The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Olusegun Mimiko

  • Ondo monarchs back Mimiko on defection

    Ondo monarchs back Mimiko on defection

    ONDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s planned defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has received a boost from the state’s traditional rulers.

    The governor had sought the advice of the traditional rulers at the weekend at a consultation on the defection.

    The monarchs reportedly took turn to praise Mimiko before declaring their support for him on the planned move to PDP.

    The traditional rulers expressed satisfaction at the leadership style of the governor and on his ability to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

    Sources said the traditional rulers praised the governor for deeming it fit to carry them along regarding the overture for him to join the PDP, despite the fact that they were not politicians.

    The Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom, Oba Lawrence Omowale, who spoke on behalf of the other traditional rulers, hailed the governor “for his plan to take Ondo to the mainstream of the national politics.”

    The obas pledged the support of the traditional institution for Mimiko in his political pursuit.

    Mimiko had earlier consulted with different interest groups in the state to intimate them of the PDP’s overture.

    The stakeholders pledged their support to the governor on his decision.

     

  • PDP raises panel on Mimiko’s defection

    PDP raises panel on Mimiko’s defection

    A seven-man negotiation committee has been inaugurated to discuss the terms of defection of the Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The news of Mimiko’s defection has been generating reactions in the last few days. Some of his aides confirmed the move while Mimiko is yet to make the plan public.

    A source said that the state’s PDP leadership met yesterday at one of the popular hotels in Akure, the state capital, where the committee was inaugurated.

    The source did not reveal the composition of the committee.

    Part of the agenda of the committee, it was added, is to have a round-table discussion with Mimiko on how and when he would decamp to the party.

    But the state PDP Chairman, Ebenezer Alabi, said the governor has not met with the leadership of the party on his purported defection.

    But Alabi said the party would welcome Mimiko, if he finally decides to defect.

    The PDP chieftain, who spoke with reporters in Akure, said he heard about the defection as a rumour.

    Mimiko defected to the ruling Labour Party (LP) in 2006 from the PDP after which he contested and won the 2007 governorship election.

    The governor’s romance with PDP and its leadership, another source said, led credence to the reported move to rejoin the fold.

     

  • ‘Why Mimiko defected to PDP’

    ‘Why Mimiko defected to PDP’

    Fresh facts have emerged on why the Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has allegedly concluded plans to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Mimiko was inaugurated as governor in 2008 and was re-elected for a second term in 2012 on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

    Sources disclosed that some high wire intrigues that played out in the last 72 hours in Ondo State and at the Presidency allegedly compelled Mimiko to decide to join PDP.

    The chain of events that led to Mimiko’s decision, it was gathered, was triggered off over the alleged secret defection of his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, and the Senator representing Ondo South, Boluwaji Kunlere, from the LP to the PDP without the governor’s knowledge.

    Irked by Olanusi’s action, the governor was alleged to have issued him a query with a concealed threat of impeachment.

    Jolted by his boss’ threat, Olanusi reportedly left for Abuja to brief the Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Brig. General James Arogbofa (retd) who is his kinsman from Akoko, on the development.

    Consequently, Arogbofa briefed the President, who allegedly called Mimiko on the telephone and expressed his misgivings on his action.

    A source who spoke in confidence said: “The President accused Mimiko of betraying the trust he has in him by sanctioning Olanusi for joining PDP. Then, he gave Mimiko an ultimatum to defect to PDP or he would make life unbearable for him. To say the governor was rattled is like stating the obvious.”

    And with preparations in top gear for Mimiko’s defection to PDP, some chieftains of the party in Ondo State have allegedly vowed to leave the party if Mimiko is imposed as the state leader by the Presidency and the national headquarters of the PDP.

    Meanwhile, the Senator representing Ondo Southern at the National Assembly, Boluwaji Kunlere, has given reasons why he dumped the LP for PDP.

    A former State Secretary of the PDP during late Governor Olusegun Agagu’s administration dumped PDP with the then party’s State Chairman, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, to form the LP.

    Speaking with reporters at his residence in Akure, the State Capital, Kunlere based his decision on principle, adding that he had long been sacked by the leadership of the LP.

    While describing his decision as personal, he added that anybody still displaying LP flag in the State is “a dead politician waiting to be buried”.

    He disclosed further that he was being envied by some aides of Governor Mimiko due to his performance as a senator.

    The senator added, “Before I left LP, it has come to a situation that people who are close to me can no longer be ward or local government executives and I said to myself that as a politician, I have already been given a quit notice, properly served and I have accepted it.”

     

  • Repair these roads

    Repair these roads

    PEOPLE of Akokoland voted massively for Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State to achieve a second term in office.

    The governor compensated the people with some developmental projects. But one aspect he has not done much for us is road repair. Most of our roads are bad, and this is causing a lot of problems for our people.

    To make us happy, I am calling on the governor to repair these roads. They are very strategic to the economic development of Akokoland and the state.

    I have spoken the minds of the people of Akokoland, and I want my good governor to do their wish.

    J. Peters,

    Ikare Akoko,

    Ondo State.

  • Mimiko urges Nigerians to be tolerant

    Mimiko urges Nigerians to be tolerant

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has said the cordial relationship, the show of love and tolerance among Christian and Muslims are needed to make Nigeria greater.

    In the Sallah message by his Chief Press Secretary, Eni Akinsola, the governor rejoiced with Muslims on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast and the he celebration of Eid-El-Fitri.

    He urged them to always follow the lessons of the fasting period, which centre on love and tolerance.

    Mimiko noted that the piety, self-denial, discipline and love Muslims exhibited during the Ramadan fast was an indication that Nigeria would remain a united and peaceful nation.

    The governor advised Nigerians to use the celebration for self-rediscovery and to show greater love to one another and the country.

    According to him, leaders of all faiths need to be exemplary through genuine commitment to peace, security and religious harmony.

    Mimiko said: “I must not fail to use this festive season to urge leaders of all faiths to exhibit unparallel commitment to peaceful co-existence and tolerance. We have always lived as one, irrespective of our faiths. I want to further urge us not to allow negative developments elsewhere to distort our values, such as love, peace and tolerance.”

    The governor prayed God to grant Muslims the reward of faithful adherence to the fast.

    He called for continued prayers for the state and the nation.

     

     

  • We’ll shut Chevron operation in Ilaje, Ondo communities threaten

    We’ll shut Chevron operation in Ilaje, Ondo communities threaten

    SECURITY operatives in Ondo State have been placed on alert over the ultimatum given by the host oil communities to Chevron Nigeria Limited.

    The communities had written separate letters to the oil giant and the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, through Ilaje Ugbo coastal Communities Development Committee (IUCCDC) dated June 30 and July 7.

    They gave the company an 11-day ultimatum to pay their outstanding benefits or vacate the land.

    In the letters signed by the Chairman of Council of Baales, Ugbo land, Chief Oyetomi Andrew; the secretary, Chief Asunmaga Abayomi; youth leader, Nana Adedeji and Chairman, Ilaje Patriots, Comrade Aganyebi Kosieda, they threatened to shut down the operation of the company in the region at the expiration of the ultimatum if their demands are not met.

    The communities called on Mimiko to intervene in the matter in order to prevent crisis.

    They decried what they described as the “unholy alliance” of some officials of the state government with Chevron, which they noted was detrimental to their agitation.

    IUCCDC urged Chevron to commence the immediate payment of three years scholarship for their indigenes as stipulated in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and relate appropriately with authorised association that represents the interest of the oil communities in the state.

     

  • Ondo LP members defect to PDP

    Ondo LP members defect to PDP

    OVER 1,000 members of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Ose local government area of Ondo State at the weekend defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The defectors mostly from Ute ward 12 were led by a foundation member of the LP in the area and former Special Assistant (SA) to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Mr. Ojo Osuma.

    Osuma, who is an House of Assembly aspirant, accused the leadership of LP in the state of being autocratic and selfish.

    He disclosed that immediately he made his intention known to contest for the House of Assembly next year, some leaders of the party allegedly told him that the slot had already been filled.

    He added, “We are no more comfortable with how the ruling party is being administered particularly in Ose local government, because any meeting without the approval of one of the party leaders, Adetokunbo Modupe, a close ally of the governor is null and void.”

  • Mimiko sacks Akure South Council Chair

    Mimiko sacks Akure South Council Chair

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko sacked yesterday the caretaker chairman of Akure South Local Government, Mr Segun Adeleke.

    No reason  was given for the sack. He has appointed Mr. Alarapon Adebayo as the interim chair.

    Few weeks ago,the State Assembly extended the tenure of the 18 local government caretaker committees by another six months.

    Performing the inauguration of Adebayo at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Akure, Mimiko noted that a timely overhaul of the entire political machinery at the Akure South Local Government had become inevitable.

    He urged the new interim Chairman to run an all- inclusive government, advising him to seek the cooperation of members of his Caretaker Committee, embrace the principle of collective responsibilities and employ team dynamics in order to have a safe landing.

    For the new chairman to enjoy a peaceful tenure, Mimiko urged him to cultivate a good relationship with the political leaders and traditional rulers in his Local Government Area, as well as ensuring a harmonious relationship between his committee and the career officers.

    The Governor, who explained that his administration had since its inception played major complementary roles in some specific areas to ensure effective service delivery towards improving the quality of lives of the people at the grassroots.

     

  • ‘Reverse new bail condition in Ondo courts’

    ‘Reverse new bail condition in Ondo courts’

    A group, the Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA), has vowed to lead a mass protest against the Ondo State government if the current face-off between the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, and members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over new bail conditions is not resolved.

    It issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to rescind the directive by the CJ on the new bail condition.

    In a letter addressed to Mimiko dated July 2 and signed by CNCRA convener and general secretary, Ifeanyi Odili and Shina Shadrack respectively, the human rights group alleged that the face-off has led to congestion in prisons across the state.

    NBA members in the state had embarked on street protests and boycot of the courts to register their rejection of the ‘obnoxious’ bail conditions directed by the state CJ.

    Kumuyi, in a circular dated May 27, directed that every surety in a bail application must present tax certificates, covering a period of three years, a development the CNCRA noted would cost a surety N75, 000.

    The rights group called on the state government to rescind this directive as a matter of urgent public importance.

    It said: “We cannot fold our arms and allow innocent citizens to be punished unjustly.”

     

  • Face your duties, APC urges Mimiko

    Face your duties, APC urges Mimiko

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has told Governor Olusegun Mimiko to stay out of the Ekiti State governorship poll slated for Saturday.

    It said Mimiko’s absence from Ondo State had affected the smooth running of the Sunshine state.

    APC said the governor has no right to “waste Ondo’s resources on frivolities outside his mandate”.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Prince Aderemi Adesanya, APC said: “The governor cannot leave bad roads, collapsed infrastructure and industries, among other deficiencies, behind and concentrate on political affairs in the neighbouring state.

    “We condemn unequivocally the state government’s recent directives to the Director of Local Government Administration to ferry local government workers to Ikere-Ekiti for the Labour Party’s (LP’s) rally with council funds.

    “Ondo State citizens pay the state’s radio station for their advertisements. We ask the governor and the station’s management to show evidence that the bulk of adverts belonging to Ekiti LP candidate Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele placed on the station were paid for by his campaign team.

    “The personalisation of government, its funds and machinery by the present administration is unprecedented in the history of governance in the state. Let Mimiko first fulfill his electoral promises and salvage the collapse of governance in Ondo State before going to Ekiti State to make electoral promises he and his party cannot fulfill.”