The Akure High Court has ruled in favor of Mr Governor, Dr. Mimiko that the election that brought in the local government chairmen into power was illegal (for lack of better word), so they have to go.
Information from Akure also confirms that a caretaker committee/interim chairmen have been sworn in to run the local governments pending a new election.
More information soon…
For Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, democracy dividend is more than just infrastructure. It has more to do with psychological and spiritual contentment. That is what he says the people are enjoying at the moment with the knowledge that their affairs are no longer being managed by a king that they did not crown. Now they have their own king. However, he says that beyond this, his government is already making remarkable progress to let the people know that they did not make the wrong choice, as his mission to redeem the state from years of the locusts gathers momentum. He spoke about this and other issues with reporters in Akure, to mark his 100 days in office.
Group Politics Editor, SUNNY IGBOANUGO, was there.
Excerpts:
How are you dealing with the slump in revenue, which your counterparts are crying about or are you not affected?
The drop in revenue is a concern. It is a concern for us in this state. It is a concern nationally. It is a concern globally. But I also believe that for every situation there are also opportunities. The situation provides the opportunities to fast track whatever programmes we have on alternative sources of revenue. We have a programme that we will unveil at the appropriate time on how to increase on what we are generating internally. Number two, we are also developing a partnership programme such that some of these development programmes will not have to be driven with government revenue, like our intervention in housing. We want to encourage savings with mortgage institutions. So, most people are going to pick up the houses under this programme. They are going to take mortgages on them. But it is a PPP (Public Private Partnership). These houses are being developed with private funds by Aso Savings, FCMB and Union Homes. So, we are going to generate new sources in income. As a matter of fact, we are creating a PPP desk in the governor’s office to bring it to the forefront of government developmental activities. And of course like I said we are also looking around the globe for partners who are ready to invest in social services. And we are also looking for long term fund globally to invest in Ondo State. But most importantly, it is the creativity and determination of our people to develop that will drive development in this state not the money.
Everywhere you go in Akure, you see a concentration of billboards singing praises of Olusegun Mimiko. Couldn’t you invest the money for these billboards into more productive ventures that would truly benefit the people?
Let me say this unequivocally in capital this government has not spent 0.000001 kobo on billboards and we will never do it. As a matter of fact, let me tell you, we have friends here too and we have local governments. Have you seen any local government advertising congratulatory messages for Dr. Mimiko for hundred days? You think it just happened. We gave specific standing instructions written, documented and sent to all the local governments. It is not that we want to deprive newspapers of the revenue. But the point is that we want to discourage all these frivolities. All these, the governor is doing birthday every local government is advertising, to what end. It is stupidity. We will not be part of it. We have not spend 0.00000000001 kobo on billboards. All those billboards that you see celebrating Iroko is still part of the hangover of the excitement of what has happened in this place. And when you look at those billboards you will see this is courtesy of Iroko Vanguard, Iroko Forum. But 100 days, even the outgoing government that spent almost N100 million on billboards, people are saying let us remove these billboards or at least paste our own papers there because the billboards are already standing. I said just leave the billboards, with time we will know what to do because they are all over the place.
Some of the roads you are going into, like the Obese Road, are federal roads. How are you going recover the money you are going to spend on them?
Obese Road, the point you have said is well made. If you were staying in this state or you had to travel to Abuja and you had to go through Owo Road, you will see that that Obese spot people stay two, three hours to be able to move a distance of less three electricity poles apart. We talked to the federal controller of works. We did everything. But we don’t delude ourselves. We know the weight the Federal Government is carrying. I am sure there must be up to almost a million spots like that in Nigeria that need immediate attention. And because that road services our people; that road is in Ondo State territory, we are doing it with the faith that some day we will be able to recoup our fund. But we had to do it. It is part of our responsibility to our people and to people passing through Ondo State. It is a scandal. It is used to be two, three hours on the same spot. It is Ondo State soil, and that is why we are doing it. And what is the yardstick to know whether investment is worth it or not. It brings joy to the heart of people. In democracy, we are talking about development. The overall to encapsulate everything is joy. And I once spoke proverbially. I said that in 100 days we would have achieved more than they achieved in six years. I could see some newspapers now saying it is not possible. Where are the landmarks? I said these are ignorant people. In terms of achievement, I say it if there is any scale of measuring the quantum of joy in the heart of the people of Ondo State, we have put more joy in 100 days than they have done in six years. We were talking proverbially. I don’t think that I will build more houses in 100 days. I was just tipping the imagination of people to know that the ultimate to all these efforts we are making is the joy that we bring to the heart of the people. That is all. That is the whole essence of all of these. I can tell you that Obese Road is worthy investment because people are joyous, happy and grateful that government is paying attention to it.
What is your assessment of 10 years of democracy in Nigeria, which we celebrated recently? Do we have any reason to be happy that the military is no longer in power?
What is democracy? What is the essence of democracy? The essence of democracy is happiness, joy. The question I will put back to you and that is the only way to assess it; within the last 10 years, on an aggregate of happiness and joy and fulfilment, have our people been more fulfilled than they have in the previous years of military rule. If you use Ondo State yardstick as of today; we may not be able to get the aggregate for the whole country, I can tell you that Ondo State is excited today. We are thanking God for the opportunity that they elected somebody and he is there. Even if it has not already translated into immediate increase in their material wherewithal, the fact that they elected somebody who is responsive to their yearning, it has brought joy to their heart. People have talked about benevolent dictatorship. Let us for a minute look the major infrastructural development in this country in the last 40 years. Look at the refineries, look at third mainland bridge; a lot of them took place during the military era. The question is, has that brought fulfilment to the people? If such major infrastructural development was going on, and people kept yearning that they are for democracy, then there must be something about democracy that is even more than infrastructure. Who built the refineries, Third Mainland Bridge, Murtala Mohammed Airport? Look at those major infrastructures, most of them were built by the military. But people kept agitating, we want democracy. The fact that you can elect your representative and he is there, gives more joy than infrastructure. Now, the tragedy about it is that, has the system allowed us to elect our representatives in this country. How has the electoral system been? Has it improved? Is it degenerating? What is the trend?
So, in spite of all the limitations that we have, the fact that we are going consistently having civil rule from Garrison politics to whatever, I believe that when the system goes on like this, whether we like it or not, with time leaders that the people believe in will get thrown up in the system and we will be on the path of irreversible development. We can do more. We can do better. But something tells me clearly because I lived in this country during military era and I am living here now, that there is something about democracy that gives some measure of fulfilment and freedom to people that you cannot buy. That even all the infrastructure in the world cannot buy. We are not there yet. But Ondo State what we have undergone in the last two years is social revolution of sort. And when people listen to me I keep saying that we thank Mr. President. And I know what I am talking about, because the fact that the judiciary was allowed to blossom especially in the case of Ondo State is a plus for democracy. But we are not there yet. All we need to do as a people, one: whatever we can do to strengthen the judiciary, we must strengthen the judiciary. Because ultimately if the judiciary is strengthened, and the judiciary in its independence can make independent decisions, then we will be on our path. INEC or whatever name it is called. The argument about whether it is the President or the NJC that should choose the INEC chairman, I think it is reducing the argument to a pedestrian realm. When you say NJC, it looks like some mystical entity. But NJC is the Chief Justice of Nigeria and it is the President that picks the chief justice of Nigeria. So, the issue must be bigger than who chooses INEC chairman. If a President really wants to influence it, there are one million ways the president can influence NJC even to pick whoever he wants as INEC chairman. But the issue that I think we should be harping upon, because the independence of INEC is very important and critical, is how can we ensure that if per chance a fairly good person is INEC chairman he can be truly independent. If we ensure and this is very important that the President cannot remove the INEC chairman, even if he nominates him; if we are sure that INEC is on the first line charge, it has nothing to do with whether the President likes the face of the chairman or not, or whether he is dancing to his tune or not; his money is from the consolidated revenue; they cannot remove him; then, those that work with him at the state level, the Resident Electoral Commissioners are not picked by the President; they have a career line with INEC; it is INEC that they are entitled to, that determines there discipline; and once they are in that career line, their discipline and everything is independent of the executive; if we don’t have that in place even if it is NJC that picks INEC chairman, or whatever name you call it, we can’t go far. What is more important that we should focus on, is to ensure that we install the pillar that will ensure whoever is INEC chairman becomes independent. He will be accountable. I think we are wasting too much energy on who picks the INEC chairman.
No matter how concise, credible and foresighted your government is, you cannot achieve much if you don’t have peace. So, what efforts are you making at reconciliation - because we hear of the serious divisions in every sphere of influence in the state. How would you get your opponents to work with you to develop the state?
Let me just say this. Again, you have enough empirical evidence. The division you are talking about is not as deep as imagined. Civil service yes, but I make bold to say that 99 per cent of the civil servants were excited about the change that we had. You can find it out. So, I don’t want to sound immodest about it. Yes, some Kabiyesis were used and the truth why I don’t hold grudges against these Kabiyesis is that any governor that is immodest about the power at his disposal can always make a Kabiyesi to do anything. I am telling you the truth. Yes, some of them are bold. They will stand up. But how many Kabiyesis can stand up to a governor in Nigeria. So, I don’t have any grudge against the Kabiyesis. I would tell you what happened two, three days ago. Some people came to me recently to say there is a perception that because some Kabiyesis overstepped their bounds; like Bishop Gbonige said, some palaces were the centres of election rigging and multiple thumb printing; there is the perception that you are angry with Kabiyesi’s. And that the Kabiyesis are treading gently because they believe that this governor must be angry with them; and I said look, I am not angry with them. When I had a meeting with them I said look I will never bring you to the political terrain. I will mobilise you to help mobilise community for development. But I will never engage you in politics. At the symbolic luncheon we had to forget about the past and look forward to future development, the attendance was very impressive and all the Kabiyesis were in attendance. And I made it absolutely clear that I am a realist. I am also a student of power, and the use and misuse of power. And I told them that I thank those that stood up in the face of intimidation and understood those of them, who made their palaces centres of rigging in their palaces. But I say let’s put that behind and move on. And I said that the day I call you and draw you to the political terrain, just know that I am not a man of integrity because I will be denigrating your institution. It is very important for society for you to continue to carry this moral authority and the best way to lose that moral authority is to get involved in politics. Let politicians do their own thing. Don’t get involved and I will not abuse my office to get you involved in politics. And we had lunch and everybody enjoyed the excitement and went home happy.
Civil service, yes, it is 100 per cent. A few are still mentally detached and they are still looking at the good old days. But I can tell you that the process of reconciliation is on. And the first and most important process of reconciliation is to ensure that you do not out of political consideration victimise everybody and I can give you my word. People have told me, you know as governor I have more than two years. I have one million ears. And as Yoruba would say, I also have many stomachs.
I can assure you that I will never, never victimise anybody. Let me just tell you what is going on in Ondo State. I have never made any comment on who appears on Ondo radio or television. They bring PDP people there and they abuse me. I will just laugh and say look at these funny people. These people who refused even our paid adverts. They did not allow even one of our paid adverts to be aired on television or radio. They now come on radio and abuse governor. I beg you, just go ahead and do your work. It is part of the process of reconciliation. I have nothing against them. You know our local correspondents. They say I spent N1.9 billion for Government House. I will take you to the kitchen of the Government House, and whether any of you will be able to eat there with what they left behind. But the point I am making is that the process of reconciliation itself is a fact. We went to Okitipupa today. Of course, you need to see. I don’t want to sound immodest. But it was a street festival. Starting from Ijuodo through Ilututu, it was an exciting festival. People were at the street dancing and rejoicing. But PDP fixed today for their meeting. They were about 20 miserable people under the canopy. It stands to reason that if we are coming to town, they should fix another day. We just looked at them and waved at them and we all laughed. And even some of them acknowledged us. That is reconciliation in action. Our philosophy is there is room enough for all. We don’t have underground politics. Do your own and we do our own. In those days, they will not only machete all the Labour Party members that they see there, they will machete all of them and throw them into prison and make them to pass through a lot of physical and psychological trauma. But for us to be able to move forward, we put all of that behind us. They go to our radio. They go on our television. I have never said since I got here, go and look for that PDP; Commissioner of Police, this man stole money. That is reconciliation in action. All decisions that we will take will be dictated by what we perceived as the greatest interest of the greatest number in the society.
Sir, why are you embarking on sinking of boreholes instead of making public water schemes work? Remember that the last administration was heavily criticised for this. So why are you following this footstep?
Thank you very much. Boreholes will always be relevant in our water supply scheme in Ondo State and in every other part of this country. Essentially boreholes ultimately will be confined to the rural areas and the cities will be served by municipal water supplies. The last administration spent N14 billion or so on water. I make bold to say that this has not translated into the availability of water to the people of Ondo State. And we have analysed it. It is not all about stealing money. A lot has to do with incompetence too, because provision of water is essentially an engineering thing. It is not a thing for the boys to learn on the job or for political jobbers. I am not taking anything away from the former commissioner for utility who was in charge of water here, nor am I taking anything away from the chairman of the water corporation. I make bold to say that in terms of knowledge about the engineering and the technicalities of water, they are at best illiterates. They could be experts in their own fields; because when you look at the water plan and the way it was executed it never translated to drinking water for our people. People say they have stolen all the money. No! It is not about stealing money alone. You see, those boreholes refused to work from my own research. But we are not abandoning all those boreholes. For example since we came on board, we have reorganised water cooperation. Boreholes will continue to be relevant in understaffed areas. And you saw, when I was making my point about borehole, I was making references to the fact that we will ensure that this boreholes work. I said two things very significant. I said it that any borehole we put in place we are also going to put the community-driven maintenance mechanism in place. A lot of the boreholes some of them don’t even work just because there is a little problem with the pump. What is important is for these boreholes to be functional. I am challenging you as a journalist to go to any of our boreholes in six months and come and tell me if any of them is not functioning again. Borehole is not the ultimate. Municipal water supply is the ultimate. But even in Akure, more than 60 per cent of locations in Akure are not served by municipal water. That is a long time solution. We will even help communities to build canals. There are so many things we can do including boreholes. It is true boreholes became a bazaar, a job for the boys, all manners of people. In spite of the geo-physical deficiency that we say we have in this state, there are houses and neighbourhoods that have used boreholes for the past 20 years. And they worked effectively. And for all those boreholes, we did two geophysical surveys. Apart from the geophysical surveys that the contractors themselves did, we contracted FUTA and brought in experts to do geophysical surveys because that is the beginning of failure of boreholes. So, we are conscious of all of these. Boreholes remain stopgaps in municipal centres. But they will always continue to be relevant in the rural areas.
Some people say your cabinet is unwieldy, that the number makes nonsense of the talk about the slash of 25 per cent in the allowances of political appointees. What do you need that number of commissioners for?
This affords me the opportunity to tackle this issue. You see, the problem with government in many years is that we pretend. We are used to stereotypes. This is the number of commissioners; this is the number of number of ministries. There are some very vital aspects of our lives. Let us look at public transportation. There has never been a ministry of transport in this place. But everyday activities of public transportation impact on our lives. Look at our motor parks, would anybody say he is proud of the motor parks in Ondo State, like in most other places. You go there, you see all manners of miscreants. The whole place is dirty. They throw anything around. No decent person would want to sit down in a motor park, relax, and go into restaurant there. Are those things not important for a nation, for the re-branded Ondo State? Look we are rebranding our motor parks. You will see why we need the ministry of transport. You’ve seen the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers; that they kill and maim as if there is no government, there is no regulating bodies. That has got to stop. I am investing government money in critical areas that will impact on the lives of our people. Let me tell you 25 per cent is a lot of money. We didn’t only make of 25 per cent cut in salaries, we also made in allowances and that is the big thing. Salary is not more than 10 per cent of what people earn. The civil servants will tell you that. I don’t know the situation in the private sector. But in public sector, the thing is the allowance. The 25 per cent sacrifice that all political appointees are making in Ondo State is 25 per cent across board; salaries and allowances. And at the end of the day, we are doing our calculation and I want to tell with the number of ministries we have, our overhead will be less than the overhead of those that have compact 13 ministries. The point is this, there are some critical aspect of our lives that we cannot allow to drift. Look at community development. Community development used to be in ministry of agriculture. It is submerged inside agriculture there. I am sure the director in charge, probably treats one file in year. Yet, we came on board and say community development is the key of development that we are enunciating. We are putting up a model that we think can be copied, a community-driven development. We are mobilising all street associations in Ondo State. All the alatas, (pepper sellers) all the commodity associations. We are going to village. We are creating village committees and empower them with technical know-how with some credit to build their own dams, to irrigate their own fields, to build their own canals. It is a big thing we want to do in community development. So, because the norm is that it should not be more than 14 ministries, I should go and put it under agriculture where the commissioner will spend 90 per cent of his time thinking about how to grind cassava. So, deliberately we created the ministry of community development and cooperatives because they go hand in hand. And we think it is relevant in all to have a commission. There is no move that we have made that we have not calculated the cost. I said it, government is about choices. It is about decisions. Every decision we take in our perception is to the overall interest of our people in Ondo State.
We will employ more teachers and more doctors. It has nothing to do with more ministries. But the civil servants that are going to do the work of the ministry are already on ground. Where I perch there in my temporary accommodation, in presidential lodge here, although there was nothing presidential about it, we had to change all the stinking rugs by the time we got in there. But the point is that at the reception, there are 10 people at the reception there. As a matter of fact, they are so many that they have become even a hindrance to normal reception activities. We are not sending them out of the system. We are redeploying them to areas of more activities. Probably, one of them will be the receptionist of the commissioner for Community Development or transport. So, we are regenerating existing personnel. Then, each ministry will be focused with measurable milestones given to them, attainable goals. Not that we are calling press conferences; ministry of agriculture what have you done. We have paid pensions. We have done all those funny things that we are used to hearing. When we address a press conference on the goals, you will attend and you will put notes down. We are going to say so-so month, this is where we want to be. It is ascertainable.
Sir what has become of the University of Science and Technology project?
You know incidentally I was at Ekitipupa today. And the first question they ask me is what has become of the university. Although, some people said, yes we understand that we are looking at contracts and all of that, we are looking at all contracts, especially all the emergency contracts. In five months contracts worth almost N50billion were awarded. We are taking a global look at what we have. The debt on ground and what we are expecting. I have said it. I stated it during the campaign; the southern senatorial district deserves a tertiary institution. The emergency committee, emergency thing that they did is another issue entirely. But rest assured that they will take appropriate decisions where we have looked at all the contracts.
The Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko on Thursday declared that the indebtedness he inherited from the immediate past Dr. Olusegun Agagu’s administration was much bigger than what the state incurred since its creation in 1976. Besides, he said that in two or three weeks time he would address the citizenry through the State Assembly on the financial situation of the state,
Mimiko speaking at a media parley held at Government House, Akure, the state capital lamented that there were no handing over notes or transition committee by Agagu’s administration to help the new administration to take-off.
His words: “Let me inform you that in two or three weeks time I will address the State Assembly on the financial situation of the state, so that all the speculations on the issue of state finances will be a thing of the past.
Let me also say here categorically that Agagu’s administration hurriedly packed out following the Appeal Tribunal verdict without normal handing over to the new administration as the development was caused by circumstances.”
He lamented that the sum of N14 billion spent on water by the ousted Agagu administration in the state could not be translated to drinking water to the people of the state, saying that it was just like his administration was starting from the scratch.
He stressed that the greatest challenges for the state government were on how to tackle unemployment; saying that the digital card projects his administration initiated would engage 4,000 volunteers. [Guardian]
List of the new commissioners:
Chief Julius Akinigbagbe - Agriculture
Prince Sola Amodeni - Forest Resources
Mrs. Adenike Fatogun - Education
Alhaji Sikiru Basaru - Lands and Housing
Dr. Kunle Asaolu - Physical and Urban Planning
Mr. Akin Akingbesote - Commerce and Industry
Mr. Clement Faboyede - Cooperative and Community Development
Mrs. Bukola Tenabe - Women Affairs
Mr. Wole Akinjo - Employment, Labour and Productivity
Mr. Yele Omogunwa - Works
Mr. Wale Akinterinwa - Finance
Mr. Oye Alademehin - Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs
Mr. Lebi Adepiti - Environment
Mr. Tola Wewe - Culture and Tourism
Mr.Yekini Olanipekun - Youths and Sports
Mr. Akin Adaramola - Economic Planning and Budget
Dr. Lawrence Adegbenro - Health.
I started politics out of passion to get involved in what I call upstream tackling of poverty. As a medical practitioner, I came face to face with poverty in crude form. I saw children who died because their parents at that time could not afford to buy one pint of blood. I saw children die of diarrhoea. I remember those harrowing cries of the mothers when they lost those children. I decided somewhere along the line that even if I do free medical services for everybody, I could not afford to give to everybody that wanted it. I said perhaps, to influence the majority of the people, it’s better to get involved at the policy level – what I call the upstream sector – by getting involved in politics and using the power from politics to impact on lives.
Read the full interview, from Olukorede Yishau, Nation
Information from several media house indicate the Dr Segun Agagu may have been arrest by the EFCC. Further clarification being awaited. The Punch revealed last week that “there were indications on Friday that a former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, may be arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.”
Some reports coming in regarding the arrest:
Channels TV: http://www.channelstv.com/newsdetails.php?news_id=11072
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] has arrested the Former Governor of Ondo state Olusegun Agagu.
Dr. Agagu was arrested at about 8.00am this morning by officials of the Anti-Graft agency.
His arrest according to sources at the Commission is in connection with the alleged embezzling of 25 billion naira belonging to the Ondo State Oil Producing Community Fund.
Nation Online: http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=78811
EFCC arrests Agagu over N25 billion oil agency fund 4/3/2009
The Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today arrests former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Agagu over alleged mismanagement of n25 billion belonging to the State oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
He is being detained pending conclusion of investigations. Agagu’s arrest followed a 24 hours trail of his movement by EFCC operatives. He was trailed from his Iju odo hometown in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State to Abuja.
His arrest aborted his planned trip to Australia via London on Thursday. The Anti-Graft Agency moved in on the former governor upon hearing that he is billed to travel to Australia tomorrow via London.
Spokesman for the Commission, Mr. Femi Babafemi has confirmed the arrest of the former governor.
Sahara Reporters, however, maintains, Dr Agagu was arrested but released almost immediately:
But just as we went to press with the story of his arrest, sources told Saharareporters that Dr. Agagu has already been ordered released, following instructions to the EFCC chairperson from the Presidency to do so immediately.
The Ondo State Elections Petitions Tribunal, nullified the election of Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State, and declared Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 14 April, 2007 election, winner of the election. Video footage by Channels TV. Feb. 23, 3009.
At inauguration: Ondo State Governor Mimiko and first lady, Kemi Mimiko
“Your struggle will be my struggle, your joy will be my joy and your aspiration will be my aspiration. I will strive at all times to make decisions that will benefit the greatest number of our people,” Dr. Mimiko told the crowd which was described as the largest in the history of the 33-year-old state.
And just as the crowd cheered, he added, “We will step on toes if we have to, but at all times, in all seasons, I will work for you.”
Step by Step account of events at Appeals Court:
* 12.50 PM– Dr Olusegun Mimiko declared the duly elected Governor of Ondo State
* 12.43 PM– Results resolved in favour of Dr Mimiko
* 12.32 PM– Judges analysing the votes and results
* 12.29 PM– 10 out of 11 issues involved resolved in favour of Mimiko, 11th in progress
* 12.09 PM– Charts detailing the irregularities submitted by LP issue resolved in favor of Mimiko
* 11.49 AM– Issue of unused voters cards, and voters register resolved in favor of Mimiko
* 11.26 AM– Olaitan Ayeni, an aide to Agagu hurriedly left the court room
* 11.23 AM– Political officers signing result forms resolved in favours of Mimiko
* 11.10 AM– Evidences admissibility resolved in favours of Mimiko
* 11.05 AM– SSS report favors of Mimiko
* 10.58 AM– Issue of ballot paper counting resolved in favor of Mimiko
* 10.20 AM– First casualty of the day, INEC’s case thrown out.
* 10:12 AM – Reading starts
* 9:56 AM – Judges arrived.
* 8:55 AM – Mimiko and the National Chairman of Labour party arrived the court premises greeting both LP and PDP party supporters.
Some details:
n an unanimous judgment which lasted three hours, read by the President of the Court, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, the Appeal Court upheld the decision of the Election Petitions Tribunal which nullified the election of Dr. Olusegun Agagu of the PDP and declared Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of the Labour Party as winner.
The Court held that although there were irregularities in certain units of the Local Government, it was not enough to nullify the elections as the Labour Party candidate still scored the highest number of votes cast in the election.
The Labour Party candidate, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko was present in Court along with top officials of the party. The PDP was represented by a few Commissioners.
In upholding the election, the Court ruled that Dr. Mimiko scored twenty five percent of the votes cast in Twelve of Eighteen Local Government Areas with a total of 195,000 votes as against Dr. Agagu’s 135,000 votes.
The Appeal of the PDP candidate therefore failed and all Twelve Grounds were resolved in Dr. Mimiko’s favour.
The Judges also criticized INEC and asked the body to maintain neutrality at all times.
Meanwhile, the street of Akure, the capital of Ondo state are agog with celebration with supporters of Dr. Segun Mimiko spilling out unto the streets with songs of praises. The celebrations started immediately news of the verdict filtered into the state.
This is according to information from our sources in Akure. We will wait for the media to confirm.
This will be longest days ever for the two principals involved in the dispute.
The Court of Appeal in Benin, on Monday, concluded hearing of the protracted legal tussle between the Ondo State Governor, Chief Olusegun Agagu, and the candidate of the Labour Party in the April 2007 governorship poll in the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
The court also reserved its judgment on the case, saying that the date of the judgment would be communicated to the parties accordingly.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdulahi, gave 30 minutes to each of the lead lawyers to the parties in the dispute to present their briefs.
The parties — Agagu, Mimiko, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Police had argued their briefs in tense court proceedings that lasted three hours and 30 minutes.
After listening to the arguments, Abdullahi commended the lawyers for their industry.
But the appeal was heard by a panel that was slightly different from the one that heard the appeal which sacked former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor from office on November 11, 2008, as Abdullahi announced a reconstitution of the panel on the grounds that one of the justices would ‘soon be going’
The other members of the panel included Justices Amina Adamu-Augie, Ayo Salami, Kumai Akaahs, and Ndukwe Anyanwu.
Agagu was represented by Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who led Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), Mr. Damian Dodo (SAN) and I.A Adedipe (SAN), while a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Chief. Wole Olanikpeku (SAN), led Yussuf Ali (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana and others to represent Mimiko.
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN), Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), and J. C. A Idachaba led the legal teams of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigeria Police respectively in the epic legal battle.
Fagbemi, had urged the court to grant the appeal of Agagu against the judgment of the lower tribunal and faulted the way ballot papers purportedly used in the election were put to use by the Election Petitions Tribunal.
But Olanikpekun countered the submissions of Fagbemi, the PDP, the INEC and police and denied Fagbemi’s claims that the manner in which the ballot papers were sorted robbed his client much of his votes.
He argued further that the evidence in the case was even stronger than that of Oshiomhole, on the grounds that it was more compelling. - Punch.
Dr. Olusegun Agagu has justified the award of about N65 billion contracts for various projects by the state in the past six months. He said “it was just a coincidence that all the money were spent about the same time”.
After the judgment of the Garba Nabaruma-led election petition tribunal of July 25 last year in which the April 14, 2007 election of Agagu was voided and the petitioner, Olusegun Mimiko, of the Labour Party (LP) declared as the winner, contracts worth N65 billion had been awarded by the state government.
The appeal filed by Agagu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the tribunal verdict is now before the Appeal Court in Benin, Edo State.
Covering all sectors such as education, health, road construction and provision of infrastructure, the state government in the awards of the projects, which include the N14.4 billion renovation of the multi-billion naira Owena Multi-Purpose Dam, always concretised the deal with immediate payment of 50 per cent mobilisation fee at the award ceremonies.
Described as unprecedented in the history of the state by Agagu’s critics, the opposition in particular accused the state government of deliberately spending money and committing the state to some nonviable projects.
-Nigerian Guardian.
Olusegun Mimiko