Tag: Mimiko

Odunayo Akinrinsola, a businessman from Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The 42-year-old politician spoke with EMMANUEL OLADESU and ENITAN SERIKI on his ambition, the proposed shadow poll and preparations for the governorship election. 

What is the assurance that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the governorship election in Ondo State?

I would have said that the power of incumbency would have a multiplier effect on the state, if Mimiko’s PDP government had met the needs of the people. But when you talk of a state that is lacking in everything and the multiplier effect of incumbency is minus 100. In fact, for our state, I would say incumbency  has  a negative multiplier effect for the PDP. What we are experiencing in Ondo State is nothing to write home about, the standard of living of the people has dropped drastically, there is no security, there are no infrastructures and nothing is working. I don’t see the power of the incumbent coming into play because the electorates would be the ones to decide that and our people are not fools. They can see that nothing is working and they are seriously yearning for change, and change they will get come November, 2016 in  Ondo State just like we are witnessing in Nigeria now with the APC government at the centre and have been experiencing in all the APC controlled states.

Ondo State people are clamouring  for a change. Change in the educational, agricultural, infrastructural and  Industrial sectors of  our state. And  that the APC will provide for our people this year, when we take over government from the PDP through  the power of the people not the fake power of the PDP. The wind of change is blowing  and Ondo is the  next stop.

Can you tell us what your experience has been since you have been consulting with your people and the party leaders?

I have a conviction, having gone far and wide, consulting with the leadership, followership and major stakeholders in our party, state and community about our intension, mission and vision for our state, from the feedback and reception we have received thus far, I am fully persuaded our ambition is line with the clamour of our people and the yearnings of our state. The feedback is encouraging.

The take away from our consultation thus far are; (1) Public administration and governance requires a different approach; (2) the need to bring in business principles and values into public administration, aptly described as Corporate governance and (3) that business administration expertise and experience is a sine qua for state’s administration in the face of dwindling fortunes and decline in Federal allocation.

These take away I   believe, are my added advantage over other candidate. Managing government business is different from managing private business. In a private business, there is no allocation from anywhere, you have to source for fund, and work to pay staff salaries and get business going. You have to continuously innovate, and strategise  to stay afloat and remain in business.

Managing government business is different because you have regular federal allocation , no matter how meagre. So, having been able to manage my business well, it would be an added advantage for me to manage the business of the state in a way that it would be beneficial to the state and our people.

Let us look at the defection of some PDP members to the APC in Ondo State, how do you see this development?

It is an indication of the popularity and acceptability of our party ,APC in Ondo State. Our people are seeing in the Light, and are moving away from the darkness associated with   PDP’s reckless and insensitive governance in Ondo State,  and coming to the light, progress and CHANGE associated with our great party APC. They are all welcome and hopefully, they will contribute to the growth and success of our Party and state. And as long as they don’t have any skeleton in their bag they have nothing to fear.

You recently met with the former Interim Chairman of the APC Chief Bisi Akande. What was the reception like?

The reception was wonderful, Chief  Bisi Akande is an elder  statesman, father and  consummate administrator .Baba Akande  is a man of immense  political stature  in Nigeria. His contribution and sacrifice for  the development  and growth of  APC as a party is indelible. You know he was the chairman of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and pioneer National Chairman of APC. He said that there would be no imposition  and favouritism of candidates in the party and that a level playing ground, which gives every candidate the  opportunity and platform   to canvass for votes ,share their ideology  and test  their  popularity  in the quest for the party’s ticket, which I will clinch by the Special Grace of God. He made it clear that there is nothing like imposition or favouritism.

At the last count, 18 gladiators are jostling for the APC ticket. What is the assurance that the delegates would vote for you at the primaries?

What  characterised  Ondo State politics in the past was moneybag syndrome  pauperised democracy .But now our  people have realised that they need to examine the candidates that would deliver. So, we have been  embarking on wide  consultation and high level visitations and meetings with all stakeholders across  various sector and strata of our state. We consulted within and outside our state.

We have articulated our plans, mission and vision for the state. We have received feedback  from far and beyond, and have analysed setbacks we have encountered in the course of our quest. I can assure you, we are on the right track, we are making progress and headway and with the support of our people and their prayers, slowly but surely we will win the race. Victory is ours

As a successful enterprenuer, my hope and strength  is in God,I  trust  in God, believe in my ability and capacity, and rely on peoples’ support and with all of these in place, we will not only succeed at the primaries, we will succeed at the general polls. We will surely succeed. I am  not intimidated by sheer number of the aspirants, the more the merrier and the better for our party. As a progressive party, our party does not hinder any one from expressing their interest and aspiration.

Although, we have 18 gladiators for one seat, I believe I would emerge as the candidate of the APC at the primaries eventually. I am the youngest aspirant for the governorship race for Ondo State under the APC, and If you look at David in the Bible, he was the youngest child in the house of Jesse, and nobody reckoned with him, but he became the king, the same applies to  Odunayo Akinrinsola. I strongly believe I would emerge the winner at the primaries.

Are you saying that you would emerge as the APC candidate as a technocrat?

Yes, by the grace of God . I am a politician and a technocrat, I have been in politics since the days of SDP, UNCP, AD, AC, ACN and now APC, I have always been with the progressives. I was passive in terms of seeking elective post until now, but  I have been actively   involved at the grassroots’ level  contributing my quota . I am in-between being a politician and a technocrat. However, if you look at it, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola governed Lagos State, for Eight years, and now Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is administering Lagos State.

If you look at their antecedents, you would see that they are not politicians to the core. If you look at the legacy and blueprints of Fashola’s administration in Lagos State, they are still there and the state is seen as the economic hub of Nigeria. Don’t forget that being a technocrat is a plus for me because I know people that can make things work in the state, people of like minds that can rub minds together and bring about the needed change in our state,  through the  creation of enabling  environment  for the  socio-economic transformation of Ondo State. We  will explore all mineral resources in Ondo state apart from oil, thereby diversification of  the economy have bitumen, rubber and a multi-national company is tapping into it. So, being a technocrat is an added advantage for me.

What is your view on power shift?

On sectional interests, politically, the state is divided into three senatorial districts; people of the South, North and Central are agitating for power. Don’t forget the fact that the party does not believe in zoning. It is not in our agenda, we only want a credible candidate. Now, every district has the right to agitate and everyone has the opportunity to aspire but what matters most to the party now is to present a well acceptable, marketable and credible candidate that can stand out and win the state for us in the general election. What is paramount is the party, the party supersedes any agitation. And I am sure the process will be democratic, transparent and open with level playing ground for all spirants. Once this is in place every aspirants will be satisfied with whatever outcome of the primaries.

 

With a keen eye on his future political relevance, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, may have finally settled for one of his commissioners as his successor in 2016, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

A big battle appears imminent within the camp of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State as preparations for the 2016 governorship election in the state is set to kick off.

Among some close aides of the governor, the scheming over who succeeds him within the next one year has been so intense, thereby causing deep mutual distrust that is threatening to polarise the camp down the line.

In the last one year, speculations were rife that the governor had allegedly settled for Mr. Tokunbo Modupe, a trusted ally and confidant.

But fresh facts made available to The Nation however points to the contrary. The governor, according to some sources, may have allegedly settled for Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, his Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, as his preferred successor.

Expectedly, Jegede’s choice has not gone down well with other close associates of the governor; some of whom are also interested in taking over from him and are alleged to have set up structures across the state in pursuit of their ambition.

Fiercely opposed to Jegede’s likely candidacy is Rotimi Adelola, a doctorate degree holder in Organisational Psychology from the University of Ibadan and Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Why Jegede?

Very impeccable sources disclosed that the governor’s preference of Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), was allegedly influenced by a national leader from the North-East who, in spite of recent denials, is allegedly interested in the Presidency in 2019.

The top political leader is believed to be resuscitating his political structures well ahead of the 2019 presidential elections and is said to be reaching out to associates across the country.

Our source said the political leader is silently putting together a new political party that would comprise of elements across all political persuasions and divides.

In convincing Mimiko to settle for Jegede, the political leader was alleged to have dangled the running mate slot to the governor. The offer was simple: “pick Jegede as your successor in return for the vice presidential slot.” It was an irresistible carrot too tempting to resist for the governor, who is also reportedly concerned about his post-governorship political relevance in Ondo State politics and beyond.

As added bait, the top politician is also alleged to have “made a commitment” to bankroll the governorship campaign of Jegede, following complaints by the governor that “he lacks the financial resources” to foot the bill.

The man Jegede

The relationship between the political godfather and Jegede dates back to several years ago.

Born to the family of Chief and Mrs. Johnson Bosede Jegede in Akure, Akure South Local Government of Ondo State of Nigeria, Jegede attended the famous St. Thomas Aquinas College, Akure between 1973 and 1978 from where he proceeded to the prestigious Christ School, Ado Ekiti for his Higher School Certificate (HSC) between 1978 and 1980.

After his Higher School Certificate (HSC), he was admitted to the University of Lagos between 1980 and 1983 where he bagged the LLB degree. He then proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in Lagos for the one year mandatory professional training.

He was enrolled as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1984.

He worked in the law firm of Murtala Aminu & Co in Yola and after twelve years practice in the law firm, six years of which he was the Head of Chambers, he established his own law firm, Tayo Jegede & Co in 1996 in Yola where his path and that of the political godfather crossed.

A  former Chancellor of Anglican Communion of Jalingo, Taraba State, he was also the Chancellor of Anglican Dioceses of Yola and a member of Implementation Committee of American University, Yola, Adamawa State, as well as a member, Chairman Board of Governors, ABTI Academy International School.

Factors against Jegede

Jegede’s choice, according to a source, outrightly violates the principle of zoning. He said: “Mimiko is from Ondo Central Senatorial District, so, Jegede, who is also from the same district, cannot be his successor.

“Since May 29, 1999, no governor in the state has served two terms fully. Chief Adebayo Adefarati from Ondo North only served one term. Agagu from Ondo South was ousted by the elections tribunal. Mimiko from Ondo Central is serving his second term and not satisfied, he is plotting to install a successor from his senatorial district. This cannot stand.”

Between Adelola, Mimiko and Prof. Mimiko

A few months ago, Adelola had reportedly met the governor to sound him out on his succession plan and also inform his boss of his governorship ambition.

The parley was brief, it was learnt. Midway into it however, SSG was, according to sources, taken aback, following the governor’s insistence that he (Adelola) should not even contemplate contesting for the PDP governorship ticket.

But he refused to give up. Sources revealed that the SSG then asked the governor his preferred candidate to enable other aspirants rally round the person. The governor was not forthcoming still on his plans.

It was a clearly distraught Adelola, who later met Prof. Femi Mimiko, the governor’s younger brother, to intimate him of his meeting with his boss.

The younger Mimiko, a former Vice Chancellor of the state university and an influential power broker in the state, is alleged to be backing Adelola’s aspiration to succeed his brother in 2016. The duos, according to sources, have come a long way from their childhood days.

The Nation learnt that the former VC is now caught between aligning with his brother’s position and sticking with his friend of many decades.

Mass defection looms

The governor’s camp recently suffered some high profile defections, a development that reportedly caught him napping.

Prominent among the defectors are a senator in the seventh National Assembly, Senator Patrick Akinyelure and the Director-General of the Technical Aids Corps, Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi, both of whom announced their decisions to quit the PDP some days ago along with thousands of their supporters.

Mimiko’s political camp also suffered a similar fate before the 2015 general elections when a group loyal to former governor of the state, late Dr. Olusegun Agagu, quit the PDP, accusing the governor and the PDP national leadership of unfair treatment.

The defection fever that has hit the Ondo PDP is not likely to end anytime soon if feelers from the state are anything to go by.

A source said: “Akinyelure’s and Osunyikanmi’s defections are just a tip of the iceberg of the tsunami that would hit Mimiko’s camp. In the next few months, many of his associates are likely to jump ship; you just watch and see what happens.”

Will Governor Mimiko succeed in dominating the politics of Ondo State beyond 2016? The answer, for now, remains in the realm of conjectures.