Apr 23rd, 2007
Guber polls: Mimiko assembles legal team, head for tribunal
Guber polls: Mimiko assembles legal team, head for tribunal. The Tide
The Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has assembled a team of lawyers to challenge his defeat at the election petition tribunal.
Mimiko, a former Minister of Housing and Urban Development, lost to incumbent Gov. Olusegun Agagu at the April 14, governorship elections.
The head of Mimiko’s campaign organisation, Mr Ranti Akerele, disclosed this today in Lagos at a news briefing, adding that the lawyers were all Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Akerele said Mimiko was set to file his petition challenging Agagu’s victory at the polls, and described the result of the ballot as a rape of democracy.
He said that the Labour Party had enough evidence to upturn the verdict, adding that the governorship polls were not yet over in the state.
Akerele said he was in Lagos following threats by political opponents, adding that many of his party members in Ondo State were on exile in Lagos.
“We are sure of getting back our votes through the tribunal, because the PDP has left a lot of their tracks open,” he stressed.
Akerele said that feelers from Ondo State also indicated that the presidential elections would suffer the same fate.
He, however, said that Mimiko had called on his supporters to shun violence because he was a believer in the judiciary, and would fight through legal means.
Akerele said the Labour Party had no confidence in INEC to conduct a re-run of the elections into the state House of Assembly in some constituencies.
He questioned the rationale for conducting the exercise only for the House of Assembly.
“We will not allow it,” he said, stressing that the exercise would lack credibility.
Akerele appealed to the police to give protection to members of Labour Party, claiming that they were being victimised and threatened with elimination.
17 Responses to “Guber polls: Mimiko assembles legal team, head for tribunal”
Your Excellency, you have chosen the true way forward, and the only favourable path of the righteous; believing that God is the Chief Judge, and only through him can the people get “justice”
We are instituting the case before our judges, because our mandate as a people in Ondo state has been stolen. We are all behind you, because you are fighting our cause. May the Lord of hosts be with you at all times; and be assured that the Lord mighty in battle is our warlord. Read this: “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles.” – 2Ch32:8
Go ahead in peace, and the Angels of the Lord will perfect the victory, and bring shame to our enemies; the thieves who connived with others to steal our mandate. He is the Governor-select (not in my name!), and you are the Governor-elect of Ondo state (in our names). They shall not be at peace until your name is pronounced on the 29th of May, 2007 as the true Governor of our peace-loving Ondo state.
Iroko yi jooo, gbasibe jareeeeeeee.
[...] campaign photos, and election reports. Dr. Mimiko lost to the incumbent, Gov. Olusegun Agagu. He is challenging the results at the election petition [...]
Your Excellency Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo State Elected Governor. As you battle it out for your rights and justice, not just on behalf of yourself but also on behalf of all your supporters and the future and heritage of Ondo State, I say Go With God the mightiest Judge of all judges. God will move mightily in this matter and restore back the people’s mandate, your stolen Position – No.1 and also the people’s confidence for a just Nigeria in spite of what the sceptics are saying that nothing good can come out of Nigeria.
Your pre election track record speak for itself and your post election track record speaks volumes – OLUSEGUN RAHMAN MIMIKO IS A MAN OF GOD, A MAN OF PEACE, A MAN OF INTELLIGENCE, A JUST MAN AND NOBODY’S FOOL. ABOVE ALL HE IS A MAN OF THE PEOPLE. You are what Ondo State needs to take us out of the doldrums and dark ages that Agagu’s 4 years in powerless power has thrown Ondo State into. You are indeed a true symbol of IROKO POWER. Iroko ni baba igi, Mimiko ni baba. You have won and will be crowned. The people are all very much behind you, in prayers and in body. We will all not rest until justice is done. NO one can touch you. Time is now running out for the fools that believe that there is no God. IROKO YI JO GBA SIBE. ORO RE TI DAYO LORUKO JESU. We shall all rejoice and celebrate very soon.
His Exellency,Dr Olusegun Mimiko,the authentic ,Original Governor Elect.of Ondo State in general, not FIDI EE Governor ,go ahead with your mandate at tribunal,GOD is waiting for u to receive it GBAMU.Amen. 08037000667.
Daily will I wake up and visit over and over again this topic – MIMIKO IS ONDO STATE GOVERNOR. Elected by the people but robbed (for the time being) of his crown. This matter will not go away until justice is done and the culprits in this matter disgraced. I will daily remind my people in Ondo State that whatever precedence we allow on this matter could haunt or bless us for the rest of our lives. No one should sit on the fence on this matter. Stand up for the truth. Write it, announce it, broadcast it, debate it, teach it in schools, colleges and universities. Preach it on your way to work, in public and at home. Tell it to the market traders, civil servants, adults and young ones. Let it be a nursery song for the litlte uns, MIMIKO IS ONDO STATE GOVERNOR. We will not, no matter how long or short it takes, allow a fraudster in the name of AGAGU govern Ondo State for another four years of terror and bondage. AGAGU MUST GO. MIMIKO MUST RULE. Nigeria is still a democratic country in spite of all the shameful acts during election 2007. I will not rest until the rightful Governor is reinstated and his stolen mandate given. I beg the Nigerian judicial system for a change to do the right thing. This is a case of open daylight robbery. If allowed, then no need for any law courts to try anybody again no matter what. But this is not what we want for Nigeria. Hence for the sake of our children and posterity, ANNOUNCE THE TRUE RESULT OF THE GUBERNATORIAL POLLS ON 14TH APRIL 2007 IN ONDO STATE. His Excellency DR RAHMAN OLUSEGUN MAYANMIJE MIMIKO WON BY A LANDSLIDE VICTORY. Haba how can you ever hope to sneak Agagu in and impose him on people who came out in thousands to ensure he leaves Alagbaka fast! IROKO YI JO GBA SIBE:
Fight the good fight with all thy might;
Christ is thy strength and Christ thy light;
Lay hold on life and you shall see;
That Christ is all in all to thee.
IROKO YI JO GBA SIBE. ALAGBAKA IS MISSING YOU.
YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO TALK ABOUT THE RULE OF LAW ALHAJI.
IN ANY COUNTRY WHERE THE RULE OF LAW PREVAILS, GOVERNOR ELECTS AND PRESIDENT ELECT ARE NOT SWORN IN UNTIL ELECTORAL MATTERS BEFORE THE COURTS AND TRIBUNALS ARE RESOLVED. DOING THIS IS SIMILAR TO PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE. THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN HALTED UNTIL THE FINAL DETERMINATION IS MADE BY THE ELECTION TRIBUNALS.
TO ME PERSONALLY AND I BELIEVE TO ALL RIGHT THINKING NIGERIANS THIS IS ANOTHER GOOSE CHASE. TWO VITAL QUESTIONS THAT I POUNDER OVER TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO ANSWER ARE: WHY WILL AN UNQUALIFIED MISFIT BE SWORN IN AS A GOVERNOR WHEN HE WAS DECLARED UNFIT BY A COURT OF LAW IN ABUJA? SECONDLY, WHY DID OBASANJO AND STATE JUDGES SWEAR PEOPLE IN UNTIL ALL ELECTION PETITIONS ARE RESOLVED? OR WHAT RULE OF LAW IS HE TALKING ABOUT? I HOPE HE IS NOT THINKING ABOUT SHARIA LAWS
USA
To many people, politics is just a game and they beleive they can play this game anyhow. But they are so wrong. Politics is a rule of law that affects the lives of all citizens of a given country. Politics is what brought Iraq into a state of daily killings, what brought SA from bondage to liberty, what brought Britain into its current bitter sweet state etc. In Nigeria politics has been turned into a game – a show of power, a show of embezzlement and corruptiion. They turn politics into a vehicle of making the rich richer and the poor poorer. But this is because we the people have allowed it for too long. We Nigerians are said to love enjoying life so much, but what life are we enjoying in a country that cannot boast of goodroads, constant power supply, pipeborne water to all, hospitals and medical care are non existent, children and adults die daily and very unnecessarily, we have a non existent police force when it comes to keeping law and order (except when it comes to bullying the masses, and joining ranks with armed robbers), and oh talking of armed robbers in Nigeria, they are second only to Obasanjo, Agagu, Iwu and their cohorts! This the legacy Obasanjo has left behind in Nigeria. A legacy of lies, thefts, election malpractices, foolery and trickery to mention just a few. Yaradua does have a lot to do. This can be done. Politics should become a honest way of life where the welfare of all and sunder is looked after, not just the priviledged few. POLITICS FOR YARADUA SHOULD START WITH REVISITING THE FAILURES OF OBASANJO AND ALLOWING EVEN PROMOTING REDRESS AND REINSTATEMENT OF OUR TRULY ELECTED GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE- OLUSEGUN MIMIKO OF THE LABOUR PARTY. The evil in our midst must be cut off and banished. Dear Lord God I wake up and call on you yet again about this matter. Ondo state of Nigeria look up to you in this matter.
Computer Network Security…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
Which parts sir, is it the write up itself and which or is it the comments? And which is the interesting bit sir, for we all love to share and learn from one another and we will welcome any “new” discourse.
one thing we pray and are sure of is that God will vindicate the just and this will be sooner than later.
May God continue to protect HIS own.
Please read on.
Tribunal: Mimiko’s Lawyers Escape Assassination
From James Sowole in Akure, 08.19.2007
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The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, was yesterday forced to suspend sitting for close to two hours as the three counsel of the Labour Party (LP), narrated their miraculous escape from suspected hired killers, who waylaid them on Friday night while coming from Abuja around 9.00pm.
The counsel are, Dr Olumide Ayeni, Aderemi Olatubora and Femi Fadare.
Narrating their ordeal with the suspected assassins, the counsel said the vehicle they were traveling in from Abuja, was waylaid somewhere between Ibillo in Edo State and Isua-Akoko junction in Ondo State.
A battered green Honda Accord with registration number CN 391 KTU, belonging to one of the counsel and in which the lawyers were traveling was brought to the Ondo State High Court venue of the tribunal as evidence of their brush with death.
The counsel had last Monday got the tribunal’s permission for three days leave so that they could lodge a formal complaint in Abuja over allegation of various live threatening activities and intimidations against them.
The ruffled Ayeni, who addressed the tribunal over the attack, said he and his colleagues were attacked by the unidentified men in Toyota Land Cruiser Sports Utility Van (SUV) on a lonely stretch of road as they entered Ondo State.
But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Ondo State government, in a swift reaction described the Ayeni allegation as frivolous and an act of crying wolf where there was none.
Ayeni disclosed that their vehicle was trailed by the SUV “which apparently had been waiting for us at a petrol station at Ibillo” and pulled up by their side as they approached the Isua junction.
“When they pulled beside us they told us to park and one of them was dressed like a policeman, apparently to create the false impression that they were security agents. But we saw one of them, dressed like a ninja and covering his face, reaching out to something on the floor of the vehicle and it dawned on us that they were out to kill us”, he said
The stoppage according to him was meant to ascertain their identity as he said they heard one of the assailants saying in Yoruba, “awon ni”, meaning, they are the ones.
The speed battle of supremacy that ensued between the SUV and the counsels’ car according to him, resulted in the right side of the car being battered before the lawyers were able to gain an upper hand and over-sped the assailants.
The counsel disclosed further that having escaped the assailants, “we veered off to a dirt road and put off our lights in great fear. After about four minutes, the SUV sped off and we followed it at a safe distance.
“When we got to Akungba junction we saw them making a detour to the left for Akure and sensing that they may still lay ambush for us along the road, we turned right and sought refuge in Ikare-Akoko”
Addressing reporters at the tribunal premises while inspecting the battered car, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Eddy Olafeso, said the LP’s claim “is taking politics to a ridiculous level.
“Imagine everything being viewed from the angle of an imaginary animosity between the PDP and the LP. It is quite unfortunate. And these Labour people are the cause of these unnecessary sensationalism which is aimed to heat up the polity”.
According to Olafeso, who said he had to rush to the tribunal to see things for himself when he heard the news, “these LP people should be told to go and sit down if they don’t know what to do again”
But Ayeni told the court that the incident had confirmed the “strong suspicion” that the lives of the lawyers in the Mimiko team are under threat stressing that the SUV that was used in the attack has an Abuja number plate and had been seen several times within the tribunal premises.
Although he claimed that “these people who clearly want to subvert the course of justice” would not cow the Mimiko legal team into submission, urging the tribunal to take notice of the occurrence “as members of the temple of justice”.
But the PDP counsel, Kayode Olatoke, urged the tribunal to discountenance the claims of Ayeni and raised a poser “why didn’t they go and report the matter to the police instead of coming to the tribunal”.
Ayeni however said they have reasons not to have confidence in members of the Ondo Police Command.
While sympathizing with the LP legal team, the Justice G.N Nabaruma-led tribunal urged them to be more wary of their security saying there was nothing they can do on their part here advising that the tribunal could do and advised that the counsels could seek the service of the State Security Service (SSS) if they do not trust the police.
God knows the truth and I say this without any bias. God it was who defended David and saved his life from all his assailants within and outside his family, and brought him safely to be King in Israel. God it was who saved Daniel from the Lions den and David from Goliath. God it was who led the children of Israel out of Egypt and when it became so hot that the Red Sea was in front and Pharaoh’s army behind, our true and living God parted the Red Sea and both Pharaoh and his army PERISHED in the Red Sea.
Yes, our God will protect His own and all lovers of truth and justice. Our God will spare the lives of the innocent and upright and all lying tongues shall be sealed while all devilish hands will be cut off.
One thing I will repeat is this, MIMIKO is a God fearing man, and he is the aggrieved in this matter. HIS was the mandate stolen, and he was the man chosen to govern Ondo State. Political thugery and assasinations are a reality and not a figment of imagination worldwide. lack of trust in the police can be understandable when one looks at the political and governmental climate in any given situation.
Why when the going is good in terms of who is winning what in this Electoral petition would any sane mind cry wolf? All should beware the guiles of the devil and not leave anything to chance. I thank God for sparing the lives of these counsels and for letting them live to give what i call their testimony of the greatness of God, and thank God for He will bring to completion what he has started.
In Ondo state, the truth and what will be beneficial for the Ordinary citizens, the truely aggrieved and cheated people will prevail and the just will be vindicated. We shall not die but live to tell of the greatness of our God, and in Ondo state, all wrongs will be righted. We remain firm in our resolve and in our quest for JUSTICE in Ondo State. God protect the lives of Mimiko, his God fearing followers and the people of Ondo State young and old (amen). IT IS A CRYING SHAME that all these are happening in Ondo State but teh sun will yet shine again for God has decreed that Ondo State is a Sunshine State.
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE TEMPTED TO BELIEVE THAT THE LAWYERS ARE CRYING WOLF PLEASE READ ON:
Star witness in Kogi election petition murdered
From Ralph Omololu Agbana, Lokoja
IN-YET-ANOTHER dastardly act, Mr. Victor Obafaiye, a star witness in the on going governorship and House of Representatives petitions in Kogi State, involving two Action Congress (AC) candidates, Senator Muhammed Ohiare and Mr. Richard Akanmode, has been killed.
The slain Obafaiye was said to have been lured from his home in Kabba at about 1.00 a.m. yesterday to his untimely death by the yet to be identified killers. He was strangled and his lifeless body dumped in the canal in the Odolu area in Kabba, where it was found by passers-by in the morning. Details of the murder and police statement were still being awaited as at press time.
When The Guardian contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ambrose Igbokwe, he said he was yet to be briefed on the incident and promised to call back. It was however learnt that the AC leadership in the state had formally reported the incident to the Police Command in Lokoja.
The AC candidate and petitioner in respect of the disputed election in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, Akanmode, yesterday confirmed the incident to journalists in Lokoja. He said Obafaiye was last seen at the Lokoja High Court premises, venue of the election tribunals last Monday, August 13, 2007, at the resumed hearing of his (Akanmode’s) case against Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The remains of the deceased, a father of four, in his mid-forties, has since been deposited in the mortuary.
In his reaction, the lead counsel to Akanmode, Mr U.M. Enwere, described Obafaiye as a “star witness”, whose death would create a temporary set back for his case.
However, the state Chairman of the AC, Chief Mike Adeleye, told The Guardian on the telephone that the pointer to Obafaiye’s murder “is very clear”. He added: “It is a continuation of the violence, intimidation and harrassment meted out to members of the opposition and indeed, supporters of AC, during the last elections. This killing is part of the game plan to erase all traces of facts in the petitions filed by AC candidates in respect of the governorship and House of Representatives elections in Kabba/ Bunu/ Ijumu Federal Constituency.”
Adeleye recalled that the killing was coming barely a week after Enwere reported to the tribunal last Monday how hoodlums attacked the team that went to Kabba to inspect Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) materials adding.
“That was after glaring irregularities were unearthed”.
The AC chief alleged that Obafaiye was killed for being in possession of documents that would have assisted the tribunal in the resolution of the cases involving the AC in Kabba/Bunu. He therefore, urged both the tribunal and the police to provide cover for witnesses in the cases pending before the tribunal as such fate that befell Obafaiye was capable of scaring other witnesses from testifying thereby subverting justice.
Yesterday’s incident also marked a dangerous twist to the controversies and the legal tussles trailing last April’s elections in the area. The state House of Assembly Tribunal had a forthnight ago, nullified the election in Kabba/Bunu Constituency won by the PDP candidate, Jethro Funsho Oni, on the ground of proved cases of violence. Consequently, the tribunal granted the prayer of the AC candidate, Fred Ayenale, for a fresh election to be conducted in the constituency.
Thank you very much Mrs. Taylor for your constatnt agitations and for always spicing our tales and quest for justice with relevant biblical references, may the God of justice continue to enrich your wisdom and knowledge.
And our agitations will not be in vain in Jesus name.
My Brother Femi, I also thank you for it is good to know that out there there are many who will remain with God Truth and Justice and not sell their soul to the devil. You see, in the book of Matthew we are told that right from the days of John the Baptist the Kingdom of God sufferred violence and the violent take it by force. What is rightfully ours in Ondo State will be returned for our Lord God Jehovah is a consuming fire. Even for the unbeleiver the story of Agagu so far in Ondo State has been a story of doom, gloom, threats, foolery, trickery, attacks and LIES. We all deserve better and God is in control and that is why all those who beleive that the only way out is killing and intimidating, aha olorun o ni fun won se. Yes in the name of the LIVING GOD, our agitations will not be in vain. God works in mysterious ways. Lets keep the midnight lamp burning. E ku ise sir. MIMIKO wa yio gba si beeeeeee.
THIS IS WHAT I CALL REPORTING THE TRUTH
Mimiko innocent of crimes in Ondo –LP
By Agency reporter
Published: Tuesday, 21 Aug 2007
The Ondo State chapter of the Labour Party has condemned the recent press conference addressed by Chief Segun Adegoke, the Political Adviser to Governor Olusegun Agagu, in which he accused the party and its governorship candidate in the April 14 election, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, of perpetrating crime.
Mimiko
In a release issued by party’s Director of Press on Monday, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, LP insisted that Adegoke’s statement was meant to lay the ground for the series of violence against its members which started earnestly immediately after he addressed the press penultimate Thursday as elucidated by the attacks on its Legal team.
tell d governor to restore bak d okiti of ijuland
want to say congratulation to my iroko