Tag: Mimiko

Former Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has dismissed a report alleging that he has been appointed to lead the Southwest consultation team for former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The report, published by a national daily, not The Nation, claimed that Mimiko was chosen to head consultations in preparation for a possible political comeback by Jonathan and that the recommendation came from former Osun State governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.

While Jonathan has not publicly declared any intention to contest in 2027, speculation has been mounting about his possible return to Aso Rock after losing his re-election bid to the late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

However, in a statement issued on Monday through his spokesperson, Mr. Eniola Akinsola, and obtained by The Nation, Mimiko described the publication as “falsehood” and “a concocted rumour dressed in news.”

“The falsehood in the report is obvious from the get-go. It is just the work of a journalist flying with concocted rumour dressed as news,” the statement read.

“The Mimiko that I know respects former President Jonathan but has neither been reached nor appointed for a campaign that is still the subject — and may well end as a subject — of fanciful speculation. I am sure he is also not job-hunting,” Akinsola added.

The statement further noted that as the 2027 elections draw closer, politically motivated stories of this nature are likely to emerge, especially about figures like Mimiko who have “chosen to remain low for now.”

Last week, former Minister of Information and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Prof. Jerry Gana, had stirred controversy after declaring that Jonathan would contest the 2027 election, saying Nigerians were yearning for his return.

“I can confirm that Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will contest the presidential election in 2027 as PDP candidate, and we should be prepared to vote for him to return as president again,” he said.

But in a swift reaction, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed Gana’s claim as “an absurdity.”

“However, we should caution former president Jonathan to be wary of the PDP sugar-coated cheerleaders. Politicians of Jerry Gana’s ilk merely want to lure him into the race to satisfy their personal, political, religious, and ethnic interests. They will abandon him midstream, as they did in 2015, and leave Gentleman Jonathan in the lurch,” Onanuga warned.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is gaining momentum for the November 16 governorship election as over 1000 members of opposition political parties defected to the ruling party.

The defectors include associates of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, former leaders of organized labour in Ondo state, and former candidates of the Labour Party in last year’s general elections.

The defectors were Hon Joseph Akinlaja, former Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Jumoke Akindele, a former Commissioner for Works, Gboye Adegbenro, former running mate to Eyitayo Jegede, Hon Gboluga Ikengboju, and Chief Alaba Lad Ojomo.

Others were Engr Jide Adejuyigbe, Barr Tunde Atere, Hon Ebenezer Alabi, Hon Ajani Oladipo, Yeyeoge Funmilola Oluwadare, Com Solomon Adelegan, Com Femi Bosede, Chief Yele Ogundipe, Com Dayo Akinte, Dr Dapo Iwala, Mr Femi Ofakunrin, Mr Olumide Olugbebi, Ms Omowumi George, Mr Gbenga Aro, Alhaji Rauf Ogunsola, Ms Taiye Afilaka, Hon Adetimehin Badeji Jacob, Dr Felix Kehinde, Com Babatunde Sobande, Hon Idowu Ogunmade and Mr Olanrewaju Longe.

Read Also: Aiyedatiwa’s camp woos Mimiko, hails ex-gov’s aides for defecting to APC

Former candidates of the LP that joined the APC were Oluwadare Timothy, Hon Tayo Wole, Ibidomi Akinloroju, and the entire structure of the LP in Okitipupa local government.

Hon Akinlaja who spoke on behalf of the defectors said they moved to the APC to contribute their quota to the victory of Aiyedatiwa and the APC in the forthcoming election.

“Also, we are in APC to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to contribute to the solution of the myriads of challenges facing our dear country rather than remain in an unserious structure that is neither desirous of nor prepared for victory.

“We have a comprehensive list of over 5000 leaders at various levels, including chairmen of LGAs, Ward Chairmen, and community leaders all of the PDP moving today into the APC.

“We are not stopping, we are also asking our colleagues to immediately move into their wards and units to join the existing APC structure for the seamless victory of the APC.”

The state chairman of the Ondo APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin said that the best materials in the PDP have joined the APC.

He said it was the beginning of good things to happen to the Ondo APC.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who received the defectors, said their coming has added more strength to the APC.

Aiyedatiwa said they joined the party at the right time.

“You have come at a time towards the tail end of an era. You are going to be with us in a new era in February 2025. You are coming at the right time. For everyone that laboured there is a reward,” he said.

The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has picked a medical doctor, Abbas Mimiko, as its candidate for the November governorship election in Ondo state.

Abbas, a younger brother to a former Ondo governor, Olusegun Mimiko, emerged candidate through affirmation, in the primary held at the state party secretariat, Akure, the state capital.

Mimiko promised to focus on education, health, the economy, and security if elected governor.

He said the former governor was in support of his aspiration.

He said: “We are forced to be reckoned with in this election. We will ensure food security. Within a year of our being in office, we will have a surplus of food in Ondo state. We will ensure affordable quality education, industrialisation housing, and free health services for all residents are part of our programmes.

“My brother is happy that I am coming out because he knows I would build on his achievements,” he declared.

The national secretary of the ZLP, Yahaya Wakama, appealed to members to work hard to ensure victory at the polls.

Read Also: Mimiko, others meet over Ondo PDP governorship

“Let me remind us however that the days ahead will be even more demanding and disturbing. The signs of what we should expect are already here, the harassment, attacks, and economic strangulation are some of the weapons that the ruling party will wield in their attempt to prevent the people’s will. But we cannot give up. We must resolve to snatch our state from the jaws of death and the predators whose only desire is to sink the ship of state. We must remain the voices of our people and work for their betterment.”