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Tag: Olusegun Mimiko

  • Ondo: Tribunal upholds Mimiko’s election

    Ondo: Tribunal upholds Mimiko’s election

    The Andoacar Kaka’an-led Election Petition Tribunal in Ondo State has dismissed the prayer of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, the ACN Governorship Candidate, to nullify the Oct. 20, 2012, gubernatorial election in the state Akeredolu had asked the tribunal the court to nullify the declaration of Gov. Olusegun Mimiko as the winner of the election by INEC on two grounds.

    According to the ACN candidate, Mimiko was not duly elected by the majority of votes cast in the election.

    He also alleged that the election was fraud with corrupt practices, irregularities and non conformity with electoral laws in almost all the local government areas of the state.

    However, Kaka’an in his judgment, said the petitioner had failed woefully to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt.

    According to him, evidences of the witnesses called by the petitioner were contradictory and could not be sustained.

    On the issue of 2012 voters register having more names than the 2011 voters register, Kaka’an said that INEC had made available the voters register to all parties concerned a month before the election, as provided by the electoral laws.

    Kaka’an said, ”The party which knew about the injection of new names in the register could not have disagreed.”

    He said that this could have been a pre-election matter over which the tribunal had no jurisdiction.

    “In view of these, the tribunal has dismissed the petition for lack of merit,” the judge said

     

     

  • Ondo Tribunal delivers judgement on Friday

    Ondo Tribunal delivers judgement on Friday

    The Ondo State Election Petitions Tribunal  sitting in Akure, the state capital will on Friday deliver judgement on petitions before it.

    The Action Congress of Nigeria[ACN] and its Candidate,Rotimi Akeredolu as well as Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] Candidate,Olusola Oke are contesting the result of last year governorship election declared in favour of Dr Olusegun Mimiko of the ruling Labour Party[LP] by the Independent National Electoral Commission[INEC].

    The three-man Panel headed by Justice Andova Kaka’n was inaugurated on November 22,2012 and has 180 days to prosecute the petitions.

    The Petitions of Congress for Progressive Change [CPC] and its Candidate,Prince Soji Ehinlanwo that was struck out at the pre-hearing stage by the tribunal was ordered for retrial by the Appeal Court.

    However,on the hearing day,CPC and its Candidate petitioned the Appeal Court President to disband Justice Kaka’n panel for alleged bias.

    The case was then adjourned indefinitely.Confirming the judgement date,ACN lawyer Charles Titiloye told” The Nation” that the party and its Candidate had been served with notice iof judgement by the Tribunal

  • Mimiko sworn-in for second term

    Mimiko sworn-in for second term

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State on Sunday took oath of office for his second term.

     The event held at the Democracy Park,Akure,the state capital was performed by the state Chief Judge,Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi.
    Among Dignitaries that attended the colourful event were former Head of State,Gen.Abdulsalam Abubakar,Ekiti State Governor,Dr Kayode Fayemi,Anambra State Governor,Mr Peter Obi,his Abia State Counterpart, Theodore Orji ,Former Minister for Information,Dora Akunyili and Business Tycoon,Alhaji Aligo Dangote.
    Others were Ooni of ife,Oba Okunade Sijuwade,Deji of Akure,Oba Adebiyi Adesida,Osemawe of Ondo,Oba Victor Kiladejo,Former Governors Adebayo Alao Akala,Ayodele Fayose,Chief Olu Falae,Chief Ayo Adebanjo and retired Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi.
    In his speech, Mimiko said he would take governance closer to the people in the next four years by posting greater achievements on all fronts.
    ”We will ensure the completion of all outstanding projects.  We will also, over the next four years, unveil a new stream of programmes directed at enhancing the quality of life of our people.”
    Mimiko called for restructuring of the country to achieve true federalism,stressing that more equity in the revenue sharing formula and the devolution of more powers to the federating units would empower the country.
    Guests were entertained by juju maestro,king Sunny Ade and his African beats and  2 face Idibia
  • ‘South West regional integration should be devoid of politics’

    ‘South West regional integration should be devoid of politics’

    LEADERS of the Southwest states on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the regional Grassroots Business and Investments Forum (EXPO 2013) called on all the governments and people to join hands in building a prosperous zone.

    Prince Bola Ajibola, a former Attorney General of the Federation who was chairman at the ceremony organized by Vintage Press Limited, Publishers of The Nation held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital said political tendencies should be deemphasized in plotting the road to the future.

    The ex-Judge at the International Court of Justice, The Hague, was supported by a former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo who called on the governors to close ranks and return the region to the glorious days of the old Western Region.

    The two governors in attendance, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo toed the same lines in the thought-provoking speeches they delivered. Governor Aregbesola extended a hand of fellowship to Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State who was elected on the platform of Labour Party at a well-fought electoral battle last October. Aregbesola said: “Elections are over now and Its time for us all to come together in the interest of our people. It is about the protection and development of our territory.”

    Ajimobi said: “This is not about party politics. It is about governance. It is about the region. Each of the states has an area of strength. What we need is develop areas of comparative advantage for the overall interest of our people.” Ajimobi  listed the benefits accruable from regional integration and appealed to his Ondo state counterpart to embrace the idea for the benefit of the people of the region .
    Some of the benefits, he said, are consensus based decision making processes, elimination of conflict and unhealthy rivalry, holistic articulation and
    effective mobilisation of varieties of resources , and utilisation of community resources  to facilitate optimal delineation of development roles among
    the integrating units amongst others.
    He said the need for the South West, which used to be a hub of the defunct Western Region and her people to be united under one economic umbrella has
    been on the front burner .
    “It is on this note I want to urge my brother governor in Ondo to join in this unique effort by participating in the regional integration for the
    economic empowerment of our people. He ( governor Mimiko) should not see it as politics because it goes beyond it”, Ajimobi stressed .

    Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who delivered the keynote address was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi. He also challenged all the people to brace up for a new era when the people would cooperate rather than see themselves as unhealthy competitors.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State was represented by the Special Adviser on Agriculture, Mrs. Tinu Shopeju while Babatunde Fashola of Lagos was  represented by  his Special Adviser on Integration, Rev. Tunji Adebiyi.
    Ajibola said the achievements of governors in the zone were good enough to attract investments and  gave kudos to Aregbesola for progressive steps taken since he took  the reins of government in the state, describing him as the Omoluabi of Oodualand.

    Olunloyo said regional integration would correct many things that had been done wrong in the past, advising that politics should be de-emphasised in the agenda because “politics is a waste of valuable time.”
    Aregbesola, said the theme of the programme: “Actualising Economic Development for Regional Growth” was apt, noting that regional integration was meant to harness abundant resources within the South West to promote well being of the people and for socio-economic advancement of the people under responsive and responsible governments.

    He said: “We (new set of governments in the South West) inherited very bad situation. Because many good legacies were lacking, on assumption of office, we have to begin to work round the clock to make amends where necessary. In many situations we have to evolve strategic planning with strong involvement of the private sector and social groups.”

  • Mimiko: I deserve another term

    Mimiko: I deserve another term

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday said he deserved another four-year term in office.

    The governor spoke at Igbara-Oke in Ifedore Local Government Area during his re-election campaign tour.

    He rated himself high, saying his administration has fulfilled its promises to the people.

    Mimiko said: “We are in government for the people and to ensure that the lives of our people are better for it. Any government, which does not do anything about the children’s and mothers’ health, is not a good government. Cases of children dying were rampant because of inadequate health care services. But in Ondo State today, there are no more kokumos (ogbanje).”

    According to him, the LP has performed well in various sectors.

    The governor listed these as rural development, education, agriculture, infrastructural development and industry.

    He said: “We are running again for governorship on the basis of our record. And let me assure you that I am still psychologically, physically, mentally and spiritually ready to be your governor. With your vote, I will continue to work for you and, together, we shall lift our state higher.”