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Tag: Mimiko

  • Mimiko promises first class graduates jobs

    Twenty-six First Class graduates of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State have been offered employment by the state government if they wish to work in the civil service.

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko made the offer during the university’s fifth convocation last Friday at the multi-purpose hall.

    Mimiko lauded the university’s policy of retaining its best brains and promised to support it in this regard.

    “I understand that the policy of the university of retaining the best among the graduands is still in place, so that they could add value to the university and have opportunity to pursue higher degrees under the sponsorship of the university.

    “I want to assure you that this administration will continue to give its full support to this laudable initiative. In the event there is any of you who made a First Class and is desirous of working in the Ondo State Service, such a candidate will be given automatic employment,” he said.

    Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Femi Mimiko, whose five-year tenure ends in January, said the initiative of retaining the best was expanded under his watch.

    He said over 50 of the university’s best graduates who have been absorbed into its workforce are also continuing their studies in both local and foreign universities.

    “The Graduate Fellowship scheme, which we inherited, was rejuvenated and expanded in scope. Now, it is almost certain that if you make a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.00 and above, you are most likely to be offered a place in your department as a Graduate Assistant. The university pays your way through a Master’s degree programme and PhD, within or outside Nigeria. As I speak to you, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we have close to 50 of these young men and women, trainee academics, all over the world on this mission,” he said.

    Being the last convocation that Prof Mimiko would preside over as vice-chancellor, it was an opportunity for him to present his scorecard.  In his 20-page address, Mimiko said the university succeeded in sanitising the admissions and examination/assessment processes, introducing new programmes and training workers.

    “We started off by consciously and deliberately instituting a merit-driven admission policy.  We overhauled all our academic programmes, making them more relevant and useful to our publics. We liberally funded training programmes for our lecturers and staff at all levels to hone their capacity; expanded facilities available for teaching and research; placed our examination and assessment processes on a much more transparent platform; and emphasised the rights and privileges of students while not neglecting their duty. In all regards, we mainstreamed quality assurance,” he said among other achievements.

    The vice-chancellor also thanked the governor, who is also his brother, for his support for the university, notably allowing the institution to run without pressure.

    He said: “By support, I do not just mean support in funding terms, but perhaps more importantly, we thank Mr. Governor for his distinctive and robust understanding of the nuances of university culture and for acknowledging the differentiation between a university and other government agencies, the MDAs. It would shock you, that not once in my five years did Governor Mimiko send any single name to me for consideration for admission.”

    At the two-day convocation, 6, 341 graduands from the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 sets received First Degrees, while 412 earned Postgraduate Diplomas, and Higher Degrees.

    Of the 6, 341, 26 bagged First Class Degrees, 1,414 were in the Second Class Upper Division; 3,505 got Second Class Lower Division; 993 earned Third Class and 54 graduated in the Pass category.

    Two dignitaries, Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, Jillo III, the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom; and Chief Samuel Olu Falae, the Olu of Ilu-Abo, were conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degrees of the university.

    The convocation coincided with the 15th founder’s day celebration of the university.

    In his speech, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Ambassador Oladele Akadiri, said the newly-inaugurated Council would consolidate on the achievements of the university since inception, especially in the past five years.

    “Let us all put in our best at all times to achieve the vision and mission of the university. We should cooperate and work together in order to sustain the current tempo of development the university has witnessed in recent years,” he said.

    He congratulated the graduands and their parents on their achievements and encouraged them to be good ambassadors of the university.

    Cash prizes ranging from N10, 000 to N100, 000 were presented to the outstanding graduands.

  • 2015: Akure indigenes threaten showdown with Mimiko

    2015: Akure indigenes threaten showdown with Mimiko

    INDIGENES of Akure, the Ondo State capital, have protested alleged imposition and political marginalisation of their people by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The aggrieved communities, covering three local governments of Akure North, Ifedore and Akure South, on Thursday, expressed dismay over the manner indigenes of the town were being marginalised by the governor, threatening to resist any attempt to impose people with little electoral value on them.

    Addressing reporters in Akure, the Secretary General of Akure Community Development Forum, ACDF, Bayo Fajemilua, accused Mimiko of marginalising Akure communities. Fajemilua, whose speech was entitled, ‘Before Akure is pushed out of political reckoning in Ondo State’, noted that the governor had been doing everything to make sure that the state capital was pushed out of political reckoning in the state.

    According to him, Akure has been practically excluded from political appointments at the federal, state and district levels.

    He said, “Governor Olusegun Mimiko is used to hijacking all political positions and developmental projects to Ondo, regardless of the rightful owner of the project.

    “The governor ensures that no Akure person occupies the first ten positions in the state. He is also fond of witch-hunting anybody from Akure community who has goodwill for the land. “It is no more news that projects of great social, political and economic value to the community were abandoned by the present government. For example, the new ultra-modern stadium under construction because of the huge amount of money the project attracts.

    “Apart from that, the reticulation of Owena Dam, which would have provided water for Akure and some important road projects within Akure and its environs, have been abandoned. These projects were on-going during the late Olusegun Agagu government.” Fajemilua lamented that no indigene of the capital city has represented the state in the senate since the inception of democracy in 1999, and emphasised that nobody outside the community would be accepted in the 2015 general elections.

  • Mimiko, ‘old’ PDP leaders ‘share’ positions

    Mimiko, ‘old’ PDP leaders ‘share’ positions

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in the state have agreed to work together in the interest of the state.

    Mimiko, at a meeting held early yesterday at the Government House in Alagbaka, promised to be fair in his dealings with party members.

    At the meeting, far reaching decisions were taken, including the sharing of political offices among members of the state’s old Labour and old PDP, which has been tagged the “new formidable PDP”.

    It was agreed that the old Labour Party would get 18 seats; and the old PDP eight seats in the House of Assembly.

    For the House of Representatives, the old Labour Party will have six seats and the old PDP three.

    In the Senate, the old Labour Party will have two seats and the old PDP one.

    Mimiko said his reason for returning to the PDP was to build a united and dependable party that would become the envy of all.

    “I came to the party to build and not to destroy it. I want to pledge that by the grace of God, I will be just and every decision will have the input of all stakeholders and whatever elective positions are there to be contested will be shared amicably. There is need to generate trust so that we can move forward.”

    A former Commissioner for Information, Eddy Olafeso, who briefed reporters after the meeting, said the leaders had agreed to work together.

    He said an agreement was  reached on consensus candidates for the party.

    The Publicity Secretary in the dissolved party executive, Wale Ozogoro, praised the leaders for the meeting.

    He said the party was committed to the transformational agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and must work to give him over a million votes next year.

    A party chieftain, Prof. Olu Agbi, thanked the governor for allaying the fears of party members.

    He said:  “Listening to you, I am happy and I believe that you will take the party to the next level.

    “I suggest that a committee be set up to look at the governor’s proposal for the advancement of the party.”

    Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Kingsley Kuku said the governor’s return to the PDP can only make the party greater.

    He said Mimiko is the leader of the party in the state and should be accorded the respect due to him in that capacity.

    Kuku urged aggrieved parties who had gone to court to withdraw the case because, according to him, PDP is a disciplined party and members should be able to settle their differences amicably.

    Present at the meeting were Pastor Yele Omogunwa, Chief Alex Akinnadeju, Dr Tayo Dairo, Dr Tayo Fawehinmi and Niyi Akinyua.

    Others were Senator Gbenga Oguniya, Fatai Adams, Dr Laz Ojomo, Gbenga Elegbeleye, Navy Capt Adewusi (rtd), Dr Bode Iwaloye and Senator Remi Okunrinboye, among others.

    The party secretariat on Oyemekun Road, Akure, which was shut on Monday by security operatives has been reopened.

    Though activities have resumed at the two-storey building, some policemen were still hanging around the vicinity to maintain peace.

    The party leadership, on Tuesday, petitioned the Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, on the closure of the secretariat, which had been in use since 1998.

    It said the dissolution of the state exco could not warrant the seizure of its secretariat, urging the police commissioner to rescind its decision.

    But the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dare Adeleke, hinged the action on the need to avoid unauthorised access and possible destruction of property at the secretariat, stressing that it would remain closed.

    With this development, Ondo PDP is parading two secretariats- Oyemekun Road and Alagbaka, Akure.

  • How much is Mimiko worth? 

    How much is Mimiko worth? 

    SIR: Shortly after the Alabi-led Ondo PDP executive went to court to get the status quo to remain, an infuriated Mimiko would rant in the newspapers that no one can force him out of the party because he’s bringing value to the party. Value according to an online dictionary, is worth in usefulness or importance to the possessor; utility or merit. It might be monetary or material. In politics, the number of votes you can harvest, the huge amount of cash you can donate, your ability to twist an arm, break a leg and to some extent, cause mayhem or snatch boxes makes you valuable; makes you an asset.

    Where lies Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko’s strength in the above listed values that he keeps priding himself that he is bringing values to Ondo State PDP?

    Before his defection he was no longer popular. The two elections he conducted were inclusive because they were not in his favour. The seat of the late speaker is still vacant. He is out of favour with the masses. Mimiko that was in LP has only one vote. The vote of his wife he can’t guarantee that is if she will be voting; so are the votes of his kids provided they will be in the country to vote. So what values are the governor bringing to the table?

    In Abuja during his defection, he said President Jonathan’s ambition is the major reason for his defection. Does he need to move to PDP to campaign for the president? In 2007 as Labour Party governor and member, Jonathan won handsomely in Ondo State, kudos to Iroko; why would he not repeat the same feat in 2015?

    The truth is that things have changed.

    For Labour Party to die a natural death in Ondo State after the defection of the governor means the party is all about him. The LP aspirants followed him automatically hoping they will be the anointed candidates of the governor in the sharing formula that will emerge.

    The main reason the governor decamped is his doubtful loyalty. His chameleonic nature is obviously a source of worry to the presidency.  To convince the presidency of his loyalty, he chose to decamp at Abuja. Abuja on the other hand, appropriately rewarded him as south west coordinator of the Jonathan re-election project to keep him in sight.

    Both of course needs each other; Mimiko needs a soft landing and for the presidency to watch his back at the end of his tumultous tenure; the presidency needs a strognman to assist it manipulate Ondo votes. It is a case of rub my back, I rub yours.

     

    • Olusola Farouq

    Warri Delta State

  • LP gives Mimiko 21 day ultimatum to resign

    LP gives Mimiko 21 day ultimatum to resign

    The National Working Committee (NWC) Wednesday advised Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko to respect Labour Party (LP) constitution and resign from office.

    Mimiko who was elected into office as LP candidate dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    LP NWC took the decision after a meeting in Abuja.

    According to a statement issued by the LP National Publicity Secretary, Ikpe Etokudo: “The NWC came to the inevitable conclusion that the constitution of the republic and provision of relevant section of the electoral laws must be respected by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and his new party – the PDP.

    “The case of Dr. Boroffice who was elected as a Senator on the platform of our party but defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was cited. The NWC reminded Dr. Mimiko that he was so incensed by Boroffice’s action that he advised the party to approached the court for justice.

    “The NWC warned all those concerned to take the path of honour immediately or should expect to defend their deliberate raping of the constitution of the country within next 21 days in court as well as be ready to face the wrath of workers of Ondo State in particular and the nation in general.”

  • ‘Mimiko ‘ll betray PDP again’

    ‘Mimiko ‘ll betray PDP again’

    The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Abayomi Adesanya, in this interview with DAMISI OJO, says the  defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from the Labour Party (LP) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)is not in the interest of the state.

    What’s your party’s reaction to the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko from the LP to the PDP?

    We are not surprised because it is no news to us that Governor Olusegun Mimiko is joining the PDP. Of course, he has always been a member of the party. He has been PDP in Abuja and LP in Ondo State for quite some time. So,his defection is not a big deal, since it was long expected. That’s his attitude. He had wanted to betray them, but they were able to pin him down, that “oh boy, you are not going anywhere, you must honour your own part of the agreement”. As far as we are concerned, Mimiko’s defection is a survival strategy. He is looking for soft landing because he has committed so many atrocities in the state. The governor’s defection to the PDP is not to add any value; he is  there because of his own selfish interest. I only pity the people in the PDP because Mimiko has come to “ebolarise” them. The Ondo state chapter of the party has been criticising the Mimiko-led government, but what are they going to do now, since the governor has joined them? If former Governor Olusegun Agagu were to be alive, I am sure he would not be comfortable having Mimiko in PDP.

    Is your party not worried that Mimiko has joined forces with the PDP in the state?

    We are not worried at all. We even like it because it will make our job easier. We have only two parties in Ondo State now, no more LP. That’s the way we look at it. As he has moved to the PDP, more than half of the LP members are moving to the APC and half of the PDP members are saying they cannot work with him. I learnt he has been given 60 percent of the party structure because he is a sitting governor. Automatically, the state chairman and other members of the state executive committee of the PDP must go. All the positions from the state level to the ward level will have to be shared according to the 60/40 formula agreed upon. How do you think they will be happy with the arrangement? Chief Olusola Oke was given an appointment, but he has not been sworn in since then. What’s he waiting for in the PDP? I see him as a progressive-minded person. He should now come to the APC where he can realise his ambition. We still have a number of them in the PDP who have a lot of credibility. They should come and join the progressive people. There is no way President Jonathan will not lose the 2015 presidential election. Therefore,  the APC is forming the next government. We have six geo-political zones in this country. Jonathan is popular in only two of them, which are Southsouth and Southeast. And in the history of the whole world, there has never been a place where the alliance of the minority defeated the alliance of the majority. There is the alliance of the majority in the APC. I still want to implore PDP members in Ondo State to come and join the APC so that we can work together and move the state forward. The rule of Mimiko has taken the state 20 years backward.

    Why do you think Mimiko will not add value to the PDP in the state?

    The truth of the matter is that Mimiko has become a political leper. He has spent his relevance, and his popularity has drastically waned. The governor is our own Maradona. He dribbled the defunct Action Congress (AC). We supported him to get to government. I contested for the House of Assembly in 2007 on the platform of the AC. My petition at the Appeal Court, Benin, was withdrawn in solidarity with the LP. Dr. Tunji Abayomi was our lawyer. We received an instruction that we should withdraw all our petitions so that they would not affect the chances of the LP. We helped him there. He betrayed us.

    He used President Jonathan to get a second term. He deceived the whole state. Mimiko betrayed former Governor Adebayo Adefarati. It was Adefarati who gave that name, Iroko, to him because he was the commissioner of commissioners. His colleagues in the cabinet then would have to liaise with Mimiko before they could get anything from Baba Adefarati because he was very close to the old man. But, what did he do to him? He betrayed Agagu too. He betrayed the  PDP. The political Maradona would have wanted to betray Jonathan, but he has exhausted his cards. Mimiko is playing his last card which is this defection to the PDP.  Our people are now aware of his antics. Don’t you see what is happening to the PDP since his plan to join the party in Ondo state? Mimiko has even infected the party with a virus deadlier than ebola. So, it is a good omen for us.

    How are you preparing for the people, who may join your party as a result of Mimiko’s defection to the PDP?

    We are preparing. Many of them have been discussing with the APC leadership, including commissioners and members of the House of Assembly. I don’t need to mention names. We have set up committees to handle the influx of people into our party. Our leaders have been making efforts to reposition the party in the state because we knew that this would happen, that there was going to be a political tsunami in the Ondo PDP because of Mimiko. I would like to say that our tickets are open to anybody who wants to contest the 2015 elections. If they come on time, they can realise their dream in our party. Gone are the days when we used to have anointed candidates. Now, every aspirant will have to emerge through primary elections because we want to win elections and have government. The only person we will not accept in our party is Mimiko because of the deadly political virus he is carrying.

  • Group threatens to pull out of Ondo PDP over Mimiko

    Group threatens to pull out of Ondo PDP over Mimiko

    A group within the Ondo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under the aegis of Rescue Forum, of Friday threatened to dump the party if its current structure in the state is dissolved because of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The group said its members welcomed Mimiko to the party and acknowledged his leadership, but warned against taking steps that could create constitutional crisis in the state chapter.

    In a communiqué issued after a meeting in Akure, the group said, dissolving the existing party structure, when primary and general elections are fast approaching, was not the best way to add value to the party.

    The communiqué was signed by Tunde Owonidahun Chairman, John Ikuyajolu Secretary and Jimoh Hakeem, the Publicity Secretary.

    OSPRF accused Mimiko of plans to create factions in the state chapter.

    It said: “The just-concluded membership registration exercise undertaken and sponsored by the governor in the state and the creation of a new state party secretariat, also by the governor, are attempts to create and maintain a parallel pseudo membership and illegal party structure.

    “This is against the court order that mandated that status quo be maintained pending the determination of the case before it.

    “It is, therefore, our avowed belief that he, who profits from the altars of the Rule of Law, must be a respecter of the law.”

    The group advised Mimiko to build trust among the Ondo PDP leadership and generate confidence of members through his actions before the next congresses of the party.

    It wondered why members of the State House of Assembly who were said to have defected to the PDP with the governor are now moving to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

  • Jonathan, PDP governors meet over primaries

    Jonathan, PDP governors meet over primaries

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday night met behind closed doors with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors at the Presidential Vila, Abuja, over forthcoming primaries of the party.

    This was disclosed by some of the state governors, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

    They said the meeting also brainstormed on how to reposition the party to serve Nigerians better.

    Governor Theodore Orji of Abia said; “We discussed our party and the primaries that will soon come. We looked at how to fortify our party to avoid rancour or infighting to enable us do very well both in the primaries and general election in 2015.”

    He said that the reported clash between PDP governors and the party’s national leadership over endorsement of candidates at the state chapters did not come up for discussion.

    According to him, the party’s governorship candidates would emerge through free and transparent primaries contrary to reports of endorsements in the media.

    Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina said the meeting evaluated strategies for a successful conduct of the party’s forthcoming primaries.

    At the venue, Adamawa State Governor, Bala Ngilari, described the political atmosphere in the state as stable, stressing that the people were happy with the delivery of justice in his case.

    He said: “The political situation in Adamawa is very stable, I can assure you. The people are very happy. You know, the common man appreciates when justice is done at all times. They are very happy; you can do your independent verification.

    “All the reported noise in some quarters that heavens will fall because of my swearing in, nothing like that has happened. I thank the people of Adamawa for their massive support and we promise to keep faith with them,’’ he said

    According to him, the executive and legislative arms of the state government were not at loggerheads and are working cordially together.

    Among the governors at the meeting were – Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Martin Elechi (Ebonyi).

    Others were – Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), and Umar Garba (Acting Governor of Taraba).

    Also present were – Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Jonah Many (Plateau) and the deputy governors of Kogi and Nasarawa States.

     

  • Ondo APC vows to resist Mimiko

    Ondo APC vows to resist Mimiko

    Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend urged the state’s progressive-minded people to embrace the party for a positive change, vowing to resist any intimidation by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    Its Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, in an interview with reporters on the defection of Mimiko to the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), said he had directed wards and local government executives to open membership registers for new members in the 203 wards.

    Besides, the former secretary to the state government(SSG) vowed that the party would resist attempts by the governor to scuttle and decimate the genuine yearnings of  the citizenry to realise their individual and collective aspiration on the APC’s broad-based platform.

    He condemned the alleged threat by Mimiko to declare vacant, the seats of elected members of the House of Assembly, who are set to join the APC vacant.

    Kekemeke said: “It is our position that just as the governor and his acolytes in the Assembly exercised their right of freedom of political association by defecting to the PDP, other legislators, who intend to join APC, also have the right to do so without limitation and intimidation.

    “We concede to the governor the right to freedom of the political association and he is therefore entitled to roam freely in the political environment. However, the people should not allow themselves to be fooled again.

    “There is nothing surprising about Mimiko’s defection, since it has become his trade mark in his political life. But what is surprising now is the equal zeal with which the governor is attempting to deceive the citizenry once again.”

    The party chairman noted that the move was an attempt to re-create himself in the PDP.

    He said: “We symphatise with the PDP in Ondo State which has expressed disenchantment with the political virus that has been foisted on it by its national leadership.

    “It has even come to our knowledge that Mimiko has put in place mechanism to entice, intimidate and subdue the citizenry in the LP and PDP, who have expressed their willingness to work with APC. But we will resist every attempt to intimidate the people,” Kekemeke said.

  • Mimiko’s battle for relevance

    Mimiko’s battle for relevance

    The defection of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and other Labour Party (LP) members to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is generating controversy. Correspondent DAMISI OJO examines the implications of the defection for the PDP, the LP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s elections.

    The defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko and other Labour Party (LP) members to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), four months to next year’s presidential elections, did not come as a surprise to many observers.

    After nurturing the LP for eight years, Mimiko is contemplating life after the Ondo State Government House. Nevertheless, his decision took many of his aides and supporters by surprise, particularly those were banking on the LP for next year’s elections. They thought that Mimiko had given up the idea of dumping the party he built. They had reasoned that, if such was going to happen, it would be after the election.

    But, during his meeting with some leaders of the LP across the 18 local government areas  and members of his cabinet, Mimiko  said he has held consultations with the PDP leadership at the national level.

    The governor said he decided in the interest of the LP to dissolve the party into the more dominant PDP, ahead of the  general elections. Observers say it was particularly because of his interest in the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan than that of the LP.

    The PDP, after losing the last governorship election, appealed to Mimiko to reconsider his stand.  Sources said a negotiation was opened with the governor to ensure a hitch-free defection to the ruling party before the elections. In fact, Mimiko had earlier collapsed his political structure, the Iroko Frontiers, into a pro-Jonathan group, “Believe Nigeria, Trust Goodluck,” as part of his moves to work towards the re-election of the President.

    But, not satisfied with this, the Presidency asked the governor to move into the PDP to consolidate  Dr. Jonathan’s re-election bid. Part of the strategy is also to make Mimiko the PDP’s point man in the Southwest to tackle the All Progressives Party (APC) in the zone.

    Others, however, insist that Mimiko is dumping the LP for the PDP because his party is no longing enjoying the huge support it had at the grassroots.

    There concerns in the LP over next year’s general election, with the opposition parties vowing to win more seats in the House of Assembly elections, a development which would put Mimiko in a very tight corner as his second term tenure runs beyond 2015.

    The time-table for next year’s general election released by the electoral body has put Mimiko in a fix.  The fact that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold same day on February 14, 2015 means voters may find it difficult to separate the Presidential ballots from the National Assembly ballots.

    This would have given advantage to the PDP candidates vying for National Assembly seats. This would have in turn affected the House of Assembly election too. That was what happened in 2003, when the Alliance for Democracy (AD) tacitly backed Obasanjo’s re-election bid and ended up losing to the PDP in the other elections; thus allowing the PDP to make an in-road into the Southwest..

    But, with Mimiko’s defection to the PDP, he would be able to avoid the humiliation of seeing his party lose ground to the more dominant party because of his support for Jonathan’s re-election bid.

    However, the spiral effects of Mimiko’s defection would haunt both the PDP and the LP as their preparations for next year’s election get into top gear.

    Already, there is palpable tension among aspirants for various elective offices in both parties. It is not clear how the interests of the aspirants of the two parties would be managed without rancour.

    Speculations are rife that the governor has entered into a sharing agreement with the national leadership of the PDP on how to share elective and appointive positions.

    There is also the belief that the governor would soon dissolve his cabinet, caretaker committees of the 18 local government areas , boards and parastatals to accommodate people from  the PDP. It is however, not clear, if this would be before the primaries of the party sometime this month or much later.

    The status of the members of the House of Assembly and National Assembly, who are members of the LP, is not certain in the PDP. The LP has 25 out of 26 members of the House of Assembly, seven out of eight members of the House of Representatives and two out of three senators from the state. It is not clear if all of them would follow the governor to the PDP. If this happens, the PDP would now have 100 per cent membership of the Assembly.Nevertheless, the PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr.  Abdullahi Jalo described Mimiko’s defection as “one of the fruits of the reconciliatory efforts embarked upon by the party’s National  Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu.

    Jalo said: “It is cheery news because we are expecting, not only Governor Mimiko, but all other genuinely progressive governors to join us in the task of nation building.”

    Mimiko had denied the speculations that he would join the PDP at the initial stage. Speaking shortly after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the LP in Abuja last year, he said he would not abandon the LP for the PDP, stressing that he remained committed to the ideals of the LP.

    His words: “We will never abandon the party, but will tag along with its leadership in all things to see that our party remains relevant in taking our country to its destination.

    “We are irrevocably committed to the true ideal of progressive politics, which the party truly represents. We are therefore going to be guided into any political alliance that would afford us the opportunity to realise these ideals.

    One of the PDP leaders and former governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke, said the coming of Mimiko would further boost the chances of the party in returning into power.

    The LP took over Ondo by storm, by winning the 2007 governorship election. But, the PDP was declared winner of the contest. It took a rigorous legal battle for Mimiko to regain the mandate. Since then, the LP became the toast of the town, with a massive popularity at the grassroots. The popular slogan then was: “Labour Party, Forward Ever, Backward Never, Iroko Gbasibe”.

    Mimiko was a Minister  Commissioner  and  Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under late Agagu. Mimiko dynamic politician had mapped out his strategies to create a new political forum to actualise his long time dream of ruling the state. Then, Mimiko did everything to weaken the PDP.

    Without doubt,  former Governor,  Agagu would be troubled, if he were to get wind of the defection of Mimiko to the PDP. If the Oluomo of Ikale land is to alive, it would have not been too smooth for the governor to retrace his step back to the party he vehemently forced out of power in February 2009, after 22 months of rigorous legal battle at the election tribunal and Appeal Court.

    In fact, the chairman of the PDP and  the  deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi and the former Secretary and the senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District,  Boluwaji Kunlere, dumped the party for  the LP.

    However, the APC has urged Mimiko and the other political office holders elected on the platform of the LP to resign from their offices, following their defection to the PDP.

    A lawyer and chieftain of the party, Charles Titiloye, chided Mimiko for taking the mandate of Ondo State people given to LP to PDP without the consent of the electorates.

    He said: “For long, we know that the governor was using the LP platform to deceive the progressive-minded people of the state that he loves the masses, when in fact Governor Mimiko and all his Chieftains are members of the conservative PDP.

    “Finally, the Governor has gone back to PDP carrying along his dwindling public credibility to his natural base.”

    Titiloye urged the LP to wind up its operation, saying the “middle men” in the APGA should also defect to enable the masses decide between the PDP and the APC in 2015.

    The APC chieftain called on progressives in the LP to retrace their steps and refuse to follow Mimiko to the PDP. He said the APC  is ready to recive decampees from the LP and the PDP, who are uncomfortable with Mimiko’s defection to the PDP.

    The APC  chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, said this is harvest time for the APC , adding that the party will enlarge its coast. He said that the aggressive mobilisation of members has started across the the state, urging the people to join the progressive train.