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Tag: Governor Olusegun Mimiko

  • Mimiko marginalized Ondo North and South – UPN candidate

    Mimiko marginalized Ondo North and South – UPN candidate

    The governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Ondo State, Barr. Bolarinwa Aidi on Monday said the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko has short changed people of the state.
    He particularly lamented that the people living in the northern and southern senatorial areas of the state have been totally cut off from governance.
    Aidi stated this at a press conference held in Akure, the state capital to kick off his campaign ahead of November 26, gubernatorial poll.
    The UPN candidate said he intends to pursue with vigor, the five noble cardinal programmes of the party and return the state to the path of progress if elected.
    He noted that “on the issue of decadence in social amenities and dilapidated infrastructure, my heart bleeds anytime I remember that more than 75 percent of the citizens of my state are currently living without electricity and pipe borne water.
    “While the people of Ondo south and north are badly affected by this precarious situation, the outgoing inept, rudderless, greedy and insensitive administration under Mimiko has not been able to think out of the box by looking towards other viable options towards electricity generation.
    “The ripple effect of the denial of electricity to the larger population of the state for instance, can better be imagined than experienced-businesses are grounded or killed totally and the cost of running businesses for those who can afford to power their generators, are most times running those businesses at a loss.
    “It is most unfortunate that almost 96 percent of the Ondo state population are denied access to potable water.
    “The one-time celebrated Ondo State water corporation is now a shadow of itself as it has neglected, refused or patently denied the good people of Ondo clean, hygienic and treated water.”
    However, he promised to employ qualified teachers to teach students and also tackle unemployment head-on by having an in-depth research on how to reposition the economy of the state from prostate condition by diversifying into agriculture.
  • ‘I’ll not step down for Mimiko’s candidate’

    ‘I’ll not step down for Mimiko’s candidate’

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Ondo state, Roland Arigbede Monday said he would pursue his aspiration to become Ondo state governor  to a logical conclusion .

    He emphasised that he would not step down for a candidate allegedly being sponsored by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    Arigbede who spoke with reporters in Akure, the state capital alleged that he had being offered money and other promises to drop his ambition for the PDP candidate.

    He said he was in the governorship race to make Ondo state an envy of other states in Nigeria.

    Arigbede however warned that PRP would resist any attempt to rig the coming election.

    Besides, the governorship candidate urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the current economic recession in the country.

    The politician sought the support of the citizenry in the state, stressing that he would bring rapid development to the state if he becomes the governor.

    He promised to utilise the human and material resources endowed the state to bring succor to the citizenry who are groaning because of harsh economy ravaging the state.

  • Jimoh Ibrahim’s candidacy illegal, says Ebiseni 

    Jimoh Ibrahim’s candidacy illegal, says Ebiseni 

    A governorship aspirant in the Ali-Modu Sheriff People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s camp in Ondo State, Bar. Sola Ebiseni Monday described the faction’s primary election which produced a business mogul, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as illegal.

    Ebiseni, who was a former Commissioner for Environment, under Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration, said he had already petitioned the Appeal Committee of the party to readdress the matter.

    Ebiseni and Ibrahmi were the only two aspirants, who participated in the poll which was held in Ibadan, Oyo after three others aspirants had dropped their ambitions for Ibrahim.

    In the exercise, Ibrahim scored 502 votes to defeat Ebiseni, who got 41 votes.

    The legal practitioner stated this when granting an interview with reporters in Akure, the state capital for the first time since the primary was conducted two weeks ago.

    He blamed the two factions of the party in the state for organizing undemocratic primary elections, saying “what happened in Ibadan was an illegal anti-democratic contraption that cannot stand. On the other hand, the Governor’s handpicked candidate against democratic tenets and just political culture of the people is also bereft of legitimacy ab initio making the PDP in the state.”

    He said “our grouse is that what took place in Ibadan could not be referred to as any form of election by any stretch of the imagination.

    “There was no means of identifying who really were delegates. No delegates’ list or register presented no accreditation of any form which faulted the entire process.

    “How could an election which lasted barely an hour have involved accreditation of almost 1000 delegates?

    “It was unfortunate that some people would, out of indiscretion, desecrate the altar of integrity on which the Sheriff group in Ondo State worship and for which we sought a separate tabernacle in the first place.

    “I have seen forms displayed on social media by several claimants to the candidacy of the PDP and I am amused that it is either some people are playing pranks or the INEC is just enjoying itself by such shenanigans.

    “In the Sheriff group, the Committee that conducted the primary just submitted its report to the NWC on the 6th of September after my petition has been received, yet purported Certificate of Return dated 1st of September has earlier been on display including form CF001 which is supposed to be obtained by the National leadership of the party.

    “It is unfortunate that rather than see the Sheriff group as a veritable higher credible platform for power, some members, especially the state Executives, merely use it as an engine of vengeance against Mimiko and anyone ever associated with him.

    “Our choice of the platform brought colour, glamour, greater credibility and acceptance by the people. Unfortunately, these assets attracted suspicion and campaigns of calumny and we were immediately denounced as Mimiko agents while some even wickedly said the Governor, from whose cabinet I have resigned out of irreconcilable differences, paid my nomination fees.”

    The former commissioner however warned that the lingering crisis in the party to spoil the chances of the party if the house is not put in other.

  • Ondo professionals to Mimiko: Account for N3trn

    Ondo professionals to Mimiko: Account for N3trn

    The League of Ondo Professionals in Edo State has urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to explain how his administration expended N3trn collected from the federation account since 2008.

    It said there was no meaningful development in Ondo State despite the huge resources that accrued to the state.

    The group also hailed the election of Rotimi Akeredolu as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress.

    It said its decision to support Akeredolu was because of the belief that that he has the capacity to deliver the people of Ondo State from the miserable and lamentable life they found themselves under the People’s Democratic Party.

    This was contained in a communique issued at the end of its quarterly meeting h
    Ed in Benin City and signed by the group Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Ibikunle Falana and Mr. Francis Oke respectively.

    The communique reads in parts, “The present Mimiko government had no vision to create jobs or empower the jobless youths who are now posing security risk to their own people.

    “The present administration squandered all the federal allocations without any meaningful developments.”

    The Ondo Professionals praised APC delegates for shunning monetary inducement by voting for Akeredolu who it said could turn situation of things around in the state.

  • Ondo Commissioner resigns over governorship ambition

    Ondo Commissioner resigns over governorship ambition

    …no anointed Candidate- PDP

    The Ondo State Commissioner for Environment,Sola Ebiseni,a lawyer, has resigned his appointment as a cabinet member in the administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The development was in line with his aspiration to contest the November 26 governorship election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    Ebiseni who is from Ilaje land in the Southern Senatorial District of the state thanked Mimiko for giving him the opportunity to serve the state in the last six years as a commissioner.

    With the development,two other aspiring Commissioners,Eyitayo Jegede(SAN) the Attorney-General& Commissioner for Justice and his counterpart in the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,Bamiduro Dada would join soon in accordance with the rule.

    The PDP in the state has debunked the rumour that the party has adopted a particular aspirant as candidate for the November 26 poll in the state.

    It maintained that the party is yet to conduct its primary election to decide the party flag bearer.

    A statement by its publicity Secretary,Banji Okunomo said the rumour is a figment of imagination and not emanating from the PDP secretariat.

    There had been speculations that Governor Olusegun Mimiko has openly adopted an Akure Indigine,who is the Attorney-General and commissioner of Justice,Eyitayo Jegede(SAN) as PDP flag bearer.

    PDP aspirants are Chief Sola Ebiseni,Senator Remi Okurinboye, Gbenga Elegbeleye,Prince Nekan-Olateru Olagbegi,Bamiduro Dada,Dare Emiola,Dayo Fadahunsi,Adedayo Omolafe,Dare Bada,Debo Ajimuda and Benson Amuwa.

    The statement said”PDP has a constitution which guides its affairs,the issue pertaining to picking the candidate who would be the flag bearer of the party in the forth coming governorship election is purely a constitutional affair of the party.

    “Provisions for the party’s primary are purely unambiguous in the constitution of the party,PDP believes strongly in internal democracy and as such issues of imposition of candidates on the party would not arise”

    The party assured all contestants that there would be a level-play ground for them in the primary election.

    It said”we believe so much in democratic appeals,fairness,equity and justice.Among other things,the party would consider issues of leadership prowess,popularity and acceptance of candidates to the electorate before such is picked as party flag bearer.

    “Our primary would be conducted at a date which would be fixed within the period which INEC allows by which time the flag bearer of the party would emerge”.

    The statement said it would not leave anybody in doubt as regards the rumour being peddled and to state equivocally that the party has no anointed candidate.

    It called on PDP supporters in the state to continue to blossom in the enviable sanity which it said has continued to exist within the party.

  • APC alleges conversion of bailout funds to soft loans in Ondo

    APC alleges conversion of bailout funds to soft loans in Ondo

    The All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ondo State has accused the state government of alleged diversion of the bailout funds as loans to members of NURTW, Artisans, market women in exchange for their voter’s cards. ‎

    The fund was initiated by the Federal Government to many states to settle outstanding workers’ salaries, allowances and pensions owed the people. ‎‎
    ‎A statement by the Party’s Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, said “we have uncovered a new strategy by Governor Olusegun Mimiko to hoodwink the people of Ondo State and to illegally acquire their voter’s cards under the guise of soft loans to certain groups of people and associations in the state.

    “These groups include: the National Union of Road, Transport Workers (NURTW), artisans, market women associations, the Okada Riders Association, Tipper union and others.
    ‎
    “Using his surrogates planted within these associations, the governor has started witch-hunting and intimidating members who refused to submit details and photocopy of their voter’s cards.

    “He has threatened to deregister and expel them as members of such association/group and that he will not allow them to function within the state.
    ‎
    “Mimiko’s plan is to give soft loans of between N60,000 to N100,000 to every member in exchange for their voter’s card ahead of the 2016 gubernatorial election in the state. He also promised any member with children of voting age an extra N100, 000, depending on the number of children. ‎

    “This is obviously robbing Peter to pay Paul. He is robbing the workers in the state of their salaries to give loans to the artisans, NURTW, market women in exchange of their voter’s cards.
    ‎
    “We appeal to these groups/associations and the people of Ondo state not to fall for this evil plot by the Governor. Voter’s card or its information should not be released to anybody or government agents as pre condition or license loan. Doing so will amount to selling their future and that of their children.
    ‎
    “We challenge Ondo State Police command, Directorate of State Security, Ondo State command, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the State to quickly investigate this matter and unravel the government agents behind this dastardly act and bring them to book.”

  • Retired judges sue Mimiko over unpaid entitlements

    Retired judges sue Mimiko over unpaid entitlements

    Some retired judges in Ondo state have dragged Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the state Pension Board and the state Attorney General, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) before the National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Akure over the refusal of the state government to pay their retirement benefits and pension since 2007.

    The retired judges prayed the court to direct the defendants to pay them upward review by 96 percent of their monthly pension from February, 2007 in line with circulars issued in 2010 and 2015 by the National Judicial Council, (NJC).

    They listed some of the retirement benefits as accommodation, four official domestic staff, medical care, and serviceable vehicles among others.

    In a suit filed by their counsel, Prince Adetoye Ojopagogo, the former judges also sought an order of the Industrial Court compelling the state government and its officials to review and harmonize their pension benefits every five years from 2000 till date in conformity with section 210 subsections 2 and 3 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Speaking on behalf of the plaintiffs, retired Justice Adeyemo Afonja lamented that six out of the retired judges including late justice Rasheed Fawehinmi had died while struggling and waiting to receive their benefits from the government.

    Justice Afonja said they took the matter to court since all efforts to appeal Mimiko to pay their retirement entitlements had failed including sending some first class monarchs and eminent indigenes of the state to beg him.

    He said” We are seeking an order directing the defendants to grant and pay the plaintiffs/Claimants severally, the upward review by 96% of their respective monthly pensions with effect from the 1st day of February, 2007 up to the final payments, and henceforth for each month thereafter authorized adopting by the National Judicial Council’s Circular Ref No: NJC/CIR/HOC/1/39 of the 7th October, 2010, and Circular No: NJC/CIR/HOC/1/2734 of the Council of 16th November, 2015″.

  • APC to NLC: You are anti-workers

    APC to NLC: You are anti-workers

    The Ondo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has faulted the encomiums passed on Governor Olusegun Mimiko by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    The party noted that it was  ironical that the commendation came at a time workers in the state are currently groaning through the insensitivity of the same government that has failed to pay salaries for four months.

    NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in a letter applauded Governor Mimiko over what he described as his sterling leadership qualities in the transformation of Ondo State to a modern and one of the leading states in the country.

    This he hinged on provision of physical infrastructure and services and other landmark achievements, which according to him have impacted on the lives of the people of Ondo State.

    APC in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro said it did not denying the present leadership of NLC its right to opinion and decisions

    It however expressed concern on the “injury of inept” leadership foisted on the state in almost eight years of misgovernance which ironically found commendations from an organization that should indeed show empathy towards the challenges faced by the people.

    According to the statement”what should readily have been a succour to the civil servants in Ondo state through the Federal Government’s bailout intervention of over N15 billion has neither been accounted for nor have the workers been paid. Yet the NLC leadership believes such commendations at this struggling time for civil servants is in good faith.

    “Our concern is the obvious disconnect between the realities being faced by residents of Ondo state, who have not experienced pipe-borne water in seven years but are told to celebrate the error of a water fountain which obviously the NLC leadership must have found awe-inspiring in its ill-fated commendation”.

    The party however advised the leadership of the NLC to always seek the truth from the people it represents before putting undue commendations on rejected governments.

  • ‘Why I’m parting ways with Mimiko’

    ‘Why I’m parting ways with Mimiko’

    Senator Ayo Akinyelure spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU on his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), his grudges against Governor Olusegun Mimiko and next year’s governorship poll.

    How would you describe the seventh National Assembly where you served as a Senator?

    I represented Ondo Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly at the Seventh Assembly under Senator David Mark, the President of the Senate then. I got to the Senate on the platform of the Labour Party (LP); I was democratically elected by the people of Ondo Central Senatorial District. The Seventh Assembly was a dynamic Senate and by the grace of God, a lot of Bills were discussed and passed during the Seventh Assembly. As a senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, I made my positive impact on the people of Ondo Central Senatorial District. One of the celebrated Bills I sponsored was the “Dichotomy and Discrimination between HND and Bsc Certificates in the Public and Private Sector of Nigerian Economy”, this Bill passed through second reading in the Seventh Senate.

    It was interesting because the Seventh Assembly was full of many Nigerians that were democratically elected by their people, they were never bundled to the Senate by Political God Fatherism and they represented the interest of their people, particularly myself as a first term Senator.

    I was made the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions; it is a special committee of the Senate that oversees and welcomes petitions from all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and the Petitions Committee, under my leadership made a very big difference in the lives of many Nigerians. Many Nigerians that were disengaged from service over the years were reinstated and, by the grace of God, that position assisted me to add value to my constituency because I was able to sponsor more than four hundred and fifty two (452) graduates to the Federal Service through that particular Committee.

    With all your laudable achievements while in the Senate, what do you think went wrong that made you lose the second term bid?

    Well, I had said it earlier; I said there were some ‘coup’ plotters among the political class in Ondo Central Senatorial District, who felt I was becoming too popular for them, but I believe that God’s time is the best; God has a purpose for the life of everybody. And after working against my second term bid, I still remain in the party because my governor has assumed the position of leadership in the party in the Southwest, though no adequate consultation with other stakeholders of the party, especially when you have a senator and you are taking a decision to move from one political platform to another, there was no consultation, until the final day, that means he believes that he can do it alone.

    Despite all these things, we remain so loyal to him, especially myself but at the end of the day, they paid me back in bad coins. That is why I decided to part ways with them because my political future should not be tied to a particular person who doesn’t appreciate what I have been doing over seven years. If, for instance, as a Senator, you have a governor who never consulted you when he wants to make political appointments, despite your loyalty; not even phone calls to ask for advice, he believes he can do it alone. All these I have witnessed over seven years now and yet, I decided to be so committed and loyal to them, but at the end of the day, they paid me back in bad coins. I was never recognised at any point as a political stakeholder in Ondo Central.

    When I realised this position, I decided that there is nothing wrong in choosing another political platform. Initially, I believed the people I had been working with and have so much loved me, but they never reciprocate the love I have for them and at a point I discovered that there was need to chose a new political platform and that is the need for my now going to All Progressives Congress (APC), with most of my followers and we are doing this without any problem, we are not quarreling with anybody and I have let them realize that we are not fighting anybody. In life, everyone has a destiny; God has destined me to become whatever I had become today. Today, God has made Governor Olusegun Mimiko to became the governor of Ondo State for two terms and we contributed to his success to be there and after getting there, he never reciprocated the gesture; he never realised that it is not his effort alone that made him to be governor: he became governor through contributions from people like us. But, when he got there, he sees himself as ‘a boss’ that nobody can advise. All well and good, we all know his term will expire next year and another political platform will have to install a new governor in the state and by the grace of God, it will be APC and we are going to join hands to make that happen democratically under one man, one vote scenario.

    What should people expect when you finally get to APC?

    When a party wants to make a particular person a flag bearer to a political position they must know that he has the popularity, love of the people and a good political antecedent. So, my political aspiration is that, I am going there to add value to the party. If I get there and they say, Allover this is the ticket of the governor, I will fly it. If they say, this is the ticket for the Senate, I will fly it.

    So, it is not a do-or-die affair and I am not desperate about any position; it’s only God that can destine you to be whatever you want to become. But, I have a political agenda to go to any political party to add value to my people.  I have used the platform of Labour Party to serve the interest of my people in the Seventh Senate and they are all happy with me. However, the platform of the PDP could not fly me to the Senate for second term because of the steps taken by Mr. Governor at the initial stage which was wrong.  Three months to last Presidential/National Assembly elections, our governor just woke up one day and said we are moving to the PDP, whereas nobody was consulted at all; we decamped along with him based on our absolute loyalty to his leadership. But, after decamping with him, it was quarrel and issues we met on ground.  We met “I no go gree PDP” also known as “PDP Konigba”. We fought that battle for almost about two and half months to election; they were in court for almost two and half months to election. By the time we should start campaigning and organise ourselves for election we were in court, we couldn’t do anything because of loyalty, I followed him, I have the notion that the ‘boss is always right’. I never knew we were following him blindly. I believe ordinarily if you want to defect to other political party, you have to consult all the leadership of your party and even the leadership of the party you are crossing to and you have to reach a consensus to identify the issues on ground and how to take and share positions available.

    These were never done by Mr. Governor because he believed we have done his own first and second term election for him and succeeded so, he doesn’t need to remember us National Assembly stakeholders, who wanted to go for second term and we all lost the election gallantly because the members we met in the PDP then resolved he cannot just come and become their boss without giving consideration to the people he met on ground. In fact, we were resolving issues when we were supposed to be campaigning for election.

    Assuming we just stayed quietly in our Labour Party, I would be in the Senate by now as a ranking Senator and even as one of the Senate Leadership, either as a Minority or Deputy Minority Leader, representing the interest of the democratically enlightened good people of Ondo State. Such position is equivalent to being the governor of a State, the power of appropriation vested on leadership of the Senate is enormous to add value to your state, and Mimiko didn’t even bother about it, because he has had his own second term already. If you look at his political followers today, there is no one he empowered to take over from him.

    The people of Ondo State now  know that he is so unfair to us, even his Chief of Staff, Dr. Kola Ademujimi who has spent seven years in government, how many people has he gotten jobs for in Idanre Kingdom? A self-acclaimed ‘Igwe’ of Idanre Kingdom. Igwe title belongs to the eastern part of Nigeria, so he (Dr. Ademujimi) is a foreigner in his own town. This same Chief of Staff to the Governor prevented the Owa of Idanre Kingdom, a first class paramount ruler from gaining access to see Mr. Governor in his office for seven years now. So, also he prevented all the political elders from seeing Mr. Governor as well. These actions of his I considered unfair to Idanre people who supported Mr. Governor with overwhelming votes at election. These are some of the various issues I have with them; politics is about adding value to your people. When you are holding a position of leadership, or assuming a position of leadership or a political position, it is not you who took yourself there, it was the votes that Idanre people contributed to Mimiko that made him appoint Dr. Ademujimi as his Chief of Staff.

  • PDP NWC members on Ondo payroll, APC alleges

    PDP NWC members on Ondo payroll, APC alleges

    •Metuh: ‘allegation frivolous’

    ONDO State All Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted the public, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the police to an alleged reckless spending by the state government.

    The party alleged that despite the state’s meagre resources, Governor Olusegun Mimiko was still lavishing money monthly on some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Working Committee (NWC) members.

    But Metuh, in a reaction, described the allegation as “frivolous”.

    In a statement in Akure, the state capital, the APC’s spokesman, Abayomi Adesanya, said: “We reliably gathered that some PDP national officers are on the payroll of Ondo State government.

    “The money, which is running into several millions of naira monthly, was part of the agreement reached with Mimiko before controversially installing him as the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum.

    “In view of the prevailing conditions of non-payment of workers’ salaries and emoluments, non-payment of pensioners’ allowances and gratuities for more than two years, neglect and complete abandonment of state-owned industries coupled with infrastructural decadence, the governor is still reckless in spending our commonwealth on frivolities and leaving the people of Ondo State to wallow in abject poverty.

    “At this crucial period of economic downturn, we expect the governor to apply austerity measures: mend loopholes, cut down wasteful spending, priortise resources and stop dispensing our money as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

    “We, therefore, call on the law enforcement agents to investigate Mimiko and these members.”

    The APC urged Mimiko to focus on the state’s development and fulfill his electoral promises, rather than spending the state’s funds to resuscitate the “dead PDP”.

    Reacting, Metuh said: “It is no longer a surprise to me that they are making these accusations against me. I am not from Ondo State and I am not a worker of the Ondo State Government.

    “I was in Ondo during our party’s last governorship election campaign and I also went there during the last presidential campaign. I have not been there afterwards.

    “I am happy that they are throwing accusations at me and not bombs or assassination attempts. Honestly, I am not surprise at these frivolous accusations and I am not deterred.”

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