersonation because, according to him, they voluntarily left the party in March. Akinlaja said he had reported to security agencies.

“Whoever is receiving them in the name of ZLP is wasting time. We have reported them for impersonation. My executives are still intact.”

 Osagie Otabor, Akure

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deployed a carrot approach to woo former governor Olusegun Mimiko to support it in the October 10 governorship election.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had visited Mimiko at his Ondo home twice within one month to pressure him to dump the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and support the PDP.

Sources said Mimiko was offered to run as a running mate with either Atiku Abubakar or Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in the 2023 presidential election.

Mimiko is the national leader of ZLP and his support for any party is seen as a plus for such party.

The sources said the tag of third force on the ZLP in Ondo State is connected with Mimiko’s 2023 vice presidential ambition.

A chieftain of ZLP, who spoke in confidence, said Mimiko’s acceptance of Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi as the candidate of the party is to prove to Nigerians that he is still a big factor in the politics of the Southwest.

“Mimiko is keen on winning the governorship election for ZLP. It’s not just about the party candidate, but our principal’s ambition to be vice president in 2023.

“You will remember that Labour Party that ousted the late Olusegun Agagu from power was launched three months to the election in 2007. The great Iroko still has the magic. He still enjoys street credibility. This is why he is craving Ajayi to win so that they can both switch to PDP for the Iroko to be running mate.

“But the problem now is who does he support as a presidential candidate? Tambuwal or Atiku? This is a major problem and it has polarised the party, I mean the PDP, because both camps of Atiku and Tambuwal want him as running mate in 2023.

Read Also: Ondo: Between Jegede and Mimiko

“He wants to prove that he is still a factor in Nigerian politics and winning the election for his party will boost his chances of clinching PDP running mate ticket,” he said

Another source hinted that Makinde assured Mimiko that he would be picked as running mate if he worked for Eyitayo Jegede’s success at the polls.

Ajayi is expected to formally join the ZLP tomorrow, but the yet to be resolved issue is who will be his running mate?

Mimiko is said to be supporting a ZLP member who is a Muslim, while Ajayi is said to have secretly settled for ex-Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Abdusalam Olawale Taofeek.