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Tag: Mimiko

  • Mimiko’s politics of mischief

    Mimiko’s politics of mischief

    SIR: The overwhelming Yoruba majority recognized and appreciated Pa (Chief) Obafemi Awolowo, but not all of the Yoruba people. Similarly, I am not surprised that the current Yoruba leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in spite of his efforts to unite the Yoruba race, has his own detractors.

    For a long time, the current Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, pretended to appreciate Tinubu and that he was a friend of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The text messages from the Labour Party (LP) during the 2011 elections, painting the ACN and Governor Babatunde Fashola in black and red colours suggests otherwise.

    Although, the text messages did not bear the name of Mimiko, his current approach to politicking is revealing. That is not surprising; what is surprising is the attempt of Mimiko to create a bad blood between Tinubu and Fashola, by saying to the whole world that Fashola is a better administrator than Tinubu. I think the unsuspecting Ondo people should now see Mimiko for who he is – a confusionist.

    I don’t know the criteria used by Mimiko, but even if Fashola were a better administrator than Tinubu, was it not Tinubu who nominated and supported Fashola to be where he is? Thus, the emergence and success of Fashola cannot be divorced from Tinubu’s leadership qualities and vision. Mimiko is as confused as those who attribute all the achievements of General Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to General Babatunde Idiagbon. I always ask whether, as the Head of State, Buhari could not have frustrated Idiagbon if he was not party to the policy and its exercise.

    Similarly, Tinubu has more than what it takes to frustrate Fashola if he is not party to what he is doing. Was it not Tinubu who created the new local government areas, opposed by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo on political grounds, and the money he (Obasanjo) seized, released by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and used by the Fashola administration to transform Lagos State?

    Beyond that, if Mimiko loves Fashola so much, why did he allow his LP to campaign against him so viciously in 2011, with the aim of blocking his re-election?

     

    • Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D,

    University of Ilorin.

     

  • Kuku accuses Mimiko of planning to rig poll

    Kuku accuses Mimiko of planning to rig poll

    The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, yesterday decried the desperation of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to win the October 20 election.

    He said in a statement: “The realisation of an impending defeat at the polls has prompted a naked dance in the full glare of the public by Dr. Mimiko and his fast dwindling band of Labour Party (LP) apologists and supporters.”

    Mimiko, through his campaign organisation, issued a statement, urging President Goodluck Jonathan to call Kuku to order over his alleged activities in the riverine communities of Ondo State.

    He alleged that the Presidential Adviser was attempting to use his position as the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme to “subvert the October 20 election in favour of his (Kuku’s) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

    But Kuku said: “It is pertinent to respond to this unwarranted attack from the governor, if only to set the record straight and for the nation to be aware of his brand of deceitful politics in the state in the last four years.

    “On the Presidential Amnesty, let me remind Mimiko as he feigns ignorance that the programme and office have beneficiaries and officials from Ondo State with different political affiliations, be it LP,PDP and ACN or persons with no political affiliation.

    “Nobody involved in the amnesty programme has been discriminated against on account of his or her political party preference.

    “It is therefore absurd to accuse me as the Presidential Amnesty Programme Chairman of partisanship, considering how sensitive the amnesty programme is to the economic well-being of the nation.

    “In truth, it is this sensitivity to politics and the ability to manage men and the resources at my disposal that have accounted for the widely-acclaimed successful implementation of Nigeria’s home-grown Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme.

    “It is laughable for Mimiko to attempt to splash mud on and unduly drag the amnesty programme into Ondo politics ahead of the governorship election.

    “It is not a secret that I’m one of the PDP leaders from the state in government at the federal level. Before now, I had been an official of my council, Ese-Odo Local Government and later a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, where I represented my constituency for one term between 2003 and 2007.

    “Today, by God’s grace, I’m an Ijaw leader from Arogbo community. But I also hail from a unit, a ward, a federal constituency and a senatorial district that have felt the impact of a PDP-led government in the state.

    “The PDP-led government under Dr. Olusegun Agagu had a track record of performance compared to the Mimiko administration. I challenge Mimiko to point to any project he has executed in Arogbo and its neighbouring communities. Let him tell the world.

    “In the riverine communities between Ese-Odo and Ilaje councils, the state government projects completed were those executed by the Agagu administration. Mimiko has not only abandoned the projects he inherited from Agagu, but has gone ahead to abandon the ones he initiated in both local government areas.

    “The fact of the matter is that Ondo State gets its largest revenue from the oil resources in these two local governments. So what have the councils and indigenes done to Mimiko to warrant this crass neglect?

    “Why has his administration decided to institutionalise underdevelopment in these riverine communities? Instead of the governor to face these issues, he is busy pursuing shadows and trying to distract attention from his woeful performance.

    “ Mimiko is my friend. But I cannot sacrifice the development of my area and the well-being of my people on the altar of friendship. My position on the October 20 governorship election is beyond friendship.

    “For the PDP in Ondo State, me and the people of my area, Mimiko has performed woefully and we cannot afford another four years of his mis-governance and litany of unfulfilled promises. Performance should determine who wins the election and not Mimiko’s recourse to blackmail.”

    Kuku said Mimiko is pointing accusing fingers elsewhere when it is a fact that the real person threatening the peace in the Ondo coastal communities is himself.

    “How else can one explain the commencement of his politically-motivated security contract (which operates like the infamous and outlawed Famou Tangbe in Bayelsa State) in the riverine areas just a few months to the election? The governor doles out N70 million monthly to his hired goons in the two local governments in the guise of ensuring security in the coastal communities.

    “We have since found out that the money is being deployed to arm and compromise some of the youths that have embraced the Federal Government amnesty and he is planning to use them to rig the October 20 election.

    “Some of these youths have been engaged in areas with naval and marine police presence and have been patrolling the rivers and creeks, causing tension.

    “The people of these areas have vowed to resist them on the election day if they attempt to rig or steal their votes.

    “It is not out of place to alert President Jonathan and Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to the nefarious activities of this Mimiko-hired security outfit and to call for its disbandment if the October 20 poll is to be skirmish-free. Let me restate that Mimiko plans to use this so-called security outfit to rig the election.

    “The PDP in Ondo State is convinced that given Mimiko’s miserable scorecard in the last four years, the electorate are determined to send him packing from the Government House on October 20.”

    The presidential aide urged the security agencies to ensure that the will of the people is not subverted by those who do not mean well for the state.

  • Mimiko’s many failed promises

    Mimiko’s many failed promises

    As the campaign trains of the various political parties hit the nooks and crannies of Ondo State, canvassing for the people’s votes, attention has been drawn to alleged non-performance by incumbent Governor Segun Mimiko by critical stakeholders in the state who maintain that he does not deserve a second term. AUGUSTINE AVWODE reports.

     

    What should qualify an incumbent for re-election?

    Should the electorate critically examine how far he was able to march words with action in terms of the promises he made when asking for their votes the previous time? Should his sense of prudence or profligacy be examined?

    Experts are agreed that, the electorate should be more discerning in taking the critical decision. At a recent one-day sensitization workshop for party executives, stakeholders and candidates ahead of the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State organized by the Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party Affairs Senator Ben Ndi Obi, described it as the “moment of truth” and a “nightmare to nonperforming politicians” in his opening remarks.

    According to him, “periodic elections remain paramount in a democratic dispensation because it is the moment of truth for both the leader and the led. “While election is a nightmare to nonperforming politicians, a great expectation it is to the people as it affords them the opportunity to choose their leaders as well as drop nonperforming ones”.

    This is the yardstick the Concerned Citizens of Ondo State (CCO) want the people to apply at this critical moment. The group, in a detailed and well articulated document, catalogued the many promises which the governor made but has failed to deliver on just as it also listed critical projects started by the previous administration of Dr Olusegun Agagu abandoned by Mimiko.

    The group alleged that in the last three and a half years, that the Mimiko administration has been in power, it has been blessed with the good fortune of raking in more than N400 billion as allocation from the Federation Account, in addition to the now well known N38 billion it inherited from the Agagu administration.

    The document obtained exclusively by The Nation, gives a detailed analysis of what the administration claimed to have done in the three senatorial districts of the state; what the governor promised to do but failed to i and the projects inherited but abandoned.

    In all, while the administration can lay claim to only three verifiable projects it accomplished in Ondo North, it could only boast of six in Ondo Central while in the South senatorial district, it has only three projects to its credit.

    These projects are mainly market stalls, town halls, a Mega School, water fountains, bus stops, the much publicized Mother and Child hospital and some uncompleted or abandoned road projects.

    In the northern district, the group listed “the construction of markets stalls at some locations in the senatorial district, the construction of town halls at some locations and the only project that could be regarded as the most outstanding of all is the construction of one mini Mega School in Oka Akoko” as all the administration can lay claim to in the last three and a half years.

    In Ondo Central, among the six items listed are “uncompleted Mega Schools five uncompleted and abandoned road expansion projects in both Akure and Ondo”, two major towns in the zone. The south senatorial district which does not fare better, has “ market stalls at some locations town halls and the construction of one Mega School in Okitipupa”.

     

    Failed promises

     

    Those who insist that promises are better not made than fail to keep them feel affronted on account of the failed promises allegedly made by Governor Mimiko while seeking for the votes of the people of Ondo three and a half years ago.

    The people of Ondo North are worst hit as the list shows important projects that could have impacted positively on their lives. They include the “ dualisation of Owo Township roads, construction of mechanic villages in all the local government areas, dualisation of the township roads in all the local government headquarters , the Construction of Mother and Child Hospital in each local government area, the Arigidi Akoko Tomato Industry on which more than over N200 million has been spent, establishment of the Okeluse Cement Factory, construction of Mega Schools in all the local government areas, Kaadi Igbeayo designed for job creation and empowerment of artisans but abandoned after spending more than N2 billion creation of local government areas after spending about N600 million the promise to resurscitate the Ifon Ceramic Industry and the Alpha 3D Factory in Ikare”.

    The list of un- kept promises to the Central senatorial District reads more or less the same with those of other districts but there is also “the Dome which is yet to be delivered after allegedly spending about N4 billion, and the 40,000 capacity Akure New Sports Stadium.”

    In the South senatorial district, the failed promises include “ rehabilitation of township roads, reactivation of Okitipupa Oil Factory, reactivation of Oluwa Glass Industry, construction of Mega Schools in all local government areas,” among others.

    Among the projects described as “ people oriented” which were on before the Mimiko administration came into office and which he is reported to have abandoned or jettisoned are the Ifon Games Reserves, Ifon Ceramic Inustry, Akungba Township Roads, Imeri Bridge, Owo – Ikare- Ajowa Road, the Igedegede Bridge, water work at Owo, Egbe and Ido Ani. A Cassava Flour processing factory, at Oba Akoko, the Emure- Eporo road, Ikare township roads and Ifira-Sosan asphalting”.

    Those abandoned in the Central district include the “Akure township stadium, he multibillion naira Owena multipurpose dam, Idanre Golf Course, Idanre Hill UNESCO World Heritage Project, Akure township roads (asphalting), Ondo township roads (asphalting), and the Ogbese-Igbatoro road.

    In the South senatorial district, the administration is said to have abandoned the following: “Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa, Adagbakuja New Town for land strapped Ilajes, Olokola Free Trade Zone and Sea Port Project, Oluwa Industrial Park, Omotosho, Oluwa Bridge linking Okitipupa to Irele, Igbokoda-Igbonla Road, Aboto-Olokola road, Ajagba-Iyansan road, Ajagba-Ijuosun road, Ode-Aye Igbotako road, Akinfosile-Ayede road, Inikorogha-Oboro road, Atijere-Aboto and Ayetumara-Itebukunmi road.”

    Of the three major parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have consistently accused Mimiko of non-performance and held that he does not deserve the votes of Ondo people for a second term in office.

     

    Agagu reacts

     

    In a recent interview, former Governor Agagu described Mimiko as a failure. In his review of the three and a half years of the administration, Agagu, who is leading the charge for the PDP campaign, reckoned that the people are not happy because of the “downturn in their economic well being”.

    His words: “From my interaction with the people, they are not happy as their economic well-being has taken a down-turn. They cannot see any hope in the horizon. Infrastructure around them is beginning to decay from the level where it was before. Those who had good roads no longer have them because they have depreciated. You know every road needs to be maintained. The road projects started by my administration were discontinued. Those who had good water supply, especially through the network of solar powered-bore holes, don’t have them anymore because the maintenance culture that was put in place was jettisoned. The expectations of the people to have pipe-borne water in their homes in the entire central senatorial district of six local government areas; which was about to happen by the time the PDP administration left, has been dashed because the government jettisoned the Owena multi-purpose dam project. “It a very comprehensive agricultural revival programme that goes through farm settlement centres in every local government, horticulture farm, hatchery in each of the three senatorial districts to produce 5 million fingerlings each to help our people in aquaculture.

    “The one that is in Akure is not running very well; the one in Okitipupa, though completed, has not been commissioned by the government and the one in Owo has been jettisoned. The oil palm company that was working before is nowhere, the Ifon Ceramic and the Oluwa Glass companies that were about to be revived through injection of new capitals by well-established companies were jettisoned, the Omotosho/Oluwa Industrial Park has been jettisoned, the Olokola Free Trade Zone, which was meant to energize industrial development, not only in Ondo State or Nigeria, but in the West African context has been jettisoned. “We can go on and on. Enlightened people understand these things. They also understand why the economy is on the downturn, and therefore, they all think this administration must change. Those who are not literate enough to know why the economic downturn is there can feel it, and they all believe that the administration must change. But it won’t come on a platter of gold. There is not going to be a fight, it is going to be tough. But we have the best product on offer, a good candidate and a past that the people now know is better than the present.”

     

    Akeredolu: No more room for deception

     

    In the same vein, the candidate of the ACN in the October 20 election, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, said he harbours not the least doubt that Mimiko would be rejected by the people because he has failed to live up to expectation. He said that the people of the state are not foolish.

    “ But I don’t have any doubt in my mind that he is going to lose. And if we are to look at it critically again, are the people of Ondo State foolish? They are not.”

    On the much-orchestrated Oba Adesida road, Akeredolu said: “I mean we are talking about Oba Adesida Road. The road has been there all the while, with street lights on it and then you remove them and put other ones. At what cost? There is no project today he can commission except for the markets which are responsibilities of the local governments. And this is someone who has refused to conduct election at local government levels. And the markets, nobody is even going there. Just drive through Ondo state and you will see that there are no people in those markets. Some people have refused to go to the markets because they believe they are more or less rituals stuff. Of course, I don’t believe in such any way because they don’t mean anything to me.

    “The other one, you force people to go and be building town halls. What has the state government got to do with the building of town halls? What are the people there to do? These are what people could raise money among themselves to build. And in fact some of these town halls are already collapsing. In Opete for instance, a side of the town hall wall has collapsed. So for a government that has not achieved anything, except hardship. The economy is grounded. How do you expect people to retain it? You need to go to Ondo state, the whole place is dry. There is no money. That is the reality people of Ondo state are facing and many people who are not there don’t know. And that’s the reason we are confident we are going to win.”

     

    Mimiko’s defence

     

    But in apparent defence of his tenure and justification of his actions so far in office, Mimiko told a campaign rally in the state last week that he would continue to work for the people as he has been working since day one when he stepped into office.

    “In 2007, we promised to work for you; we promised that your concern shall be our concern; that in all seasons, we would work for you; that we shall unleash our incredible creative ingenuity to develop the state. In the last three and half years, there are empirical facts on the ground that we have delivered on our promises and Ondo State is working again and we are happier. We have in place over 350 projects in all our rural communities dictated by our people themselves”

    Given the claims and the counter claims, the fact that the people of the state are enlightened, the October 20 election would be a veritable opportunity for them to demonstrate to the world that indeed, like Akeredolu described them, they are ready to take control of their collective destiny.

     

  • Mimiko is a confused politician, says ACO

    Mimiko is a confused politician, says ACO

    The Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) has described a statement credited to Governor Olusegun Mimiko that Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is more of a good manager than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a statement coming from a confused politician who is using deceptive tactics to hoodwink the people to vote for him.

    The Director, Media and Publicity of the organisation, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, said yesterday: “For us at ACO, this statement has shown the desperation from the drowning Labour Party and Mimiko to cling to power at all cost despite being rejected by the Ondo people as a result of their failure in the last three and a half years.

    “It is a fact that Asiwaju Tinubu is a leader of leaders because without Tinubu, Fashola wouldn’t have come to light.

    “It is also a fact that the achievements  paraded by Governor Fashola today, which are being acknowledged across the world, are as a result of the solid foundation laid by Asiwaju Tinubu in his eight years rule in Lagos.

    “He reinvigorated the internally-generated revenue from N600 million to N9 billion before he left office.

    “He established the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which was inaugurated in 2008 by Governor Fashola. The BRT has transported over 80 million people in the last six years and has become a model for transportation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu in July 2000 established the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to control and manage traffic in Lagos and reduce deaths, injuries and economic losses caused by accidents, congestions and delays that were rampant then.

    ”The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) responsible for the management, regulation and control of the signage and outdoor advertising in Lagos State is also a brain child of Asiwaju Tinubu. He conceived the idea in 2006.

    “Tinubu also embarked on the strategic development of some business areas starting with the Lagos Island and tagged it: ‘Central Business District’, with the aim of creating a conducive business environment by addressing the challenges of infrastructure maintenance and order.

    ”He put in motion the Eko Atlantic Project, an ambitious project in real estate to regain the beach ground lost to over 100 years of sea erosion and surges and build a place Africa will be proud of.

    “The ongoing 10-lane Lagos Badagry Expressway with light rail, the first of its kind in West Africa and other reforms in Lagos today have their root in Asiwaju Tinubu’s administration.

    “The greatest achievement of Asiwaju Tinubu is the ability to identify an able successor in Governor Fashola.

    “The success of a man is not measured by the material things gained, but his ability to identify a good successor that will continue his legacies and impart positively on the people.

    “We advise Governor Mimiko to keep his words on Asiwaju Tinubu and his able successor, Governor Fashola, who has endorsed and described Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as another Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) with a sound mind for the Southwest. He should stop using the names of performing ACN governors to polish his dented image.”

  • Oke berates Mimiko over education crisis

    The Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation [OOCO] has berated the Ondo State government for the collapse in the education sector of the state.

    A statement by the Deputy Director of the Organisation, Rotimi Ogunleye, described as an unpardonable failure the situation where all the tertiary institutions in the state have been shut down due to government’s insensitivity and high handedness.

    Oke who is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state also carpeted the government over the refusal to pay secondary school teachers the 27.5% professional allowance it promised them two years ago.

    “It is sad that a government which calls itself a caring heart has unleashed draconian regime and outright terrorism on the workers of the state- owned Adekunle Ajasin University and the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic.

    “Today, over 3,000 staff of the institutions are on strike while over 8,000 students of the two institutions are left wandering about.”

     

     

     

  • Mimiko grossly incompetent – Ex-aide

    Mimiko grossly incompetent – Ex-aide

    A former aide of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has described the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial hopeful as a grossly incompetent administrator who should not be in the race for a second term.

    Mr. Tunde Imolehin, leader of the Sunshine Mandate Forum and now a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria, was until recently a very close associate of the Ondo governor.

    While explaining why he dumped the governor to pitch his tent with the opposition ahead of the October 20 governorship election, Imolehin said Mimiko as an incompetent administrator has only succeeded in wasting the time and resources of Ondo people in the last three and a half years.

    “There is no way anybody who is aware of Mimiko’s administrative style will pray for him to govern Ondo State again. Here is a man who lacks the ability to recognise competence and encourage competent people.

    “He would rather promote incompetence as long as he stands to benefit from such action politicaly. All his actions and inactions are determined by politics. He gives very little thoughts to competent people.

    “His crafty nature is one other reason why he cannot work with competent and patriotic people. He is too unreliable to work with. Given the calibre of people in the state, he will always find it difficult politically with his style,” he said.

    Imolehin, who said he is highly optimistic that Rotimi Akeredolu, the ACN candidate, will win the governorship election, described the three and a half years of Mimiko’s reign as a waste.

    “We expected him to achieve so much given the support and acceptance he got when he came in. With the resources of the state and the people’s readiness for change, much was expected from  him but he failed.

    His approach to governance is bad. He sees himself as the superior one leading many inferior people. He must always be right. His opinions are the only good ones. Others carry no weight. These were the problems with him,” he added.

    Imolehin then urged the people of the state to reject Mimiko and cast their votes for Akeredolu and the ACN on October 20. He called on the people to support the party’s agenda aimed at uniting the entire Southwest socio-political zone.

    The frontline envoronmentalist said he is woring tirelessly with others to spread the manifestoes of the party across the state because of his belief that with such good programmes spelt out, ACN is the party of the people.

    “All we need to do is take the good message to the people and they will gladly accept to vote for the ACN. The plans of the party for Ondo State and the Southwest as a whole is the best you can find anywhere,” he said.

  • Akungba mayhem: NANS cautions Mimiko

    Akungba mayhem: NANS cautions Mimiko

    ReactionS continue to trail last Wednesday crisis among Labour Party (LP) supporters in Akungba Town of Ondo State. Two youths allegedly lost their lives in the fracas that followed a visit to the town by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The latest comment on the matter came from the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D. The studdent body while decrying the incident, called on the governor of the state to be careful with the way he carries out his electioneering campaign.

    In a statement signed by Olufemi Metufo, the Director of Publicity for Zone D NANS, the organisation condemned any type of political campaign that will lead youths to attack one another for whatever reason.

    The student body said it is more worrisome because report had it that the youngsters were fighting over a large sum of money allegedly doled out to them by Mimiko after his campaign speeches.

    “For us at NANS Zone D, it is no longer comfortable to fold our arms while some politicians plan to burn down the region. The incident that happened in Akungba on Wednesday is indeed a sad commentary of the relationship between politicians and youths.

    We wonder what mannner of campaign should lead to youth to attack one another with dangerous weapons. When you consider the information that the crisis was over a large sum of money doled out to these youths by the governor after his speech, then it becomes more worrisome.

    The incident is a confirmation of our earlier position that the government in Ondo State is not youth friendly. A government that has refused to empower the young ones now give them money to act as political thugs. It is a shame and we want it to stop,” Metufo said.

    NANS also told Governor Mimiko to ensure that such incidents do not happen during his campaign again.

    “Be that as it may, it is our position that the governor of Ondo should henceforth prevent the killing and maiming of youths in the name of election campaigns. We refuse to sit down and watch lives being wasted by politicians,” the statment said.

    Metufo said the association will not shy away from the need to take action against the governor and his party in the event of any other bloody occurence anywhere in the state.

    “In the event of any other bloody occurence at Mimiko’s campaign location anywhere in the state, NANS will not hesitate to take necessary and immediate action against the governor and his party,” he said.

  • ACN to Mimiko: pack and go

    ACN to Mimiko: pack and go

    The governorship campaign train of the Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) rumbled into Akoko North Senatorial District, yesterday.

    It was electrifying, with the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, enjoining the people to vote out the ruling Labour Party (LP) governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

    The election is October 20.

    The former Lagos State governor said it was curious that Mimiko, who opposed former Governors Adebayo Adefarati’s and Olusegun Agagun’s second term ambitions, was demanding for a second term.

    Besides, Tinubu stressed that Mimiko’s aspiration lacked justification because he has not performed creditably in the last three and half years.

    Beaming a searchlight on his administration, the ACN leader said the governor, who, according to him, failed to deliver on roads, education, health care, water and job creation, lacked the credibility to seek continuity in office.

     

    He said: “If you spend three years to build one hospital, you will spend 15 years to build three. Which market is he building? That is the domain of my mother in Lagos.”

    Alluding to the significance of the October 20 governorship poll, Tinubu said it is critical to the Southwest’s economic integration, adding that Ondo State should not be left out in the march of regional progress.

    At the rally, the ACN leader also warned the police to desist from molesting ACN leaders in the state ahead of the election to prevent violent reaction by the people. He said it was wrong for the police, which is funded by the public purse, to become tools of oppression in the hand of any governor.

    The governorship candidate, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), reiterated his commitment to women and youth development, promising to redeem his promise to create 30,000 jobs for youths, if voted into office.

    The ACN flag bearer, who said Mimiko must reap what he sowed, objected to the governor’s second ambition on the ground that he has remained a consistent advocate of one term for any governor.

    Tinubu, who flew into Ikare in a chopper, stormed the rally around 2 pm, waving the broom, the symbol of the ACN – at the crowd. He was accompanied by the party’s National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

    Towards the end of the rally, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi joined the party leaders on the podium.

    Akeredolu was accompanied by his wife, Mercy, his running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, Director of Akeredolu Campaign Organisation Chief Tayo Alasoadura, Ifedayo Abegunde, and other members of the campaign team.

    Highlights of the rally included the presentation of the flag to the candidate by Chief Akande, who enjoined the people to endorse Akeredolu at the poll – in public interest.

    Presenting the flag, the national chairman said: “I thank you all for your love and patience. I am giving the flag to the next governor of the state. I will return to thank you after the election.”

    Thousands of party faithful from far and near thronged the Ikare Cenotaph, the venue of the mega rally, cheering Akeredolu and numerous ACN leaders who turned up in solidarity with him. They defiled the downpour, which heralded the carnival-like ceremony that lasted for over seven hours.

    It was reminiscent of the First and Second Republics when the campaign train of the legendary Obafemi Awolowo hit Akokoland. Brooms filled the air amid the rain, with the sea of party supporters shunning the umbrella, the symbol of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Party followers came from Oka, Oba, Irun, Ikaramu, Akunnun, Epinmin, Iwaro, Ugbe, Ibaramu, Akungba, Supare, Ajowa, Arigidi, Okegbe, Ogbagi, Eti-Oro, Ikun, Ayegunle, Isua, Ipesi, Ifira and Owo. They were locked in the unity of purpose.

    Ace musicians Wasiu Ayinde and Buga, foremost Ewi exponent Olayiwola Arowolo Elaloro, renowned actor Fadeyi Oloro, and the Owo Cultural Troupe were thrill the crowd with music and wisecracks.

    In a symbolic manner, some party members mobilised a motor saw machine to hew down “the Iroko”, the tree from which the governor borrowed his nickname.

    Although policemen and other security agents were around to ensure security, there was no display of unruly behaviour by the multitude.

    The Southwest leader of the party, Senator James Kolawole, led a pack of ACN leaders in the zone. With him were the chairman of the party from Osun State, Mr. Biyi Adelowo, his Lagos, Ondo and Oyo counterparts – Otunba Dele Ajomale, Chief Akin Adesoji and Chief Akin Oke; Lagos State Vice Chairman Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Senator Titus Olupitan, Alhaji Ganiyu Badmus, Southwest Publicity Secretary Ayo Afolabi, Youth Leader Abdullahi Enilolobo, Secretary to Osun State Government Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Prince Rotimi Agunsoye, and Mr. Toba Oke, chairman of Ifako-Ijaye Local Government, Lagos.

    Also at the rally were Senator Ajayi Boroffice, Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, Dr. Jayeola Ajatta, Prince Olu Adegboro, Ganiyu Abayomi, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Ondo State, Prince Diran Iyantan, former state legislator Jaja Tayo Abidakun, South District leader Mr. Wale Akintimehin, Comrade Sola iji, Igbede Adeolu, Gboyega Adedipe, Mr. Ranti Oyebade, Banji Ajiloge, Olayato Aribo, Akinsehinwa Apata, Women Leader Modupe Johnson, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Ojo Akingba, Prof. Agboola Ogunlowo, Sam Omojuwa, Saka Yusuf, Wole Elaye, Dele Ogunsakin, Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin, Chief Ajibola Adebayo, Idowu Otetubi, Olakunle Eko, Enas mohammed, Toyin Ajinde, Dr. Segun Akinwale, Chief Ademola Adetula, Kunle Eko Davies, Adebambo Odoro, Mr. Femi Adekanmbi, Basorun Wale Oyewole and Timehin Adelegbe.

    Tinubu, who thanked the party followers for the huge turnout, asked: Who is your governor? The crowd roared: “Akeredolu!”.

    He also asked: “Which party would you vote for on October 20? The people chorused: “CAN!”.

    The party leader asked the electorate to reject Mimiko at the poll, saying that he is an ingrate. He said ACN will provide the amenities the LP government has denied the people, including good roads, free education, potable water, good hospitals and jobs for youths.

    Tinubu said: “Today, you have seen our candidate. Somebody calls himself Rahman Olusegun Mimiko. The judgment of God has come. The next election will be an exercise of success and reward for you. It is a vote that will liberate Yorubaland. Iroko wants to be in the forest alone. Use your broom to chase them away. Chase away hunger, poverty, unemployment, penury, disease, water shortage, lack of drugs.”

    The ACN leader justified his description of Mimiko as an ingrate unworthy of more political favours, saying that he had betrayed the trust of the progressive bloc in the Southwest.

    He recalled: “Four years ago, Iroko came to me, weeping. He came along with two of my brothers, complaining that he was being cheated and that we should help him. We had looked at the PDP and we were displeased. PDP had just stolen our votes in the Southwest. We began the war. The warrior, Aregbesola, was fighting. We fought in Edo, Ibadan, Abeokuta. I am reporting this to you so that you can judge Mimiko with your votes.

    “I took him as my brother. I gave him money and all logistics. The radio station that has become his enemy today was used to help him. It belongs to us. We went to Europe to look for help for him. It was not free. We spent pound sterling. Mathew chapter six, verse seven says ‘don’t give what is holy to the dog or swine because they will cast their spoilt on it. We have given what is holy to Mimiko and he has cast his spoilt on it. The Book of Psalms, chapter 17, verse 13 says, ‘if you reward goodness with evil, evil will not depart from your house’. When he could not enter town freely, we gave him bullet proof car. Judge him by your votes.”

    Tinubu, who explained that Mimiko’s continuation in office meant a setback to the integration agenda, added: “Mimiko wants to isolate Ondo State from Yoruba states and Afenifere mainstream. We do free education and relieve people of WAEC fees. Look at what is happening in Lagos. Ondo State collects more federal allocation than Lagos. I sympathise with Akokoland. You are enduring bad roads, lack of medical care. Where is water? For three years, he has been feeding himself and his family with state money.

    “I don’t have a single vote in Ondo. Chiefs Osoba and Akande have no vote here. Akeredolu has a vote. We are struggling because of the masses. If you cooperate with Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Edo, and Ekiti, we will have a refinery. It will produce thousands of jobs. Railway will come. If LASTMA, LAWMA, Highway Managers are set up here, there will be jobs. Why can’t Ondo enjoy micro water works?

    “He said one term only and fought Adefarati and Agagu over one term. Now, he wants a second term. He will do his second term in prison. Don’t be afraid. If it is difficult to remove the ring of power from his finger, the finger will be cut off.”

    Tinubu praised the police for maintaining security at the rally. But he urged them to be non-partisan in Ondo politics.

    He said: “Police, be careful. Stop being partisan. Some of you are good. I will not denigrate you. If you frame up our members and arrest them, there will be problem. The people of Nigeria pay you salary. If there is action, there will be reaction. If you intimidate us, we will react. So, we will not allow you to intimidate our members and arrest them without justification.”

    The ACN leader advised the people to shun violence as members of a great party that would soon take over from the ruins of the Labour Party government. He said Akeredolu is a man of great character, intelligence and capability, adding that he had served society as a talented, reliable and dependable professional.

    Inubu praised the party patriots who stepped down for him, including Prof. Boroffice, the Asiwaju of Akokoland, Segun Abraham, Ajatta, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Mrs. Anifowose, Akinsehinwa Apata and Alasoadura.

    He said the ACN government will set up a skill development programme in Ondo State, adding that Akeredolu will give fish and, at the same time, teach the people how to fish.

    To the prospective voters, the former Lagos State governor said: “Don’t be afraid. They will not intimidate you. It is a loser who will resort to violence, oppress, repress and use police to intimidate. Don’t leave the polling station. Nobody has the right to chase you out. Don’t use the hand you use to thumbprint to put the ballot paper into the box, otherwise, it will be void. Vote and defend your vote.”

    Aregbesola sang a song mocking those who invoked the rain to disrupt the rally, saying that ACN will not hide from rain or sun in the Sunshine State.

    For him, it was a homecoming of a sort. Seized by nostalgia, the Osun governor paid tributes to the leaders and people of Ikare, where he grew up as a school boy.

    Aregbesola said that Ondo State cannot be in antithetical relationship with its progressive kith and kin in the Southwest, adding: “This Iroko will wither away”.

    He added: “On poll day, wake up early. Let our mothers wake up early. Cook for your household. After that, take your bath and dress well. Prepare to face the electoral marauders. You men, prepare for the electoral duty. After voting, you women can go, but men should wait behind. Give your bloc vote to ACN. Hew the Iroko tree.”

    Osoba said: “Our party took its root from Awolowo. When ‘Demo Party’ rigged election in 2003, only Lagos survived. We stood as warriors and took back Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Edo. Oshiomhole policed the vote in Edo in 2007 and 2012. He won. By the grace of God, Akeredolu will win massively.”

    Boroffice thanked the crowd for their resilience, saying: “As you trooped out today, troop out on October 20 to vote ACN. On the ballot paper, you will see ACN and the broom; thumbprint appropriately.”

    Abayomi said: “I ask you, people of Akoko, do you love Akeredolu? I have discusse with him. He will tackle your problems. Vote for him.”

    Ajomale spoke on the need for Ondo people to join the progressive bloc by voting out Mimiko.

    He said: “ACN is ruling Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Edo and Ekiti. Ondo should not be different. We have a chance on October 20.”

    Echoing him, former Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Agunsoye said: “Ondo should not be left out of regional economic integration in the Southwest. On October 20, vote and not only that, wait around to police your vote.”

    Abidakun, an Akure Labour Party (LP) chieftain, who defected to ACN a day before the rally, flayed Mimiko for what he called personalisation of power, adding that he was an ingrate who turned around to bite the finger that fed him. He urged the people of the state to vote ACN to have a political relief.

    Ajatta said: “You must hack down Iroko. ACN has promised to repair the damage to Akoko by LP government.”

    Gboyega, son of the late Chief Adefarati, urged the people of Akoko and Owo to maintain their political understanding and unity.

    He said: “Let us vote for Aketi. Akoko and Owo are the same. When Ajasin wanted to become governor, Akoko supported him. When Adefarati wanted to be governor, Owo supported him. I call on the people of Akoko to vote for Akeredolu.”

    Abraham said: “Tinubu is the Awo of our time. He loves us in Ondo State and Yorubaland. ACN has promised to develop Akoko. I have that assurance. All ACN leaders love Akoko. That is why Aregbesola came here to set up a computer centre. ACN will not disappoint us. Our candidate and his running mate are professionals known worldwide. Vote for them.”

    Akinsehinwa-Apata said: “Akoko will give 100 percent vote to ACN. Akeredolu was part of the success of Iroko, but Iroko is an ingrate. Vote him out”

    Olayato said: “Ondo State is today outside the progressive bloc. It must return to the fold on October 20”.

    Akeredolu hailed the courage of Tinubu, saying that he is a great leader. He said great leaders like him are rare, urging Yoruba to always pray for him.

    He unfolded his agenda, assuring that women and youth development would be one of his priorities. He said he would provide 30,000 jobs for youths.

    Akeredolu said Mimiko’s second term aspiration is a nullity, adding that an advocate of one term cannot enjoy continuity in office.

    He stressed; “Mimiko prayed for one term for Adefarati; it was answered. He prayed for one term for Agagu; it was answered. Now, we are praying that he should only spend one term; the prayer will be answered’.

     

  • Why Mimiko should go on October 20, by Iji

    Why Mimiko should go on October 20, by Iji

    Comrade Sola Iji, a lawyer, stepped down for the Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), at the party’s congress in Akure. He spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on the imperative of power shift in the state.

     

    What are those things that Governor Olusegun Mimiko has not done that the ACN candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, will do, if elected governor?

    I must confess to you that there are development programmes which the resources of the state would have been able to accomplish in the last three and half years, which the incumbent governor has neglected, failed, or refused oto do. There are many roads within and around our metropolitan towns that are crying for serious and urgent government attention, which has not been attended to. These roads are becoming more deplorable. There are issues of health care which has been brandished around. If you visit our hospitals, you can hardly find qualified medical personnel around under a government managed and administered by medical practitioner. What you hear is “abiye”. What is it? Is Abiye the only medical centre that would be used throughout by the people of Ondo State throughout the 18 local governments and 203 wards?

    But, he is said to have a robust programme to revive the education sector…

    Less attention has been placed to the sector. If you get to our schools, some of the schools left behind by the last administration have become dilapidated. Move round. Instead of building a mega school that does not meet the aspirations and yearnings of the people, we should fix the ones that are dilapidated. But they are left to get worse. It is what everyone can see. Unemployment in the Southwest is getting worse and we are not supposed to be in that category because this state is endowed. We have enough resources to create opportunities for our children and school leavers to be gainfully employed. We have industries that are moribund and left to waste and rust. When you get to Oluwa Glass, you will be very sorry. It is deplorable. The government is not even taking a second look at it. None of the industries has been revived. How do we generate unemployment, if the industries are left to die without any attention? So, this government has wasted opportunities and resources. Except you get somebody with passion to serve, who is caring enough, whose essence of coming on board to govern is not accumulation of resources, and who is coming to use the resources of the state to develop the state, the state will continue to suffer. That is why we are optimistic that the ACN government under the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Akeredolu, will be a total departure from what we are experiencing now.

    Are you saying that no road has been tarred in the state in the last four years?

    Unless you look through what is going on in Akure, from Fiwasaye, through Oba Adesida, to Oyemekun, when you get to Ilesa Road, that is all. Is that the entire Ondo State? Is that all the roads we have in Ondo State? Drive through the cities outside Akure. Go to Ondo. Yo will see how deplorable the roads are. Take a trip from here to Ado. From Owo junction, before you get to Iju/Ita-Ogbolu, you will see the total neglect. It is replicated all over the state.

    Four years ago, there was enthusiasm and hope and members of your party even supported the governor. What is now responsible for the parting of ways?

    There was a convergence of interests in terms of chasing out the then PDP administration at all costs. If he was declared the winner of the election, all well and good. The tribunal declared that he won an election. There was a great expectation that something great was around the corner. People thought that he had commitment to progressive cause and democratic norms. From day one when he assumed office, he started manifesting strange tendencies. Of course, it is better to be inconsistent than to persist in error. If it was an error that you supported his ascension to the seat of power and you discover that it was an error, you had better beat a retreat. That explains what has happened so far.

    How strong are the ACN structures at the grassroots?

    ACN is basically a grassroots political party. Our members are spread throughout the 203 wards, 3,009 units in the state. We are working. The structure of the party is very organic. It is one that is very resilient. It has endured a lot of setbacks. People have persevered and endured all the trauma of previous years and that is where we derive our strength as a political party today. Those who have joined the party have brought more enthusiasm, interest, energy. Our party here is very organic and we are prepared for the election.

    Some people left your party, following the emergence of Akeredolu as the candidate. Don’t you think that their departure could affect the chance of the party at the poll?

    No, it will not affect the chance of the party. Ordinarily, you assume that as people are leaving, there would be a major shift. But, you must appreciate that those who left were those who came to look for the party ticket. They were not part of the structure and the system. So, they have not made any serious impact on the structure of the party. The organic nature of the party remains. If you look at those who left, you couldn’t find a single person among those who had endured the period that party had been out of government. Up to now, none of our faithful members has left. So, those who came shopping for ticket left because they were disappointed that they did not get the ticket. It is unfortunate that people had to behave that way. But, I can bet that some of them will be regretting that they left because of what is happening now.

    What can be done to ensure that violence does not mar the election?

    What we are doing in ACN is to prepare well for the election. We are ensuring that what needs to be done is done. Then, we leave the rest for posterity to judge. We are not planning for violence because we believe in fairness. Those who are destined to fail or programmed to fail can be anxious about the election and create a scenario where they will foment or sponsor violence. But the government of the day needs to ensure that enough security arrangement in place to prevent violence and ensure that the process of the election is free and fair. If you don’t deprive me of my franchise, why do I need to be violent? I won’t be violent. What will lead to violence are manipulations and sharp practices. I want my vote to count. I will get agitated, if there is anything that will want to compromise my interest.

     

  • Mimiko’s report on 2007 poll tribunal fake, says Agagu

    Mimiko’s report on 2007 poll tribunal fake, says Agagu

    The security reports which the ruling Labour Party (LP) purportedly submitted before the Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal in 2007 have been found to be fake.

    Sources said the State Security Service (SSS) and the police have discovered that the reports purported to have emanated from the SSS were forged.

    Former Governor Olusegun Agagu, who was sacked through the Appeal Court verdict on February 23, 2009 in Benin, in May 2010 petitioned, alleging that Governor Olusegun Mimiko forged the security reports on which the tribunal and the Appeal Court, Benin Division, based their judgment, which nullified Agagu’s election.

    Agagu wrote the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJ) on the basis of the findings of the the Police Special Investigation Panel which discovered that the security reports were forged by the LP.

    Agagu said in the petition: “My grouse about the verdicts of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal is on the acceptance by the two tiers of courts that elections in 10 local governments where I won were marred by irregularities, while the votes cast in the seven local governments where the LP won were retained.”

    He said: “In both judgments, (Tribunal and the Court of Appeal) the decision of the judges was based on the security reports purportedly written by the SSS.

    “The security reports, which have now been pronounced to be forgeries by the SSS and the police, were the basis for the verdict.”

    Agagu said: “Mr. Chairman Sir, my counsel objected to the admission of the fake SSS reports more so that the SSS officer who was subpoenaed by my opponents stated on oath that the service did not originate or possess such reports.

    “The PDP lost more than 62,926 votes through this flaw in two local government areas (Okitipupa and Irele) where the fake SSS reports were used in the judgment and could have influenced decisions in other local governments.

    “You will agree with my Lord that it is against public interest for a party in a suit to produce fraudulent evidence to deceive the court into giving him a favourable judgment.

    “On ground of public policy and equity, he should not be permitted or allowed to profit or continue to enjoy the fruits of such fraudulent victory or judgment, particularly where it has to do with a sensitive political office such as the exalted office of the governor of a state.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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