Mimiko’s Camp in Disarray as Political Allies Defect to APC

The political camp of Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday suffered a major setback as his close associates defected from to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Olusegun Mimiko

Prominent among the defectors are a senator in the seventh National Assembly, Senator Patrick Akinyelure, and the Director-General of the Technical Aids Corp, Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi, both of whom announced their decisions to quit the PDP yesterday with thousands of their supporters.

Mimiko’s political camp also suffered similar fate before the 2015 general election when a group loyal to former Governor of the state, late Dr. Olusegun Agagu, quit the PDP, accusing the PDP national secretariat of unfair treatment.

The Agagu group, which had series of meetings with former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, before its chieftains, members and their supporters finally defected, was led among others by Agagu’s younger brother, Mr. Femi Agagu, the PDP governorship candidate in 2012, Mr. Olusola Oke and Mr. Bankola Oluwajana, served the Agagu administration in different capacities between 2008 and 2012.

Apart from Mimiko’s alleged highhandedness, a close ally of the governor yesterday confirmed that there was a major crisis in the state PDP, thereby ascribing it to Mimiko’s decision to anoint and endorse his Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, as his likely successor.

He told THISDAY that Jegede’s choice violated the principle of zoning outrights, noting that since Mimiko “is from Ondo Central senatorial district, Jegede, who is also from the same district, cannot be his successor.

“Since May 29, 1999, no governor in the state has served two terms fully. Chief Adebayo Adefarati from Ondo North only served one term. Agagu from Ondo South was ousted by the elections tribunal.

“Mimiko from Ondo Central may be privileged to serve two terms. Yet he is plotting to install a successor from the senatorial district. This is political robbery. We all know it is a dead project. We will not part of it.”

But in a joint statement they issued in Lagos yesterday, Akinyelure and Osunyikanmi formally announced their decision to join forces with the APC in the state, which further reinforced the fact that Mimiko’s camp was in crisis.

The statement cited three key reasons that fuelled the decision of Akinyelure and Osunyikanmi, noting that the reasons comprised their passion to always align with other genuine progressives in the APC; their resolve to put the state in the mainstream of national politics and the need to foster regional integration.

It added that the declaration, which had already ignited the embers of passionate endorsements across the state, followed what the defectors described as the historic disengagement from the PDP in Ondo State.

It explained that the decision was taken after “several months of wide consultations with our esteemed leaders, constructive constituents, fervent followers and very distinguished admirers from the length and breadth of the state.

“The mood in the state, as clearly expressed in the last general election, shows that the people truly want a change. In spite of the fact that we have a PDP government in the state, our people voted massively for President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. That situation has not changed.

“In fact, the calls for total change at all levels of governance in the state are getting more stringent due to the failure of the PDP-led state government to deliver democracy dividends to the people. As progressive politicians with track records in people’s welfare and empowerment, we cannot but identify with a political platform poised to change Nigeria for good.

Therefore, our decision to align with other genuine progressives in the APC is hinged on the need to engender good governance in our state, put the state in the mainstream of national politics and foster regional integration which has long been frustrated by the current selfish and egocentric leadership in the state.”

Mimiko’s Camp in Disarray as Political Allies Defect to APC