There is fear in Ondo State over Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s political future following APC’s Rotimi Akeredolu’s victory, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan
Outgoing Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State gambled his political future on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, in the last gubernatorial election in the state, and what many pundits, including Mimiko himself, had thought would be an easy ride for the governor’s preferred successor some months ago, has failed to pay off. Jegede lost and Mimiko and the ruling party are left to rue the defeat.
Considering the earlier ease with which the governor got Jegede, who served as his Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General until few months back, to emerge as the candidate of the ruling PDP, Mimiko perhaps, did not envisage the turbulence that followed the emergence of business tycoon, Jimoh Ibrahim, on the scene.
With the election concluded and Rotimi Akeredolu of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) declared governor-elect and issued certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it is now clear to Governor Mimiko that he would be handing over to the opposition next year.
Obviously, this is not the scenario Mimiko bargained for and the effect of the loss on his person and political future is better imagined. For a man who bestrode the political firmament of the state like a colossus for eight years to be suddenly confronted with the odd task of surrendering to the same opposition he had decimated for years, these are definitely not the best of times for the man popularly known as ‘Iroko’.
And considering the fierce antagonism, as well as the last minute “negotiations” that preceded the keenly contested election, many are now wondering what would be the next political line of action for the embattled Iroko. Will he attempt to re-launch himself politically or go with the fiery wind of change currently pervading the land?
Although Jegede and the PDP have finalised plans to approach the electoral tribunal for reprieve, pundits say the chances of Mimiko’s man and party getting a positive judgment are pretty slim. According to Lagos based human rights lawyer, Dupe Oduguwa, the elections are not likely to be upturned by the judiciary.
“Most of the observers that monitored the election had adjudged it as acceptable and reasonable to a large extent. The court will surely rely on evidences in its judgment. So, I doubt if PDP has a case. The elections were actually manipulated, but not on the Election Day. And issues, like the inability of a candidate to campaign, are not likely to earn Jegede the governorship seat.
For Mimiko, it is going to be a long walk and I am of the opinion that being a product of the judiciary himself in his first coming, he understands what lies ahead. The court is not a Father Christmas. For PDP to upturn the victory of the opposition party in the last election at the tribunal, a lot of work would have to be done by the legal team,” he said.
Already, Mimiko has openly accused INEC of colluding with the APC to rig the election. He also complained that some card reader machines were not good, just as he accused the APC and other opposition parties of inducing voters during the election. The governor recalled that the card reader rejected his fingerprint, though he was later allowed to vote.
He said, “What is happening in Ondo State presently is anarchy. The INEC and APC rigged the poll with the use of malfunctioning card readers and inducement of voters. Imagine with different calls we made to postpone the election, they refused and went ahead. And when people made up their mind to vote for us, they decided to rig with the use of malfunctioning card readers and giving money to people in order to get votes.”
Regrets
For Mimiko and his camp, these are times to look back at the events of the last few months and marvel. According to inside sources, the outgoing governor never dreamt of the defeat that was meted out to him by Akeredolu and the opposition APC during the November gubernatorial election.
And findings by The Nation revealed that above any other occurrence that affected the outcome of the election, Mimiko and his camp are regretting the emergence of Jimoh Ibrahim as a contender to the governorship ticket of the governor’s party, the PDP, shortly after Jegede has been delivered as the flag bearer by Mimiko’s camp.
This singular development, aided by the alleged connivance between INEC and the APC, in Mimiko’s opinion, stopped Jegede from emerging as the next governor of the oil rich state. Of course, the outgoing governor is full of regrets that he was unable to prevent the entrance of Ibrahim into the race in good time.
The Nation also learnt that some of the governor’s allies are also angry with him that he failed to manage the crisis that enveloped the ruling party following his decamping into the PDP from the Labour Party (LP). According to party sources, the exit of prominent PDP chieftains like Sola Oke, contributed to the loss by the party.
But the sources debunked claims that the choice of Jegede contributed to the defeat. According to those who spoke with The Nation, Jegede remains the best candidate available to the PDP. The former commissioner, they said, has been working silently on his aspiration for years before he was thrown up during the primary election.
Fears
And as Mimiko prepares to vacate the Alagbaka Government House, there is palpable fear among his supporters and aides that tough times await him in the hands of the new administration as well as anti-graft agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This fear stems out of the insinuations and calls for the probe of the outgoing administration by some groups and individuals.
Mimiko’s arch-rival, Ibrahim, wasted no time in telling Akeredolu to probe the administration of Governor Mimiko. In a congratulatory message to Akeredolu on his success at the polls, Ibrahim urged the ex-NBA chief to audit all public accounts and recover stolen funds which would be used in developing the state.
Initially, the incoming governor gave the impression that he was not going to check the books when he takes office. He said he was given a mandate to govern and not to probe past administrations.
“I don’t believe in probes. What I believe in is that I’ve been given a mandate to govern the state and when I come into office I will face the task. The past is the past and I am one person who believes that government is a continuum,” he had said.
But the governor-elect, in another statement hinted that he may still look into the books of his predecessor when he takes office. Akeredolu had, while responding to a question from journalists during an interview session submitted that if obvious instances of financial irregularities are discovered in the course of governance, he will invite appropriate agencies and authorities to ask questions.
Akeredolu’s volte face has become a source of concern to Mimiko’s men and many of them, it was gathered, are currently making plans to go underground immediately they exit office.