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Tag: Governor Olusegun Mimiko

  • No grudges against those behind my impeachment – Ex-Ondo deputy governor

    A former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr Ali Olanusi, who was impeached in 2015 under the administration of the immediate past Governor Olusegun Mimiko, said on Saturday that he had no grudges or ill-feelings against those who masterminded his removal.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure on Friday reversed the impeachment of Olanusi as the deputy governor.

    Olanusi was impeached by the state House of Assembly on April 27, 2015, following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the then state ruling party – Labour Party – on the platform he was elected with Mimiko.

    Mimiko, who also defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), completed his eight-year tenure in February and handed over to the incumbent governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu of APC.

    In an interview with newsmen in Akure, Olanusi, said his vindication was not by his cleverness, but by God.

    “There is no cause for revenge, if God did not want all these to happen, it would not have turned out this way.

    “The injustice has been exposed to the people of Ondo State and may God reward all accordingly,” he said.

    Olanusi also praised the Nigerian judiciary for granting true justice to anyone who sought it.

    He said: “I also thank the people of Ondo State, who stood by me in the period of my travails and did not lose hope.’’

    Also speaking with newsmen, Counsel to Olanusi, Mr Richamond Natha-Alade, noted that the court had done justice because Olanusi was wrongfully impeached under the last administration.

    “The best interest of Nigeria has been served and it is on this ground that the court granted all our requests; everybody is bound by the law.

    “It is a new dawn in Nigeria because the judgment is classical and it touches on every aspect of law that borders on infringement of rights,” Natha-Alade said

     

  • Rufus Giwa Polytechnic gets new rector

    Rufus Giwa Polytechnic gets new rector

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has confirmed the appointment of Mr Idowu Ologunagba, as the substantive rector of the state-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Akure by Dr Aderotimi Adelola, the Secretary to State Government, and made available to newsmen.

    Adelola said Ologunagba’s appointment was with immediate effect.

    He urged the new rector to continue with his developmental strides to ensure the institution attained all necessary academic heights.

    Ologunagba, who holds an M. SC in Civil Engineering (Structures) with distinction and B. SC Civil Engineering, until his appointment, was the acting rector of the institution.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olusegun Mimiko’s term as governor, expires on Friday, after eight years in office.

  • Ondo: Osinbajo’s absence stalls inauguration of the Dome

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, on Friday in Akure, postponed until Monday, the inauguration of the International Event Centre due to the absence of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Osinbajo was expected to inaugurate another of Mimiko’s project, the International Event Centre, also known as the Dome.

    NAN reports that a large number of people had converged at the event centre as early as 9 a.m to witness the event.

    People from all walks of life, including traditional rulers, political stakeholders and lawmakers, were present at the venue

    After waiting for almost five hours, and it became obvious that Osinbajo would not be coming, the crowd thinned out.

    At about 2:30 p.m, Mimiko mounted the podium and announced the postponement.

    He explained that Osinbajo had actually been airborne and he had to return to Abuja due to bad weather.

    According to Mimiko, Osinbajo further waited at Abuja Airport between 10 a.m and 2 p.m for the clouds to clear.

    The governor described the gesture of the acting president as an act of humility for someone in a very high position.

    “He is the vice president and acting president for now, and we can all imagine how tight his schedule will be.

    “Therefore, on behalf of your government, I apologise and give you greetings from him.

    “He is very touched that he kept people waiting for so long due to no fault of his, but he said it would be unthinkable for him not to find time and come.

    “He has, therefore, asked me to postpone the inauguration of this project till 1p.m on Monday,” Mimiko said.

    Speaking on behalf of Osinbajo, Mrs Janet Olisa, his Chief Protocol Officer, also apologised on behalf of her principal.

    She said the visit would serve a double purpose; a fact-finding mission on issues in the Niger Delta, and to also honour Governor Mimiko for a job well done.

    To assure people of the state that Osinbajo would be on ground on Monday for the inauguration, Olisa said that her team would remain in Akure till Monday

  • ‘Mimiko has no plan to travel out before handover date’

    ‘Mimiko has no plan to travel out before handover date’

    Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, on Tuesday, described as the imagination of the writer, the allegation that Governor Olusegun Mimiko plans to travel out of the state before the February 24 handover date.

    Akinmade: “I’m a member of the transition committee and am aware that the governor and the governor-elect met three days ago to fine-tune the transition programme and they had a useful discussion.

    “I am aware that there are lined up projects to be commissioned by the governor between now and the handover day, so if somebody is coming up that the governor is planning to proceed on vacation, that means such person is coming from outer space.

    “This is concocted information. There is no outer of truth in what he is saying.’’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state alleged that it discovered a plot by the outgoing Gov. Olusegun Mimiko to proceed on vacation ahead of Feb. 24 handover date.

    Publicity Secretary Abayomi Adesanya, in a statement in Akure, said;

    “If this happens, it will create complexities and pit-holes in the smooth take-off for incoming Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    “Mimiko’s plan is designed to create complexity and pit-holes in the smooth take-off of the new administration as against the seamless transition he once promised.

    “Mimiko is making plans to relocate to Canada or China, thereby evading possible arrest by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for interrogation and prosecution and to launder his last minute loots.

    “The governor has concluded plans to proceed on a 10-day vacation and to delegate power to his deputy to act as governor prior to the handing over date.

    “He had transmitted a notification letter the state House of Assembly under the leadership of the former Speaker, Ms Jumoke  Akindele, some days before her removal from office over N15 million fraud allegation.

    “This arrangement failed because the former Speaker could not announce or read the governor’s vacation letter at the plenary as a result of her removal,’’ he said.

    Adesanya alleged that Mimiko planned to sneak out of the country to a neighbouring country through the land border, before travelling on a chartered flight to either Canada or China.

    “We,  therefore, call on security agencies to beef up security and surveillance in and around the country’s borders to prevent the outgoing governor and his cronies from escaping with alleged state’s looted funds,’’ he stated.

  • Mimiko congratulates Akeredolu

    Mimiko congratulates Akeredolu

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on Monday sent his congratulatory message to the Governor-Elect, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN.

    Mimiko in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Eni Akinsola, said “it behoves of him as the Governor of Ondo State to congratulate the Governor-elect, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and wish him success in the challenging task of governing our dear State.”

    The Ondo Governor said “It is incumbent upon me as Governor to facilitate a smooth transition between my government and the incoming one. I will, to this end, provide the ambience for a smooth and seamless transition process.”

    While promising to continue to provide leadership to the State till the takeover date, Mimiko expressed his appreciation to the people of the State.

    He said “I use this medium to express my sincere appreciation to all our citizens for the very peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves throughout the election period. I will not waiver in providing needed leadership to our dear State till the last day of my term.”

    He enjoined residents to strive to sustain the peace enjoyed in the State for the past seven years, promising to speak with them as occasion demands as his “eight year tenure inches to an end.”‎

  • Ondo govt. promotes 2, 212 workers

    Ondo govt. promotes 2, 212 workers

    Ondo State Government has promoted 2, 212 civil servants in 2016, Chairman of the state Civil Service Commission, Dr Afolabi Adewakun, has said.

    Adewakun made the disclosure in Akure on Wednesday while briefing workers on the promotion exercise carried out during the year.

    “Governor Olusegun Mimiko has always prioritised the welfare of workers.

    “It is in this light that he graciously approved the promotion of all deserving officers in the civil service for 2016, despite the difficult times.

    “The promotion list was forwarded to the commission by the Office of Head of Service as prepared by the Senior Management Committee for eligible officers.”

    He said that the list also contained those forwarded by the Office of Establishments and Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    The chairman added that the commission had also successfully carried out the conversion of 479 officers from various cadres between 2015 and 2016.

    Adewaku challenged the promoted staff to be diligent, hard working, loyal and dedicated to their duties.

  • Jimoh Ibrahim blasts Mimiko over protest

    Jimoh Ibrahim blasts Mimiko over protest

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognized People’s Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in next month’s election in Ondo State, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, faulted Friday’s protest in the state as the handiwork to Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    Youths and okada riders in Akure, the state capital and Ondo had Friday shut down the two towns for several hours to show their displeasure at the decision of the INEC to substitute the name of Mr.Eyitayo Jegede with that of Jimoh as the party’s candidate.

    Jegede belongs to the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the    party while Ibrahim is of the Alo Modu Sheriff faction.

    Ibrahim in a statement entitled ‘Tyre Burning for Sympathy’ and personally signed by him said the protest had Mimiko’s signature all over it.

    He alleged that the governor way back in 2009 ‘deceived’ the election petition tribunal in the state that “there were security issues in the state, leading to the cancellation of results in eight out of 18 local governments of the state.”

    He added: “Mimiko called on the drivers’ union in the state, whose chairman is his relative, to gather disposed tyres across the state and burn them so as to show that there are security challenges in Akure town.

    “While the tyres were burning, school children were attending their classes. Banks were opened, market women and traders were carrying on their economic activities, courts were sitting and more tyres were burning by the side of the road.

    “Regrettably, Mimiko’s orthodoxy has played out to be fake, empty and unbecoming of a person that occupies the position of the governor of a state .

    “This tyre burning for sympathy will not work as Ondo State remains peaceful.”

     

  • ‘We’re not privy to allegation against Ondo REC’

    ‘We’re not privy to allegation against Ondo REC’

    The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State on Monday debunked the report calling on the Police and Directorate of State Security (DSS) to investigate the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.

    The state Publicity Secretary, of the party, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, in a statement last Wednesday, also expressed the need for the total overhauling of staff in the Commission ahead of the November 26 governorship election in the state.

    Adesanya accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Segun Agbaje and the Commission’s Administrative Secretary, Alhaji Kabir Omosanya of complicity with the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State led by one Clement Faboyede.

    He alleged that the two top officers of the commission have been having shady deals through an unholy alliance with key loyalists of the  Governor Olusegun Mimiko to perpetrate fraud ahead of the forthcoming governorship poll.

    However, the APC chairman in the state, Isaac Kekemeke said his executives were not privy to the statement.

    According to him,“before any statement of such could be made public,or even any policy statement from the party executives,it must be agreed upon and ratified by the party executives.

    “But the publicity secretary who issued the statement to the press must have equipped himself with facts of the allegation,which spurred him to unilaterally fired the shot without inputs of the state excos.”

    Kekemeke said he received calls from many APC leaders within and outside the state on the sensitive allegation in order to ascertain its veracity,saying“I just told them that Adesanya must have got the proofs of the allegation before issuing the statement.

    “Although,the allegation had caused a lot of embarrassment to the party,but as the Party Chairman in the State,I have no pre-knowledge of the allegation,and none of my state executives was aware of it,we did nt discuss it at any of our meetings and as such,we are not a party to the allegation against the REC”

    The legal practitioner said the state executive remains committed to the victory of APC in the state on November 26.

    Kekemeke urged party members to work to remain calm and mobilise voters for the poll.

  • PDP picks Mafo as Jegede’s running mate

    PDP picks Mafo as Jegede’s running mate

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State on Wednesday forwarded the name of Prince John Ola Mafo to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the running mate of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) in the November 26, 2016, governorship candidate.
    This is in line with the directive of INEC that the issues bordering on withdrawal and replacement of candidates would elapse today, October 12, 2016.
    The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Ondo State, Mr. Banji Okunomo in an interview said the credentials of Mafo qualified him for the position.
    According to Okunomo, the decision to pick Mafo was taken by the highest decision body of the PDP in Ondo State.
    His words: “At the highest decision-making body of Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today, the PDP resolved on the choice of Ola Mafo as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party.
    “The party took this far-reaching decision after considering all factors that would lead to its victory at the poll.
    “The party weighed a number of options including the credentials of Ola Mafo which ranged from being a former chairman of Ilaje local government area of Ondo State, former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State.
    “Mafo was also a former Special Adviser to Governor Mimiko and until his nomination, he is the chairman of the Ondo State Football Association (ODSFA).
    “Mafo is also a foundation member of the PDP and a veteran politician from the Southern senatorial district particularly Ilaje local government, a native of Zion Pepe,” he said.
    Okunomo posited that the choice of Mafo was based on equity and political balance saying: “For equity and balance, it is apposite for the party to uphold his nomination as the Deputy Governorship candidate.
    “His name has been forwarded to the INEC as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP. With this development, all party members are further directed to go about their normal campaign, this time, for the Eyitayo/Mafo ticket.
    “Finally, the party wishes to congratulate Prince John Ola Mafo for this political elevation,” Okunomo said.

  • Ondo Poll: Akoko people must vote wisely

    A group, Akoko Development Group (ADG) in Ondo state has urged indigenes of the Akokoland to cast their votes wisely as the state warm-up for the November 26, governorship election.
    ADG, whose members are from the four local governments in Akoko lamented over the poor presence of government infrastructural projects in their communities.
    They expressed their concern through a communique issued at the end of the group’s Third Quarterly Meeting and signed by Dr. Kingsley Shaba and Mr. Fola Amure, the president and publicity secretary of the group respectively.
    The group noted that despite their vibrancy in partisan politics, they have been cut off from governance in Ondo State since the present administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
    They named those lacking infrastructures as water supply, roads, electricity, health institutions, schools and other.
    According to the group, all the towns and villages in Akoko had been without power supply.
    The group appreciated the State Government for its intervention in the construction of Ikare-Iboropa-Ise Road that had been completed but, expressed concern over the 28 kilometer Ikare-Ikaramu-Ajowa Road had not been completed seven years after it was awarded.
    It also disagreed with the government’s claim that the longest kilometer of road constructed by it was in the Northern Senatorial District, challenging the government to disclose its investments on some other roads in the four local governments of the area.
    ADG called on the state government to expand the source of water to Akoko from the little Ose Dam in Egbe through collaboration with Ekiti State Government just as reticulation of Awara Dam should be put on.
    The group, however, said: “We are being denied social amenities and ridiculed that our voting strength is not high, we therefore, call on all Akoko sons and daughters to think and reflect before voting during the forthcoming election of 26th November and vote for a party or a candidate that will solve or ameliorate our problems.”
    The group called on the people to come out in their large numbers to vote to avoid the insinuation that the volume o of votes from Akoko is not much and being blamed for the less attention being given to the area.