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Tag: Mimiko

  • Ondo NLC, Mimiko at war over mass sack

    Ondo NLC, Mimiko at war over mass sack

    The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ondo State and the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration are at war over the retrenchment of 10,000 local government workers.

    The NLC leaders accused the government of deliberately sacking their colleagues on the pretext of being ghost workers.

    The national and state leadership of the NLC mobilised workers to the campaign rallies of Dr. Mimiko before last year’s governorship election.

    At a news conference yesterday, organised by leaders of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Trade Union’s Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and chaired by the NLC state Chairman, Mrs. Bosede Daramola, they faulted a report credited to the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, on the affairs of the local governments in the state.

    Akinmade was quoted as saying that the government has saved N500 million monthly following the verification exercise it embarked upon, which resulted in the sacking of those the government tagged “ghost workers” in the councils.

    Besides, the commissioner claimed that workers had been paid June and July salary.

    But the NLC chairman said the purported statement of Mimiko’s aide was deceitful, misinformed and an attempt to praise- sing the government.

    She said workers in the councils were yet to receive their March salary, adding that no civil servant in the state had received salary for June and July.

    Mrs. Daramola said: “After the verification exercise in the state service, including the councils, primary and secondary schools, to our dismay, only yesterday, the government-owned newspaper reported that Ondo State Government has raked in a whopping N500 million monthly following the discovery of over 10,000 ghost workers in the local government service.

    “It is amazing that government spokesperson could said that we have 10,000 ghost workers in the local government service of Ondo State.

    “The report of a committee set up by the government and headed by Deji Falae, which the Commissioner for Information made reference to, declared all workers employed between 2009 to date as ghost workers.

    “Not only this, 3,200 senior workers were declared as ghost workers, which include the NULGE state Chairman. As I speak today, the senior workers labelled as ghost workers have been cleared. I still don’t know who is fooling who?

    “In the report, the government spokesperson said that the June and July salaries have been paid, but as at today, the salaries of local government workers have not been paid. Cheque has not been written not to talk of issuance of cheque or paying to the accounts of the workers. I don’t know the magical hands the government is using.

    “The statement of the Commissioner for Information in the newspaper report reads: ‘You can imagine people collecting salary for workers in schools that are not in existence at all. Some workers have not been to their offices in the councils in the last four years.’

    “My question is that if they are workers, can they be ghosts? To my understand, ghost is invisible, they are not human beings, so if there are sharp practices anywhere, it is quite different from saying that they are ghost workers.”

  • No respite yet for Mimiko

    No respite yet for Mimiko

    With the decision of the Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N) gubernatorial candidate in the 2012 governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, and his counterpart in the Peoples Democractic Party (PDP), Chief Olusola Oke, to challenge the Court of Appeal ruling on their appeals challenging the victory of Governor Segun Mimiko in the said election, it appears there is no respite yet for the Ondo State governor.

    The Court of Appeal in Akure on Monday dismissed the appeals filed by Akeredolu and Oke and upheld Mimiko’s victory at the 2012 poll. Describing the judgement as the wish of the people, Mimiko perhaps hoping to concentrate on governance afterwards, called on the opposition to sheathe their legal swords.

    But with Akeredolu and Oke saying the judgement is nothing more than a miscarriage of justice (the two incidentally are legal luminaries), it is doubtful if the legal fireworks against Mimiko over the disputed election are about to end.

  • Akeredolu heads for Supreme Court as Mimiko’s election is upheld

    •Party reacts to Appeal Court’s judgment
    •Oke: verdict defeat of people’s expectations

    The governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State in last year’s general elections, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, yesterday reacted to the judgment of the Appeal Court on his petition challenging the legality of the conduct of the election based on a heavily-compromised voter register.

    He said: “As it happened in the lower tribunal, I receive the judgment with equanimity and hasten to confirm my decision to proceed to the Supreme Court for final adjudication in this matter.

    “I take this step imbued with an unshaken belief in the justness of our cause. I appeal to our supporters, who may be taken aback by the current situation, to be more patient. I reach out to party faithful to keep hope alive and remain steadfast until victory is achieved. I shall not abandon our people in this hour of need.

    “The Court of Appeal, in its wisdom, agreed that there were injections of names into the voter register; disagreed with the lower tribunal that it was a pre-election matter, but did not accept that this curious act of subterfuge calls to question the credibility and validity of the election and that same affected our chances negatively.

    “We shall be proceeding to the apex court for a final determination of the legal effect of the use of this compromised voter register for the election of October 20, 2012.

    “We are convinced, beyond any doubt, that a heavily- compromised register cannot form the basis of an election adjudged valid, let alone being credible and fair.

    “The beneficiary of this electoral heist, who was allotted 41 per cent of the total votes cast, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ostensibly partisan electoral umpire and those who perpetrated the fraud, know this as the truth.

    “As we expect the Supreme Court to pronounce on the propriety of this brazen act of subversion of the people’s wish, we know that the people themselves, conscious of their deprived state, are the ultimate decider of the political fate of those who offer to serve them.”

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State yesterday faulted the Appeal Court for upholding the victory of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in the last October 20 governorship election.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, the party said the judgment of the appellate court is a setback for the judiciary, which is under re-branding by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

    The party noted that the Appeal Court, in upholding the victory of Governor Mimiko for a second term, has approved that injection of illegal names are allowed in future elections.

    The statement reads: “The judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure upholding the ruling of the lower tribunal on the appeal brought before it by ACN/Rotimi Akeredolu has come to the party as a shock and is a worrisome development.

    “This is more so considering the fact that a bad precedent is being set in our legal jurisprudence to accommodate illegal injection of names into the voter register in subsequent elections. It is rather unfortunate that the judiciary, through the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal, has again delayed justice and deprived the Ondo State people of the much-desired freedom from the rudderless government of the Labour Party (LP).

    “One cannot help but laugh at the rationalisation given by the appellate court that the appellants did not prove how the manipulated voter register substantially affected the outcome of the election. If that is the case, then what happens to this popular saying in the legal parlance that you cannot build something on nothing.

    “Also amusing is the issue of compromised voter register, which was termed to be a pre- election matter by the lower tribunal but has now assumed a new status that needs to be proved to have substantially affected the result of the election.

    “The party viewed the judgment as a miscarriage of justice that must be put to legal scrutiny at the apex court. Consequently, this judgment is going to be challenged at the Supreme Court by the party and its candidate. We appeal to our members, sympathisers and the good people of Ondo State to remain calm and steadfast in their support for this noble cause as there is a light at the end of this seemingly unending dark tunnel.”

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olusola Oke yesterday said the Appeal Court’s judgment constituted a brazen defeat of the expectations of the Ondo State people, who desired light after four years of darkness.

    He said: “It also demonstrates a serious shatter to the sensibilities of the people, who had expected a lease from the shackles of poverty, want, disease, unemployment and frustration.

    “This judgment remains unacceptable to us and the people of Ondo State. We have accordingly directed our legal team to study the judgment for further decision in the matter.

    “It is relieving that the court agreed with us that the violation of the voter register is not a pre- election matter and that the registration was not compiled in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    “We intend to be guided by this finding in our further actions. We thank the people of this state for their endurance, fortitude, faith and perseverance throughout the trial.

    “We encourage them to keep the peace and walk tall through the rest of the days ahead.

    “While thanking the Ondo State people for their support and encouragement, we wish to remind all that the fight to enthrone democracy, justice and freedom is not an easy walk.

    “For us, our spirits remain strong and undaunted. Our hope is set for the light at the end of the tunnel.”

  • Ondo: Appeal Court dismisses Akeredolu’s appeal

    Ondo: Appeal Court dismisses Akeredolu’s appeal

    The Appeal Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital has dismissed the appeal of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its governorship candidate Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu[SAN].

    The five-man panel also struck out the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief. Olusola Oke for lacking in merit.

    They were all challenging the verdict of the state Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed the victory of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko in last October’s governorship election in the state.

    The panel noted that their grounds of appeals are not substantial enough to convince the court to upturn the judgment in favour of the appellants.

    In a unanimous judgment, the chairman of the panel, Justice Garba Mohammed, said the issue of injection of unlawful names into the voters’ register is not a pre election matter, stressing that the tribunal had the jurisdiction to entertain the petitions.

    According to the judges, the voters’ register was used in the election and formed part of the process, saying the tribunal was wrong to say it is a pre election matter.

    The court also affirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to display the voters’ register for public to scrutinize properly before the election, adding that it is a breach of a section of the electoral law.

    But, It however stressed that the breach was not enough to discredit the entire process.

    The panel said the ACN and Akeredolu failed to substantially prove how the unlawful injection of names affected the result of the election.

  • Mimiko swears in commissioners

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday swore in 18 commissioners; the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Rotimi Adelola and the Chief of Staff (CoS), Dr. Kola Ademujimi.

    The commissioners include Akin Adaramola, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), Kayode Akinmade, Clement Faboyede, Gboye Adegbenro, Dayo Adeyanju, Yele Ogundipe, Nicholas Tofowomo, Sola Ebiseni, Bade Omoloja, Lasisi Oluboyo, Bekekhimi Idhiarhi and Remi Olatubora, who were part of the former executive council.

    They all retain their former portfolios, except Olatubora, who is now in charge of the Ministry of Technical Education.

    The rest are Bamiduro Dada (Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs), Jide Adejuyigbe (Education), Lady Yemi Mahmud (Women Affairs) and Tunde Atere (Natural Resources).

    Mimiko said: “The old executive council was a formidable team. That is why many of its members have been re-appointed. We have also brought in a few new hands for the desired mixture of experience and innovative perspectives.

    “In any case, they are all products of painstaking and rigorous appointment processes and have been screened by the House of Assembly. I assure you all that the new executive council is made up of a broad array of tested technocrats and development experts.”

     

  • Ondo CPC candidate slams Mimiko over NGF dispute

    The candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in last October’s governorship election in Ondo State, Prince Soji Ehinlanwo, yesterday condemned the “role” played by Governor Olusegun Mimiko in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) crisis.

    He said the rejection of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the forum’s chairman by Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang’s group, even though he won the election, showed desperation for power.

    Ehinlanwo said “this kind of desperation” portends grave danger for our democracy.

    In a statement yesterday, he said: “As an Ondo State indigene, I am embarrassed by the disgraceful role played by Mimiko in this unfortunate saga. Before and after last October’s governorship election in Ondo, it become clear to many that Mimiko had chosen to subjugate himself and his Labour Party (LP) to the whims and caprices of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Undoubtedly, his LP is now effectively PDP, except in name. This is largely borne out of a shameless quest to draw support and affirmation for the discredited election in which he was declared winner and his desperate attempt to cling to power.

    “His decision to ignore the truth and rationalise that Jang, who clearly lost, is the NGF’s leader must be seen clearly from the context of this desperate disposition.

    “And this is not his only motivation. Many who have monitored his orientation and direction closely in recent years will agree that the fact that he was nominated as the vice chairman by the Jang group was enough for him to align and promote the untenable and curious position of his group that they have the greater support of the governors, even after they secured lower votes.

    “Mimiko’s support for Jang is mainly driven by non-altruistic considerations and definitely runs counter to the principles that our people hold dear.

    “I find his defence of his position weak and appalling. His attempt to discredit the video recording of the proceedings, including the counting of the votes, simply because it did not show him voting is simply egoistic and futile because he cannot refute what is clearly recorded in the video.

    “Mimiko’s argument that Amaechi should not have sought a second term is self serving and contradictory, given the fact that he (Mimiko) also sought a second term in Ondo State.

    “His claim that the previous NGF chairmanship was decided by consensus does not vitiate the fact that the chairmanship, in this case, could be decided by majority votes.

    “CPC members are not surprised by this new low. After all, Mimiko has been promoting last October’s governorship election, which was marred by massive irregularities, as free, fair and credible.

    “It should also not be out of place to draw attention to the recent allegation of forgery of the security report relating to the 2007 election presented by the LP and Mimiko.

    “Many of the people who backed the governor at the time were unaware of this information and essentially premised their support on the need for change and what has turned out to be a misplaced confidence in his perceived ability to dramatically transform the state.

    “If these revelations are confirmed to be true, they would further expose Mimiko and his cohorts as a bunch of desperate power seekers. We urge Mimiko to resist the temptation of following the ‘anyway’ approach and consider at all times the implications of the positions he takes for himself and the people he represents.”

    Mimiko challenged Amaechi to show proof that he voted during the election.

  • Amaechi to Jang, Mimiko: you lied about NGF poll

    Amaechi to Jang, Mimiko: you lied about NGF poll

    Fayemi: no hidden camera

    Protest at National Assembly

     

    THOSE advising Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman Rotimi Amaechi to step down for peace to return to the group got some bad news yesterday.

    The Rivers State governor vowed not to step down from the chairmanship, which he retained in last month’s rancorous election.

    A factional NGF, led by Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, has emerged, raising tension and drawing blistering criticisms from the public. In some circles, it is thought that there will be peace, should Amaechi step down.

    But, Amaechi, who was at the NGF Secretariat, Abuja to reassure the management and staff that the crisis would not affect their work and salaries, told reporters that he would stick to the mandate that was freely given to him by his colleagues.

    Besides, he said Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his Plateau counterpart, Jonah Jang lied about the election.

    The Jang faction has opened a secretariat, but Amaechi stressed that there could never be two secretariats. He urged the Jang faction to return to the fold in the interest of development of the country and the masses.

    Asked whether he would step down, the governor said: “No, No, No. That is a mandate that was freely given and I will stick to that mandate.”

    “The election has come and gone, like I said after the election… It was a test for democracy and democracy won at the end of the day. All we can do as democrats that were elected by the people is to uphold democracy and stand by democracy.”

    Amaechi went on:”I honestly do not know why the disagreement. I don’t know why. I believe that my brothers and colleagues will see reason why we should stop distracting the country and get the country united to focus on development because at the end of the day it is about legacy; it is about what we will leave behind for the people.”

    Noting that Nigeria should be able to manage its democracy and election, he warned that care should be taken to ensure that what is happening now does not affect the stand of Nigerians towards the 2015 general election.

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has said that he did not vote during the election, but Amaechi said: “Again, tell my brother Mimiko that he voted. If he still says he did not vote, I am willing to go with him to his church, Redeemed Church. We’ll kneel down at the altar and say it before God.”

    He went on: “I want to urge Jang -because he said he is a Christian -to know that God watches over everybody and whatever you say, say it according to God because beyond NGF you and I know that there is heaven and you can’t go to heaven if you don’t tell the truth and stand by the truth. I am not saying he is not saying the truth; I am not saying he is not standing by the truth; I am just saying that nobody can go to heaven when he is not saying the truth.”

    Appealing to the Jang faction, he said: “There is no special benefit that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Chairman is getting. I don’t see why there is this disagreement. When I read them saying I am desperate; desperate for what? I am only proving a point that Nigerians are allowed to run for any post they want to run. And when they do and they are elected, they should stick to their mandates. That is the only point.

    “My brothers who are complaining, not about the election … should come back and let’s work together. They must be willing just as we are willing to accept. It is not really a battle; it is about God. I usually tell people, ‘don’t win the battle and lose the war’.”

    “I think all of us should come together and work for the interest of the nation and for the interest of the poor masses. We should not allow our personal interest to override that of the nation. It is important we consider the interest of the nation,” Amaechi said.

    He also pointed out to the governors in the other faction that Nigeria Governors’ Forum is not about one particular party or the other, but for the interest of all.

    According to him, he only needs support from four quarters – God, Nigerians, Governors and the President.

    “When we say President, it is because he is the President of the country and all of us must be loyal to him, but my employers are the governors. If they wake up tomorrow and say ‘chairman you have to go’, then I will go. But they must wake up and say so. Not somebody saying it on their behalf.”

    On the NGF constitution, Amaechi said there was no controversy between the two sides on the articles contained in the constitution before the election was conducted.

    “Now that we have emerged, they are now saying that the constitution is not correct. They were quoting that same constitution to subvert the election we would have held earlier. As much as possible, the strategy on our side is not to be confrontational.”

    “I think we should work together for the interest of the country. Poverty is everywhere. Poverty in 1970 was 30% or 31% but what is it now? It rose to as much as 70% in the last one year.”

    To the NGF secretariat staff, he said: “It was a meeting of 36 governors and then I think that whatever the issues are will be resolved. I think that we should focus more on those issues that unite us, those issues like fight against poverty, fight against polio and malaria. These are things that are killing the poor.

    “We are busy here at Abuja and different state headquarters talking about NGF election, when indeed Nigerians are dying of poverty and hunger.

    “I think that as a secretariat you should focus on those issues. Forget the internal dynamics of the politics of NGF. We are colleagues. When we talk among ourselves, you will understand that there are underlining factors that are making them to behave the way they are behaving that you cannot take away. It is usually things that happen sometimes; it is beyond the control of the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, but either way be rest assured of you salaries.”

    Also speaking at the meeting yesterday, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said: “As far as we are concerned, it is a period of sober reflection and healings. There are moves on all sides to ensure NGF stands on the side of truth. The NGF is not about the election that just held; it is about governance and development in our states.”

    “Some of you are already confused about which NGF you work for; there is only one NGF. Governors will come and go, but NGF will remain.”

    Apologising on behalf of the 36 governors for the NGF crisis, Fayemi said the allegation that a camera was hidden to record the election’s proceedings was incorrect. The recording, he said was done in the open by a governor.

    He also maintained that there would be legal issues if anybody is found impersonating the NGF websites and other illegal actions.

  • Youths decry Mimiko’s position on NGF election

    A group, the Oduduwa Youth Council (OYC), has criticised the position of Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko on the controversial election of the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    The group said Mimiko “openly acted the presidency’s script”.

    In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Festus Omoniyi-Bello, OYC said the governor has “abandoned his home and is aligning with an Abuja power broker because of his political ambition”.

    It said the governor’s rapport with the presidency could be because of the petition challenging his election before the Appeal Court.

    The group said: “The Labour Party (LP) administration in Ondo State has brought discomfort, pain and abject poverty to residents. The people are lacking in the midst of plenty. Unemployment and non-payment of the salary of some workers have become the order of the day.”

    The group hailed Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi on his victory at the Supreme Court.

    OYC lauded Fayemi’s leadership qualities, describing him as a blessing to the Yoruba race.

    It said its members have concluded arrangements to celebrate his achievements in Ekiti State.

     

  • Mimiko sacks council chairmen

    The Ondo State Government has sacked caretaker chairmen in the 18 councils. This is in spite of the earlier extension of their tenure by the House of Assembly.

    In a statement, the state government said new council chairmen would be sworn in today. Governor Olusegun Mimiko did not conduct council poll in his first term. His decision has left many lawmakers in shock.

     

  • Supreme Court refuses Mimiko’s, Akeredolu’s appeals

    •Cites legal constraints

    The Supreme Court yesterday struck out an interlocutory appeal by Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN’s) candidate in Ondo State in the 2012 governorship election, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and the cross appeal by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the poll.

    The court, in a ruling, held that it was handicapped by the provision of Section 285(5)(b) of the Constitution, which states: “An election tribunal shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition.”

    The apex court noted that it was helpless in the face of the constitutional provision.

    The court held that what could only be done to ensure that litigants’ fair hearing was not violated, was for the Constitution to be amended.

    The apex court held that the appeal by Akeredolu was caught by the above provisions and further held that it would amount to embarking on an academic exercise to determine the merits of Akeredolu’s appeal when the tribunal had already wound up and delivered its final judgment.

    Justice Kumai Akaahs, who delivered the lead decision, held that it was 192 days from the day the election petition was filed.

    Upholding the argument by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), representing Mimiko, the court held that the election tribunal, from whose decision the appeal emanated, no longer exists, having delivered its final judgment.

    “This court can no longer make any order that will be binding on a non-existing tribunal.”

    Akeredolu had in the appeal, challenged the tribunal’s decision striking out some paragraphs of his petition against the election of Mimiko.

    Speaking after the decision, Justice Mahmoud Mohammed said the apex court had received many complaints against its judgments upholding Section 285(5)(b) of the Constitution.

    “There is a lot of complaints. There is nothing we can do, unless the constitution is amended. We have delivered many judgments on these issues.

    “Please bear with us. It is not our own making. It is extremely difficult to hear interlocutory appeals because of these provisions.

    “We don’t have legislative power to amend the provisions of the law,” Justice Mohammed said.

    The court declined jurisdiction in a sister case, which also arose from the Ondo State governorship election tribunal.

    Justice Mohammed Dattijo, in the lead decision, held that “since the tribunal no longer exists, this court has no jurisdiction.

    “This court can not exercise its jurisdiction in vain. To do so is to indulge in academic exercise.”