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Feb 25th, 2009
Feb 25th, 2009
I will work for you
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.”
48 Responses to “I will work for you”
Yeah Im 100% sure that you will work for us in Ondo State..Im ready to work for Dr Olusegun Mimiko.there must no going back..LABOUR PARTY FORWARD EVER!!!..Gongo so
Courtesy of the Nation…
Thousands of excited residents and visitors thronged Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday to witness the inauguration of Dr Rahman Olusegun Mimiko as governor.
Mimiko promised to work for the people, but warned that he would step on toes.
The Sports Stadium was jammed. Outside, a sea of people battled to enter the arena where history was being made.Many sat on the railings surrounding the complex. Mimiko, a medical doctor-turned politician is the state’s fifth elected governor.
The city was quiet, with many residents who could not make it to the stadium watching the colourful ceremony on the television in their homes and offices.
Labour Party (LP) supporters, decked in various Ankara fabrics, vests and fez caps, waited anxiously under the scorching sun for the ceremony to begin. They had stayed firm as Mimiko fought for almost two years to retrieve his stolen mandate. The Court of Appeal on Monday pronounced Mimiko winner of the April 14,2007 election, confirming the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal led by Justice Garba Nabaruma.
Mimiko and his deputy, Alhaji Alli Olanusi, took the oath at exactly 12.30p.m.
But the ceremony was not an all-LP affair. Some Action Congress(AC) members, brooms in hand, were there.
So were dignitaries, such as Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, former Osun Governor and AC Chair Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Lagos Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former Ogun State Governor Aremo Segun Osoba and former Ekiti Governor Otunba Niyi Adebayo.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Chief Bode George, frontline lawyer Chief Wole Olanipekun,who led Mimiko’s legal battle, former Ondo Governor Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, Chief Olu Falae, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, the AC candidate in Osun and his counterpart in Ekiti, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, were there.
Others are Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) leader, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, National Chairman of LP Chief Dan Anyanwu, the State LP Chairman, Dr. Olaiya Oni, Otunba Reuben Fasawe, AC National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed,eminent lawyer Mr. Femi Falana, who was part of the victorious Mimiko legal team, the mother of the Governor, Mrs. Muminat Mimiko, Olugbo-elect Prince Frederick Obateru (Obat Oil), Olowo of Owo, Oba David Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi and many other traditional rulers.
Mimiko, after being sworn in as the 16th State Chief Executive by the Chief Judge , Justice Gladys Olateru-Olagbegi, said he would give free and qualitative education from Primary to Secondary School immediately.
He said his administration would offer a complete new paradigm of government under which they would use existing communal structures and our legendary “My-Brother’s-keeper’ spirit to drive development.
Said Mimiko: “Our government is a people-oriented government in which we shall help the masses to take decisions that will empower and ennoble them, a people-driven development programme that involves ownership in conception, prioritisation, execution and monitoring.”
The governor assured all of free health and education. He said the LP government remained committed to providing free health care for all children from age zero to five and all expectant women from conception to delivery.
The governor told the people: ‘Your struggle will be my struggle, your joy within my joy and your aspirations within my aspirations. I will strive at all times to take decisions that will benefit the greatest number of our people. We will step on toes if we have to, but at all times, in all seasons, I will work for you.’
Mimiko stressed that education would be the key to breaking the yoke of poverty and ignorance, adding that his administration would remain unequivocally committed to free and qualitative education for all children up to senior secondary school level.
His words: “Our scholarship scheme shall be merit-driven. And bursary to our students in higher educational institutions across the country shall henceforth be paid on time to make such support system meaningful to the beneficiaries.”
He said within the next few weeks, government officials and volunteers would visit various communities to give out forms to determine the exact number of people seeking employment.
Mimiko solicited the participation of everybody towards the success of the exercise as a mechanism for the realisation of collective dreams.
Anyanwu recalled that in 2007 when Mimiko began his campaign for governorship, many people thought it would not be possible, threatening him with EFCC and ICPC- the anti-graft agencies.
He thanked God for the retrieval of Mimiko’s mandate, praising the Judiciary which mediated in the dispute. He urged the people to forget the past and forgive those behind the theft of Mimiko’s mandate.
The juju maestro, Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (a.k.a King Sunny Ade), who is also from Ondo town as the governor, was on the band stand.
FIRST I GIVE AGAIN AND AGAIN ALL GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY. OUR GOD IS WONDERFULLY ABLE TO DELIVER THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM.
The Nation report above is deep and far reaching as it concerns the pledge and the promise by our Executive Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko. There is a lot to do and I am begging today that everyone should forget their personal quest for gains and work for the glory of Ondo State, in doing so, they would be all fulfilled and remembered by posterity. THERE IS NO ROOM IN THIS NEW ONDO STATE FOR LOOTING AND SELF ENRINCHMENT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PEOPLE.
I today again thank Admin for the wonderfu work of keeping this site going from strong to stronger and beautiful all these months. This sight must remain permanently for the people of Ondo State and Labour Party and of course for our Executive Governor. When I saw the brightness of the Home Page this morning my heart was filled with joy, and when I read the speech of our Governor, I felt so good that AT LAST, ONDO STATE, A STATE OF BLESSINGS, RESOURCE, BEAUTY, TOURISM AND CULTURE, WILL NOW BECOME RENOWNED WORLDWIDE. This is exactly what we have been praying for in Ondo State. I keep on asking myself daily why Agagu in spite of all he has been looting, cannot think of developing Ondo State? Such a shame because Agagu has drawn us back too long. That is history, and it is better late than never so I give God the glory that our collective prayers have not been in vain.
Our dear Governor Olusegun Mimiko, our prayers will now double on your behalf and on behalf of the people of Ondo State, for THIS IS THE BEGINNING! My dear people, now that God has done what we asked, let us continue unrelentlessly our prayers so that Ondo State wil progress in Jesus name.
Peace my people
Mimiko promised to work for the people and I want to challenge him to actually work practically and in an obvious manner inorder to restore the lost glory in Ondo State.
I will enjoin you to work and step on toes.
Now that Dr Mimiko is Governor of Ondo State. Our Job is to ensure he makes a success of it. This site should not hesitate to call the Governor to book whenever he errs.
We love him but should not give him the notion that he has absolute power.
may God help him.
I am just recovering from the euphoria of the good news delivered on Monday, the celebration that followed it, and the swearing-in of the brand new governor of Ondo state. Now I remember what the Psalmist said in Psalm 126. Please read:
1 When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Rejoice Ondo State for God has come to restore for us the years eaten by the locusts. ONDO STATE SAY NEVER AGAIN TO THE PDP.
To Admin: Please change the Ondo state Governor-Elect under the name of our Governor on the home page to Ondo State Governor.
Rejoice y’all.
Admin, was wondering if it would be possible to have the NTA broadcast of the court of appeal verdict last Monday on the net for those of us who did not have the opportunity to watch it live.
Now that mimiko is governor, there are two things of cocern to me – one for Nigeria and the other for Ondo.
For Nigeria, I will say it’s yet uhuru. Should we just take people to court to retrieve stolen mandates only? I will say NO. Now we should think of prosecuting all those who were fould culpable of electoral fraud to serve as deterent in the future.
For Ondo State, the new governor should quickly settle down to work. By 23rd February 2013, we want to have witnessed real development in the sunshine state. We want to see our education & health sectors, being social contracts between the people & the government, receive a remarkably evident boost. We want a conducive environment for businesses & industries to thrive so as to ensure job creation.
Long live the Iroko!
Long live Ondo State!!
Long live the Nigeria Republic of Africa.
Echoed – ONDO STATE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR.
Power is a good tool dependant on how it is used.
Power without listening ability is not power but ego.
Power without sense is not power but Buffon
Power without integrity is not power but sham
Power without vision is not power but confusion
Power without God is powerless power.
Governor Mimiko cannot afford to make mistakes and by the grace of God he will not make mistakes. The Journey to HERE was very far. Democracy is taking root and spreading fast in Nigeria. There are lots of changes that could be achieved without uprising and bloodshed and we thank God that this is what we embraced in Ondo State.
Be blessed my people. I am still enjoying the GOOD FEEL OF JUSTICE.
Peace
Time to end the celebrations and start work. There is a hell of a lot to do in Ondo State to get it working again.
As we all know that Government can be described as Government of the people,by the people and for the people.we all voted for Gov Olusegun Mimiko and we are going to enjoying his government..Mimiko is the Governor of the people by the people and for the people.we gave him a totaly support when he need it and we need his support and his work in Ondo State.there must be a change in Old Ondo State..we sow and we must reap..This is a new dawn in Ondo State.i know that Gov mimiko we make a history..In Akure south,ward 10 is in ur back Dr Olusegun Mimiko..Mimiko jooo Gbasibe!!!! WARD 10 Support mimiko!!!
Olorun ti da wa lare,Oluwa ti Segun segun fun Segun ni Appeal court.
As we all know that Government can be described as Government of the people,by the people and for the people.we all voted for Gov Olusegun Mimiko and we are going to enjoying his government..Mimiko is the Governor of the people by the people and for the people.we gave him a totaly support when he need it and we need his support and his work in Ondo State.there must be a change in Old Ondo State..we sow and we must reap..This is a new dawn in Ondo State.i know that Gov mimiko we make a history..In Akure south,ward 10 is in ur back Dr Olusegun Mimiko..Mimiko jooo Gbasibe!!!! WARD 10 Support mimiko!!!
Olorun ti da wa lare,Oluwa ti Segun segun fun Segun ni Appeal court.my people in this forum.i would love to change my name from Lekan Akure to iroko bintin..let me know if it’s good
@Iroko Bintin, Ko si Iroko ti ki ise baba igi, ati kekere ati bintin, won a dagba, won a si di nla.
Celebrate on my people, even as you work, work with a new feel, a new dance step, a new vigour, a new outlook, a new inner strength, a new conviction, a new integrity, a new life purpose. Even as you work and walk, go all the way with God, in all you do and think and say. YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE IN ONDO STATE.
CONGRATS AGAIN TO OUR EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR.
Gba sibeeeeeeeeeeee, jooooooooooooooooo.
Peace
Many thanks for posting the video, Administrator
” I WILL WORK FOR YOU” – MIMIKO
VERY TRUE WORDS. SERVICE AND INTEGRITY GOVERNANCE HAS BEGUN IN ERNEST. WATCH OUT FOR THIS SPACE WHEN THE RATINGS OF THE GOVERNANCE OF DR MIMIKO STARTS POURING IN. NO FEARS, NO QUALMS, ONDO STATE WILL GET WHAT THEY TRULY DESERVE. THE PEOPLE HAVE PLANTED, MIMIKO WILL WATER, GOD WILL BLESS AND THE HARVEST WILL BE BOUNTIFUL.
PEACE AS ALWAYS. KEEP SMILING. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE COME BACK TO PLANET EARTH AFTER THE BLESSED AND GLORIOUS
PRONOUNCEMENTS OF FEBRUARY 23RD 2009, A MONDAY NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN IN THE HISTORY OF ONDO STATE.
Thanks @omotaylor.Admin you are weldone.ko si kekere iroko ati bintin iroko.we will all grow when it is time..Admin i want you to help me give omotaylor my email so that i can contact him personally..omotaylor you can get my email from admin if you dont mind..Iroko joo,o ja sope.THANK GOD!!!!
I have no doubt Dr Olusegun Mimiko will work for us. He has worked for us before and with God on his side he will work for us again. The good thing is that Dr Mimiko is very accesible so he is open to suggestions, corrections and constructive criticisms. Yes, he will step on toes. He has too! He can’t always be in our good books all the time but the important thing is for the end to justify the means by giving us a noticeably better Ondo State. Welcome all to brighter sunshine. God bless Olusegun Mimiko, God bless Ondo State, God bless Nigeria!!!!!
PLEASE NOTE OUR EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR’S USE OF WORDS. IT IS GOD THAT MAKES ALL THINGS POSSIBLE AND GOD HE IS THAT WILL SEE ONDO STATE AND HIS EXCELLENCY THROUGH THE STATES OF TRANSITION TO TRANSFORMATION. IN GOD WE TRUST. MY PEOPLE BE REST ASSURED. WITH THIS MAN OF THE PEOPLE AND MAN OF GOD THAT HAS NOW TAKEN HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE AT ALAGBAK, ONDO STATE HAS NOTHING TO FEAR. PLEASE READ ON COURTESY OF NATION:
Mimiko commends Yar’Adua on rule of law 28/2/2009
Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state yesterday commended President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua for creating the enabling environment for rule of law to strive.
Mimiko, who was at the State House pledged the cooperation of Ondo State and also solicited for support from the President for Federal projects in the state.
Mimiko, a medical doctor had to endure for 21 months before being sworn in as governor on Tuesday after the Appeal Court sitting in Benin , Edo State upheld the earlier ruling of the Electoral Tribunal.
The lower tribunal sitting in the state had earlier declared him winner of the April 14, 2007 governorship election, thereby nullifying the election of the outgoing governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu who was declared as the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While speaking with the press, Mimiko said the state was at the point of precipice before he took over, noting that during that waiting period, he kept assuring the people on the need to allow the rule of law take its course.
He said: “I know that many times during those 21 months, the state was pitched on precipice, it was only the act of God that kept holding us back. People have asked what has been my greatest challenge in these 21 months, my greatest challenge had been to put a lid on the passion of people to ensure that it did not explode.
“I kept assuring them that we have a President who has made it absolutely clear that he would ensure that the rule of law takes its course; and we have a judiciary that has demonstrated in many cases that it is still made up of men of integrity. We know how these things went. The Umaru Abdullahi panel was exposed to incredible temptations but these are people, who, inspite of the temptations, stood firm and decided to administer justice the way it should be administered.”
Speaking on the current mood in the state, Mimiko said the people are happy. “The people are excited, they are thankful to God Almighty, they are thankful to President Yar’Adua for allowing the rule of law to prevail, they are thankful to the judiciary for the wonderful job it did. There is enthusiasm in the state, you can touch the expectation of the people that it is a new dawn, they are very hopeful that they have a governor that will be responsive to their yearnings.”
The governor said despite all the long months of waiting, he bears no grudge against anyone, adding that God had wanted him to learn something for the 21 months he was waiting.
His words: “If you know what I have gone through in the past 21 months, you will know that what we have recorded could only have been made possible by God. If I did not help myself why should I hold grudges against people?
“I take it that God wanted me to go through this process for a purpose and I thank Him for it.”
GOVERNOR MIMIKO WILL WORK FOR THE PEOPLE. THIS NATION INTERVIEW TOUCHES ON WHY MIMIKO WOULD. PLEASE READ ON:
Plight of the poor brought me to politics—Mimiko 1/3/2009
Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko was sworn-in last week to run the affairs of the state, after winning a legal battle that lasted for 21 months. In this interview in Akure Mimiko spoke about his experience while awaiting the court verdict what he has in stock for the people and other issues. Olukorede Yishau reports.
The night preceding the judgment of the court of appeal, how did you feel?
Naturally, there was anxiety, but because we won the elections, we diligently prosecuted our case, I also had some quite inner confidence. But I must tell you that the night preceding the judgment, naturally, there was some anxiety.
Twenty one months down the line, we want to know your experience. How did you weather the storm?
When our mandate was stolen after the elections, my major concern really was how to ensure that there would be no bloodbath in the state. I knew how deep the feelings of the people were. I also knew very clearly that they were ready to defend their votes and they were ready to go all out, using every means available to them, including resort to self help and violence. Immediately they announced that Agagu had won the elections, you were witnesses to what happened. But we moved in quickly to ensure that the people do not resort to self help. We promised them that we will prosecute the case and we would take advantage of the mechanism of judicial redress, which was what we eventually did. What was uppermost in my mind all those 21 months was how to ensure that violence did not break out because, like I said, I had no doubt in my mind about the depth of the feelings of the people. Like I said, we were confident that we will win. There were lots of undercurrents, people trying to influence the tribunal and they did not succeed. They tried to influence the Court of Appeal. But I thank God Almighty that Justice Abubakar did justice to our case, in spite of the pressure to compromise.
Some few days before your predecessor left office, he granted an interview where he made an allegation that alternative to him was not credible. How would you respond to that?
If you take a child to visit your neighbour and that child sees another child carrying a toy that he likes and grabs the toy from him, when you take the toy back and give him he can cry and say all sorts of things. He knew very well that we won. No question about that because, like he said, he knows us very well. With all sense of modesty, I will say he did not even believe what he said.
What is in this government for the people of the state?
The people should expect quality governance, transparency and accountability. Like I said during my address at the swearing in ceremony, I will take decisions that are in the interest of the majority of the people. I will work with the people. What I have going for me is a social capital which is very strong. With all sense of modesty, I will say that people trust me, I trust them. Their joy is my joy. God forbid it, but if they sorrow, I sorrow with them. So, they should expect a very responsive government. My decisions will be rooted in a very clear philosophy of government. I believe that government has a responsibility to ensure that the weakest in the society is given the opportunity to be able to actualise his potentials. What that means is that we must deliberately create an environment of equal opportuni-ties or at least close the gap of unequal opportunity. That is why we will give free education as a minimum requirement up to second-ary school level.
Why are you doing that?
So that they will be able to compete in the society. Children from age zero to five and all pregnant women from conception to delivery will also be given opportunity to deliver safely by putting at their disposal free and quality health service. We will subsidize housing. We will also create enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and blossom. But we will also not abdicate our responsibility to the weak in the society. Basically, we believe that our people are industrious. All that they need from government is for us to empower them with knowledge, with credit to be able to actualise their dream for a fulfilled and happy life. That is what the people should expect from me. We would ensure that there is food security and our people should be able to feed. Our children should be able to take enough and adequate quantity of protein so that they can develop their brains. It is very important because they are our tomorrow. If you will remember what this nobel winning poet said about the child; that the child is growing today. It is today that his brain is being formed. It is today that he develops his bones. It is today that his blood gets formed. We cannot wait till tomorrow because it will be late.
What other things do you have for the people?
We are going to invest in education and nutrition of our children. This is what the people expect. This is why you see them dancing all over the place. We want a place where people can take facilities of waste disposal for granted. Most of our metropolis is dirty. Look at our drains. Even to dispose faecal materials, you see nylon bags all over the place. We live in a filthy environment. People cannot afford to drink water. These are fundamental responsibilities to our people and this we will provide. I have always said it clearly that I will work for the people. I don’t have the slightest doubt in my mind and I said it.
Why did you join politics?
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. That was the passion that made me come into politics. I said this morning that my fight against poverty has taken on evangelical proportion. The people have done their own bit. They have shown faith. They voted for us. They brought Labour Party to this state four months before elections. In spite of the shenanigans of INEC and all the PDP did, the truth of the matter is that those people never scored up to ten percent of the votes. If I say this, people will say politicians exaggerate. But if they had allowed the election to go on in a proper, free and fair way, he wouldn’t have scored ten percent of the votes. So, that level of commitment is a great challenge and a burden for me that I have to deliver, I have to work to fight poverty. The people know me and I know them. I know where their shoe pinches. I’ve lived with them for a very long time. I’ve had the opportunity to serve as Commissioner twice and I’ve been an SSG in Ondo State. I am not an unknown quantity. They know what I can do and what I represent. That is why they have given me this incredible level of support and I’m sure, by the grace of Almighty God, because God himself has ordered our affairs in this long battle and I have no doubt in my mind that I will not fail the people.
A Special Adviser to Agagu said that your odyssey in politics shows that you have no political ideology and that it smacks of desperation. What is your political ideology?
I’ve always belonged to the left of the divide. Everywhere I have worked, every party I belonged to, my inclination and policy has been in the direction of my philosophical belief. While I believe that the private sector should be allowed to blossom and grow the economy, I also believe that government, especially in a Third World country like our own, has its fundamental responsibility to ensure that it intervenes in critical sectors of the economy to ensure that the weakest in the societies are carried along. I talk about free education programme, social housing and all of that. Let me give you an example of what I have done. When you look at the political parties in Nigeria, before we talk about ideology in Nigeria, the major problem of our polity is internal democracy of the parties. I was in AD. I was Publicity Secretary of UPN. From there, I was in SDP. I was a member of the Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Party. From SDP, I naturally went to AD. That is to tell you some things about my ideological inclination. By the way, when I was a student in University of Ife, I was there when we launched the UPN in 1979 or so. That shows you a trend.
Why did you cross to PDP?
It’s clear. When I was in AD, I wanted to contest election. People talk about desperation. Poverty is a desperate situation and if you really want to tackle poverty, you’ve got to be able to have the instruments. When I was in AD, as of right, I had the aspiration to run. I wanted to run for governor. The process of running for governor was clearly prescribed and defined and I got engaged in the process. But somewhere along the line, the chieftains of the party, the gods of the party said I could not run. They said it’s because there is an anointed somebody. We collected the forms and did all the processes; the day we were to go for screening, they said they had zoned it to Ondo North, which was the zone the incumbent governor then belonged. We started the struggle by saying that because he was an incumbent governor and we wanted to run against him, it should be by secret ballot. They said no secret ballot. It got to a stage and we asked that the cabinet be made the electoral college and let us run. They said we could not run. They shut the door and what did I do? I fought them. We went to court. We lost in the lower court and in the court of appeal. They said it was internal affairs of the party, that the court could not intervene. I moved on in my fight for internal democracy.
I got to PDP. Of course, I was part of the process that made the last governor. When it came to 2007 and I wanted to run, they said I could not run; I could not participate in the primaries. The President insisted I could not run. The governor cornered the party register and put it in his bedroom and I could not run. So, I ran from AD because of internal democracy. I came to PDP and they said I could not run.
So you changed camp again?
Fortunately, it was a multi-party system. When I resigned from the PDP, I took a platform where I will not have problem with internal democracy. The people said I should go and bring any party; even if it is abracadabra party of Nigeria, if there is independent candidature, I wouldn’t have gone to any party. My ideological leaning is actually clear. I belong to the left of the divide. Globalization is good because it opens up opportunities. But the opportunities are unequal. We cannot compete globally because of our limitations. So, I also believe that we should protect some of our industries. All our textile industries have closed down because we cannot compete; there is import from China and all of that. There must be a way we protect our industries and protect our jobs. The mass of unemployed young men and women in this country is a time bomb that is ticking away, and this is why I appreciate the efforts of President Yar’Adua to revive the textile industry to deliberately create jobs. But we still need to do more. My ideology is clear. I belong to the left of the divide and I will use power anywhere I find myself in the interest of the majority of the people.
How do you hope to work with a House of Assembly dominated by PDP?
I have no problem with them. One thing is clear in this state today and I hope I won’t be immodest if I say that; I have the overwhelming endorsement of the people of Ondo State. In the House of Assembly, we have a decent number there and each parliamentarian lives in Ondo State. I’m sure they will cooperate. We will get to talk. They are politicians. So, I’m very confident that we will get to work together.
While the past government was awarding what was considered by your party as panicky contracts, there was this allegation that probably they were embezzling government funds. Have you been looking into the books?
Today is my second day in office. I had a meeting with Permament Secretaries and General Managers of Corporations today. I’ve given them up to Tuesday to give me situation report in each of their agencies, departments and Ministries. So, I will not be able to tell you the extent of what we have in the kitty. But I said it and I have made it absolutely clear even in my address at the inauguration ceremony that it is only natural that we do financial audit of projects and contracts awarded. It’s not witch-hunting anybody. But we also owe a responsibility to the people to do an audit to ensure that we do not sustain any impropriety of sort that has been built into any project. When we do the audit, which will be open and transparent, what needs to be sustained will be sustained. If we have to invite some individuals to clarify issues, we will invite them to clarify issues. But there is no question about the fact that what we said before we got in here was that the rate at which they were awarding contracts after the pronouncement of the tribunal on July 25th, between that time and the tine of decision of the Court of Appeal, it was absolutely immoral.
You have itemized a lot of projects – free education, free health care and all that. These actually amount to huge financial challenges. Coming to the background of what you just said, do you nurse any fear of failure along the line in the projects?
I think there would be financial challenges to prosecute some of these projects. But I also believe that if we husband our resources more efficiently and creatively look for new ways of generating revenue, deploy what we have efficiently, source from new sources, unleash the creative energy of the people – physical and mental energy, I think we can achieve everything we want to achieve. The greatest wealth of a nation is not under the soil. It is up here and I’m sure that in Ondo State, we have enough up here. With the right leadership, we will get to the sky.
With Mimiko as Governor of Ondo State i speak with authority that not only have we gotten our mandate back from the thieving PDP but we are to witness a pact with development, infrastructure and social ammenities.
the lost glory of Ondo State is back, That the Sun may shine in Ondo State, that with our human, natural and mineral resources we shall be the first state to lead our people out of poverty and squalor, that Ondo State shall be the development leader of not only the southwest and Nigeria, but shall be a voice of importance all around the African continent.
As a first Class indigene of Ondo State, a Youth Mobiliser and national Convener for Imole Ayo (An NGO canvassing for better representation in Government).
we give Governor Mimiko our Unwavering support and call for immediate action in debveloping Ondo State.
I KNOW U WILL WORK FOR US, I EVEN KNOW U 1/2 HAVE ALREADY STARTED WORK FOR US
BUT SIR I WANT U TO WORK FOR US ADEJUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY, AKOKO, SOME STUPID FELLOW WHO WANT TO TURN THEMSELVES INTO GOD SHOULD BE FLUSHED OUT
EVEN WITH THE CURRENT APPOINTMENT OF OUR CHIEF P.R.O AS THE CHIEF P.R.O OF THIS STATE. WILL WORK SOMETHING OUT FOR US
UP TO DATE NEWS ON GOVERNOR MIMIKO IN ONDO STATE, COURTESY OF NATION ON LINE:
In Ondo, it is cleansing time 16/3/2009
Since he took the oath of office on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 as the governor of Ondo State Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has continued to take steps which observers say are geared towards cleansing the state for a fresh start, writes DAMISI OJO.
Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has been running a hectic schedule since he assumed office on February 24. His security aides and protocol officers are also having hectic time in managing the sea of heads that are daily thronging his private residence in Ondo town. The governor, as energetic as he is, is however striking a balance.
As early as 8.00a.m in the morning, his residence along Mimiko street in the Lover Boy area of Ondo town is already jam-packed with people on solidarity visit and other reasons.
Since his historic rise to the governorship of the state after a tortuous legal battle, he has received countless visitors. Of particular interest were market women numbering 2,000 who came with their assorted products as gifts to the governor in appreciating God for bringing him to the saddle after a difficult journey laced with distasteful experience.
It has really been busy for the peoples’ governor who few minutes after his election was affirmed by Justice Umaru Abdullahi’s appeal panel in Benin quickly appointed Mr. Kolawole Olabisi as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS). Olabisi was very vocal and in the forefront during the almost two-year struggle.
Immediately he was confirmed as the CPS, the governor spoke through him by directing that all accounts of the local government councils should be frozen. Then few hours after the memorable inauguration of Mimiko’s administration, a former Head of Information and Protocol Unit of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) Akungba-Akoko was picked as the Chief of Protocol (COP).
Governor Mimiko on assuming office quickly visited Akure’s monarch, Oba Adesina Adepoju where he solicited the support of the monarch and the entire people of Akure, the state capital in his bid to develop the state rapidly.
The Ondo State helmsman also visited President Umaru Yar’adua in Abuja to appreciate his avowed belief in the rule of law which he said facilitated his victory at the appeal tribunal.
Mimiko, in his determination to put the state on fast lane of development’s ordered the dissolution of local government executive and legislative arms.
This step invariably caused ripples at the State Assembly among the (PDP) law makers and the ruling Labour Party (LP) legislators. It got into a stage where the PDP lawmakers made a frantic move to impeach the two-week old governor but their effort met a brick wall.
The opposition lawmakers insisted that the governor has no right to single handedly dissolve the third-tier administration, but the state government maintained its stand that it has the right.
The rift on the council’s dissolution led to a scenario at the Assembly Complex when the Speaker and his colleagues in the PDP were locked out of their offices. It was alleged that they were planning to have an illegal parliamentary session in order to impeach the governor when the House was not in session because of a national public holiday.
When their efforts were frustrated by the security agents at the main gate of the Assembly Complex, all the 15 PDP legislators immediately left for Abuja for yet-to-be ascertained reason.
However, the unruffled State Chief Executive has been going on with the state affairs.
Other appointments he has made include that of Dr. Pius Osunyimika as his Special Adviser on multi-lateral relations and Inter-governmental affairs.
The governor also sacked the management of Ondo State RadioVision Corporation (OSRC) and appointed a seasoned broadcaster, Mr. Ladi Akeredolu-Ale as its new Director-General.
The secretary of LP in Ondo, Boluwaji Kunlere has also been appointed Special Adviser on Political Matters.
Also, two Parliamentary Liason Officers (PLO), Hon. Bamido Omogbehin and Mr. Ifeolu Fashoranti were appointed to cement the relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms of the Government.
It is an indisputable fact that seven of the PDP lawmakers are still having their election dispute hanging at the Appeal Tribunal after losing out at the lower tribunal. It is believed that by the time, the Justice Umaru Abdullahi five –man panel concludes with them, many of them, if not all would have been sacked at the parliament.
The PDP Parliamentarians are dong everything to rock the boat of Mimiko’s administration, but majority of Ondo indigenes are bitter about the action of these lawmakers who are reportedly acting the script of the ousted Governor Olusegun Agagu to disrupt the smooth running of administration.
The governor has however swung into action according to his pledge to bring development to the state. Already, the newly Constituted Contract Review Committee headed by Engr. G. A. Akinjo has commenced the tour of all contracts site to determine the authenticity of the contracts reportedly awarded by the past administration of Agagu running into several billion of naira.
Immediately after Governor Mimiko announced the dissolution of the local councils through Olabisi, the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Ondo State reacted to the development.
At a briefing in Akure addressed at the residence of its Chairman, Mr. Adedayo Isaac Omolafe the council bosses, said as elected Chairmen for three years under the law, it was inconceivable to surrender their mandate except through due process and rule of law.
Speaking through Omolafe, the ALGON said Mimiko was not constitutionally empowered to unilaterally truncate the tenure of democratically elected local government councils.
Omolafe said “section 12 of the local government amendment law 2007 forbids the Governor from dissolving local government council without a resolution of the Ondo State House of Assembly supported by a two – third majority members.
He said the suit restraining the holding of the elections had been dismissed by Justice Nelson Adeyanju for want of diligent prosecution.
But the nine ruling Labour Party (LP) and one Alliance for Democracy (AD) law makers in the State Assembly said there was no time the State Assembly resolved that the dissolution of local government councils was illegal.
The law makers, in a statement said the House officially adjourned all activities at the plenary sitting on March 3, 2009 and resumed on March 10, 2009 adding that there had not been meetings or sessions at the House since then to warrant that resolution.
Mimiko had said that caretaker committees would be constituted in all 18 Local Government councils in the state soon.
However, the 15 PDP lawmakers have insisted that the government position was wrong on the dissolution. The Chairman, House Committee on Information Mr. Kele Bolodeoku told reporters repeatedly that they are in majority and could resort to impeachment process if the governor insists on the dissolution of the councils.
A prominent lawyer and activist, Dr. Tunji Abayomi in his argument said Section 201 Sub Section (1) and (2) of the Constitution of Nigeria provides that “Any person holding any of the offices to which the Section applies shall only be removed from that office by the governor of the state.
The issue now is generating controversy but Governor Mimiko and the ruling LP are making efforts to ensure that they settle the rumpus through due process of law.
In the weeks ahead, the governor is expected to name his cabinet. He has promised to come up with a cabinet that will only be concerned about the good of the Ondo people, whom he has never minced word gave him unalloyed support.
IMNAKOYA ON GRANDIOSE PARLOR YESTERDAY POSTED A PIECE TITLED ” YET ANOTHER CRISIS IN ONDO STATE” – VISIT GRANDIOSE PARLOR . COM, BELOW IS OMOTAYLOR’S RESPONSE. FELT THE NEED TO SHARE THIS WITH MY BRETHREN:
Imnakoya, your post is interesting, factual, balanced and stated with an objective enquiring mind. I cannot help but respond to it as I count myself as one of those who fought the pen and paper fight relentlessly to ensure democratic governance is given a place, and that justice is done in Ondo State. I remain solidly but never blindly behind Governor Olusegun Mimiko. I know he will excel and triumph in this governance of the people for the people. See how after only 3 weeks on the hot seat (made hot by the ousted impostor Agagu); expectations are being expressed and not repressed.
To whom much is given, much is also expected. Very true say. Now let us take the points and issues raised in your post one by one:
Mimiko without any shadow of doubt was very correct in freezing the LGA accounts. Your query could possibly have raised some dust in a civilised and well meaning environment. But going by the spend thrift, waste it all , and leave nothing Agagu style ever since he was sent packing by Nabaruma in July 2008, and while awaiting appeal judgement; we find that a renewed and aggressive trend of looting was put in place. Knowing our people, they would not bat an eyelid about EMPTYING the State coffers. As far as they are concerned the ordinary people could suffer and languish, they never cared right from day one. To protect the people and to protect his governance, Mimiko owed the people the duty to ensure that the State funds are not looted to the last, hence the accounts were frozen (but not in its entirety for wages would be paid and other necessities met).
About the sacking of the LG chairmen, I have read, thought deeply and processed this. You said it:
“the constitution clearly states that power to sack LGA Chairmen lies with the state House of Assembly?” – But these are not bonafide or constitutionally elected LG chairmen! If they are not authentic Chairmen and not genuinely constitutionally elected (as we know that this is the case), then they cannot be covered by the same constitution that was shunned when Agagu in spite of the court order, went ahead to form an illegal council of LG chairmen. For example, in the US, if an illegal immigrant is arrested, are they taken to court for trial before they are deported? If it was on other criminal issues, then they would be. But if on issues of being illegal, they are deported pronto.
This is exactly the position with Governor Mimiko. He did not fight illegality with illegality as the Constitution does not have a clause that says that even the illegally elected LG Chairmen are to be sacked by the House of Assembly. Mimiko removed the monstrousity created by Agagu. Mimiko has the people very much in mind in making decisions but also has the technicalities in mind to cover his decisions, and this I support and call a GOOD MOVE. Just like in the case of Agagu, when he was outsted by the Judicial court, he remained on seat in spite of the ruling. He cleverly, in order to carry out his evil intent of looting as much as possible, delayed during the appeal and in the end, had to be cast out in ignominy.
Unfotunately, it is always too late to cry when the milk is spilled or when the head is off. Mimiko will go to court when summoned and prove his case, and we shall hear of the exact legalities involved during the hearings. If in spite of this, the court rules that the LG chairmen should be reinstated, so be it. Mimiko is not a lawless governor, as he has proven for over 21 months of having his Mandate stolen by Agagu. Also, Mimiko did these LG Chairmen a favour for the people were all ready and out to enforce Murphys Law. Mimiko is the one that has actually appealed to the people’s conscience all these while. The people who are now more enlightened about their rights, totally fed up, and ready to see good governance will no longer tolerate the sort of things Agagu and Ondo State governmental officials were doing under Agagu. Even under Mimiko, the people are all eyes, ears and nose. They are ready to tear to pieces any looting agent that comes their way in Ondo State. The people are ready for enough they say is enough.
Lastly, nobody believes that it is peanut easy to govern, even in more relaxed and sane settings, talk less of Ondo State and what obtained before the swearing in of Mimiko. Obama was in the same shoes. He was left a legacy of problems and intricacies by George Bush junior. He said the journey would be difficult but “YES WE CAN”. In Ondo State, Mimiko confirmed the same, he said the road ahead would be difficult, but he is ready to serve the people. He will successfully do this, even if he has to step on toes. Maybe now we know what he means. Mimiko never thought that governing Ondo state would be a bed of roses (he considered the thorns in the branches as well). So here we are.
As I said over and over in the past, morning shows the day. Mimiko is the dark horse, the one to watch and he will prove it to everyone especially the skeptics that “YES HE CAN”. Let us be patient in our expectations and just WAIT AND SEE.
I dare say that FIRES WILL BE QUENCHED NOT FOUGHT AND BATTLES WILL BE FOUGHT AND WON. I agree with Mimiko’s sacking of the LG Chairmen. Agagu started the fire of illegality and Mimiko snuffed it out, and there are many more fires to be snuffed out successfully so that the people could have a respite from burning bushes and breathe freely without fumes. I pray the court will not allow the snuffed out fires to be rekindled. The court must not uphold Agagu’s illegality.
Lastly about not hearing “any opinion from the usually vocal members of the Nigerian learned community, the lawyers”: what do you want them to say? Silence means agreement and if they dont agree, they will speak out, they are not lilly livered lawyers but gallant fighters who after the last battle will not need to make too much noises unless when necessary. Wait for it Imnakoya, you shall hear from them in court when they counter all flimsy nonsensical excuses taken to court by the legal reps of the fake so called outsed LG Chairmen.
Thanks for the post for it actually engaged fully my thought process for I try to be objective in my rationalisation. Peace.
By Omotaylor
March 16, 2009 at 11:59 am
My take on this issue is that the Governor is both politically and legally correct to dissolve the council executive and legislative arm, because the election that brought them in was conducted at the defiance of a court judgement restraining the former governor from doing so. However, there is another angle to the political aspect of it, which is the PDP as a party. They will want to use the local council as a leverage on their relevance in the state. They will not fold their hands and let the governor go away with this. I just read it in the breaking news of the Guardian that Yar’adua has ordered the council chiefs to go back. This mud fight is not what this governor want to get involved in now. It is a distraction that will slow his pace. It will be in the interest of the PDP and their ilks if this ding dong continues. Now that the case is now reopened in the courts, I think the governor should allow the third tier of government to decide on the legality of the continued stay of the council chairmen. It may be slow, but surely justice will be done.
Even as I write above, I have just been informed of the news that the 18 LG chairmen under the order of President Yaradua have been told to go back and resume office. Well PDP has spoken so be it even as the Guardian today reported that:
Mimiko gets court summons over sack of council chiefs
From Julius Alabi, Akure
ONDO State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has acknowledged receipt of the court summons of a suit filed by chairmen of the state’s 18 local councils against their sack by the governor.
In a release at the weekend by his Chief Press Secretary, Kolawole Olabisi, Mimiko described the council chiefs’ court action as a welcome development, stressing that it was the right path to take in a democratic setting.
The governor assured that as a firm believer in the rule of law and due process, he would abide by the outcome of the court process at the end of the day.
Mimiko, however, called on the people of Ondo State to keep the peace and refrain from self-help over the matter, as the state needs peace to develop.
WHATS NEW ABOUT FLOUNTING COURT ORDERS IN NIGERIA, FOR IF AGAGU CAN, HIS SUPERIORS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME. THE TRUTH WILL AGAIN PREVAIL. IN THE MEANTIME OUR DEAR GOVERNOR BEGS FOR PEACE AND CALM AND THE PEOPLE NEED LISTEN. LASTLY GOVERNOR MIMIKO WOULD MOVE ON WITH THE JOB AT HAND AND NOT ALLOW PDP DISTRACTIONS TO SLOW DOWN HIS PACE. PEACE
SEEMS PDP WILL GO TO ANY LENGHT TO HOLD ON TO ILLEGALITY, BUT THIS IS NOT NEW IN ONDO STATE AND NO MATTTER WHAT TIME IT TAKES, THE TRUTH WILL PREVAIL AGAIN. PLEASE READ THIS BREAKING NEWSFLASH COURTESY OF GUARDIAN:
Sacked Ondo council chairmen resume
In a show of political muscle-flexing by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), all the 18 local council chairmen and their councilors, who had earlier been sacked by the new Labour Party (LP) administration in Ondo State, on Monday defied the dissolution order and resumed duties at the council secretariats, with full security coverage by men of the Nigeria Police. The chairmen and the councilors, who were accompanied by armed policemen and other security operatives as they made their entry at their secretariats, which they vacated two weeks ago, said the Presidency had ordered their return to work. Reports had it that President Umaru Yar’Adua, after listening to the complaints of the leadership of Ondo PDP, who saw the dissolution as the death knell of the party in the state, had ordered the immediate reinstatement of the chairmen. The President was said to have been piqued by the alleged illegality of the council dissolution by the Mimiko administration, which cited non-compliance with a restraining injunction by an Akure High Court against the conduct of the December 15, 2007 local council polls that produced the executive and legislative arms of the 18 councils by the former Agagu administration. He was said to have therefore directed that the council chairmen be reinstated until after all the legal tussles were resolved or the governor sought and secured the required two-third majority needed in the House of Assembly to comply with the constitutional requirements of council dissolution.
WE WAIT AND SEE BUT IN THE MEANTIME IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR GOVERNOR MIMIKO, IN SPITE OF THE AIRPLANE DRAMA WHICH WE THANK GOD WE HAVE CAUSE TO SHARE SMILES FOR AND NOT TEARS. GOD WILL KEEP ON WATCHING OVER HIS VERY OWN. LET US NEVER RELENT IN OUR PRAYERS AT ALL TIMES. WHY? PRAYER IS THE KEY. AND WE NEED TO AT ALL TIMES BEWARE THE WILES OF THE DEVIL. GOVERNOR MIMIKO IS COVERED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS. NO SHAKKKIIING.
GOOD WORDS OF ADVICE FROM ALEX AKINYELE TO GOVERNOR MIMIKO COUTESY OF THE SUN:
The challenges before Mimiko, by Akinyele
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Former Minister of Information, Chief Alex Akinyele has called on Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko to emulate American President Barack Obama, in recruiting the best the state can assemble for his administration irrespective of where they belong.
Speaking to Daily Sun in Lagos on the recent change of guard in the Sunshine state, the Lobosin of Ondo said Mimiko faced a big task in arresting the decay in the state.
According to him, the accumulated decay which span decades in the state can only be reversed by recruiting the very best.
While expressing confidence in Mimiko’s ability to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state, Akinyele warned that he should be wary of sycophants – contractors and politicians who will never tell him the truth.
“He should recruit the best for the state just like Obama has done for America in order to bail the country out of economic downturn inflicted on the people by George Bush’s misgovernance.
“Mimiko must cultivate friends, heal the state of the mortal wounds inflicted by his predecessor. He must be focused, trust the advice of elders who have distinguished themselves in various fields rather than that of sycophants and professional praise singers,” he said.
He spoke further on his tortuous path to power, challenges and hopes.
Excerpts:
Inspiration to the youth
By his victory Dr Olusegun Mimiko has become an inspiration to the youth in the state in particular and Nigeria in general. He has become a role model to all our youths throughout the length and breadth of this country.
Tortuous path to power
I want you to see that his path to government house has been a troubled one. Right from the time he conceived the idea, ex-President Obasanjo discouraged him. He discouraged him from Abuja to Akure. At Akure his home base, the ex-president openly said that he told him not to contest but he refused. He boasted that Mimiko would be disgraced and people were shocked with such statement coming from Obasanjo his boss until he decided to contest.
His tribulation didn’t end with the former president, even ex-Governor Agagu did all he could as the state governor, to discourage him, to embarrass him and to frustrate him out of the race. But he remained focused in the pursuit of his ambition. So the youth would continue to see him as a symbol of true struggle, doggedness, resilience, courage, sincerity and honesty of purpose. I as a citizen of Ondo State and a native of Ondo town. I want to congratulate him and the entire citizens of the state for the dawn of a truly new era in our state. For the indigenes of Ondo town, we have looked forward to this period for too long to have our son at the helm of affairs in the state. So we thank God for this honour.
Illegal occupation of office
The constitution and the Electoral Act are our reference point in this particular case. Any law which allows a man to continue to h old on to office when a court has pronounced him illegal occupant should be changed. such evil practice remains a mystery. If a court says someone is unfit to rule and the person could still continue in office for almost a year is bad.
The way out
I want to say that six months after election, everything pertaining to dispute arising out of the election should be resolved. In fact, whenever there is a litigation over the conduct of election, the person declared winner should not be sworn-in until all the court cases over the election is resolved. The Speaker of the state should hold forth pending final resolution of electoral dispute. That is the only way we can prevent abuse of office. Now, see what we are experiencing in Ondo State. Dr Agagu few months to the end of his career went about on contract spree.
Such contracts were awarded at abominable prices. There were allegations that top officials of the administration were boasting that if their opponents eventually wins, there would be nothing left in the treasury. This ugly development affected several states of the federation. And that is why I am saying that the Electoral Act should be amended to avoid such occurrence in future. The law as it is seem to encourage it. They always do everything to prolong their case in court.
Challenges before Mimiko
If Ondo State has been well administered from inception, he would have little or no challenge but the state has not been fortunate with leadership. Go to the state, you will see evidence of poor governance all over the place. Akure as the capital city, has little to show for its status. It is a real shame that people just come and loot and go. The only institution they love is Ondo Radiovision through which they unleash imaginable propaganda on the people. They idolized themselves; they hood winked everybody. In fact, Agagu surpassed all his predecessors put together in the art of propaganda and the art of self-glorification. To change that culture of deceiving the people is a challenge; how to make people start to trust and believe government again.
Another challenge is that of great expectation from his government simply on account of the way he has carried himself since he came to the limelight. You see people love him; they trust him, they believe in him and they see him, a man that can take the state to its glory. Therefore, if he does not have enough money to meet the expectation of the people, they will be disillusioned. But I can tell you that, he will succeed. Knowing him for what he is, he will surely surmount the challenges.
Patience
I want to call on our people in Ondo town (Ondo West and East local governments) to be patient with the governor. They must not give him undue pressure because he is our son. It is important that they show enough understanding to the fact that, he is the governor of the entire state and therefore, has to spread development and dividends of democracy across the state.
Advice
He must know how to handle the criticisms that is normally prevalent in elitist environment like Ondo State and Ekiti State where everybody is a book man. Usually, it is not easy to satisfy the elites in terms of meeting the expectations of the elites. He must realize that whether their criticisms are constructive or not, he must tolerate them and remain focus in the task of rebuilding the state.
Elders Advisory Council
Because of the peculiarity of his personality whose popularity and acceptability cut across every line of divides, he should constitute what I call the Ondo State Elders Advisory Council (OSEAC) to be his think tank. They shall comprise of retired judges, Generals, professors, permanent secretaries, technocrats, professionals, ambassadors ministers. These are people who are not looking for anything in government except the government delivers to the people.
They are not looking for contracts; they are not politicians or sycophants who are ever ready to sing his praises just because of what they will benefit individually. The elders council who have made their mark in all their different endeavours, are better to be trusted than all these professional sycophants. He should borrow a leaf from American President Barak Obama who sought for the best, not minding whether they were his opponents in the build up towards the election. He is our own Obama. So his administration must reflect the best the state could provide.
GOOD NEWS FROM ONDO STATE, WE ARE PEACEFUL AND LOVING PEOPLE SAYS GOVERNOR MIMIKO COURTESY OF THE GUARDIAN (HAPPY TO READ A POSITIVE REPORT FROM THEM:
MIMIKO: ‘We are peace-loving people in Ondo’
From Julius Alabi, Akure
A REMARKABLE development in Ondo State was the recent visit of President Umaru Yar’Adua. Though purely a military affair, the visitation brought home two things. First, it was clear that there was relative peace in the state despite the much-talked about violence or chaos over the dissolution of the local councils in the state.
Secondly, the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, had the opportunity to discuss with the President the issue of the establishment of a seaport in the coastal area of the state.
The President was in the state to flag-off a one-week long Joint Military Operation Exercise (JOPEX 2009) code-named Ologun Meta holding at Orioke Iwamimo in Ilaje local government area of the state.
Welcoming the President, Mimiko said his visit had demonstrated that there was conducive environment and peace in the state contrary to the insinuations by those he called “undesirable elements” that the state was ungovernable because of the dissolution of local government councils.
His words: “You can see there is joy in the hearts of the people who gathered here today to receive the President of Nigeria, who is here on an official assignment for the first time since 2007 when he assumed office.”
The dust raised by the dissolution of local councils could be traced to November 1, 2007 when Justice Olarewaju Akeredolu restrained the ousted Governor Olusegun Agagu and the State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) from conducting the controversial December 15, 2007 council polls.
The suit was instituted by the nine opposition Labour Party (LP) lawmakers and one Alliance for Democracy (AD) legislator challenging members of the ODIEC, who were accused of being card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
But when the case came up on November 19, 2007, the file could not be found, as it was said to have been withdrawn from Justice Akeredolu following complaints from the PDP, accusing her of bias. The case was consequently assigned to Justice Nelson Adeyanju and it was adjourned till December 17, 2007 for hearing, which paved way for Agagu’s administration then to conduct the elections on December 15, 2007.
SOME concerned stakeholders in the state have been reacting to the issue. The retired Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Right Revd Bolanle Gbonigi warned all the parties in the dispute to tread softly and embrace peace and dialogue in the interest of the people, who had been yearning for a change in the running of the state.
He prayed that God would not allow anarchy in the state saying that some people are trying to capitalize on it to cause disaffection among the people in order to force the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency.
His words: “Like what the governor has said, I will continue to urge parties to be peaceful and follow the rule of law in resolving the crisis. I will appeal to PDP leaders to follow the step taken by the governor and go to court if they believe that the dissolution is wrong.
“If the court says the governor is wrong, he will have to reverse the decision. This idea by local government chairmen to force open their offices should stop. Common people will see the present situation as if some cabals within the PDP do not want the administration to succeed.”
Indeed, Governor Mimiko has expressed his readiness to abide by the outcome of the ongoing legal battle over the dissolution of the councils. But the state’s chairman of the PDP, Dr. Tayo Dairo, said there was no dissolution of the councils at all in the state, stressing that the status quo remained.
In the interim, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Taofeeq Abdulsalam, has appealed to the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Ondo State chapter, to instruct their members to go back to work. He said that it was important because the workers would not get their salaries if they refused to go back.
He said by resuming work, it would further enhance the peaceful coexistence in the state, stressing that “to show that there is peace, the governor has demonstrated it with the visit of the President Yar’Adua.”
Despite the directive of ALGON, mandating them to resume work, the council workers have insisted on staying at home. When The Guardian went round last week, some council secretariats were deserted except for police officers that mounted security in the respective council premises.
It was learnt that the workers were still complying with the directive of the National Union of Local Government Employees (UNLGE) caretaker chairman, Mr. Joshua Maigida Irapakob, that they should remain at home.
The Chairman of Akure North, Mr. Ebenezer Alabi, confirmed the workers’ refusal to hearken to the resumption call “for fear of possible attack by hoodlums.” According to him, many workers were at home on the directive of NULGE, as they said they would not resume until their safety was guaranteed.
Alabi, however, insisted that there was no court injunction restraining the ODIEC from conducting the December 15, 2007 election, assuring that the association would soon publish the court’s ruling on the suit for the public to see.
A prominent member of NULGE, Mr. G.O Lawani, a lawyer, said his members would only resume after the NULGE caretaker committee guaranteed their safety.
He, however, labeled the impasse as political, which had to be solved accordingly.
“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The present problem is politically-motivated and it will be solved politically, too,” he said.
Lawani urged the two warring parties to mend their fences and resolve the crisis in the interest of peace in the state.
A COMPASSIONATE GOVERNOR OF THE PEOPLE SWINGS INTO ACTION. READ THIS COURTESY OF VANGUARD:
Mimiko saves 3 autocrash victims
Written by Dayo Johnson
Monday, 30 March 2009
GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, weekend, saved the lives of three persons involved in an auto crash at Owena, in Idanre council area of the state. Mimiko, a medical doctor, despite the rains personally supervised the rescue of the accident victims who were trapped in the wreckage of two Toyota Hiace buses involved in a head-on-collision.
The vehicles included a light blue Toyota Hiace bus with number plate AR737AKR and a white Toyota Hiace with number plate XF425NND.
The two vehicles collided at a sharp bend near the Owena Dam, leaving several people trapped inside the wreckage.
Vanguard learnt that the two buses were coming from opposite directions. Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Kola Olabisi, attributed the crash to over-speeding.
Olabisi said when the Governor’s convoy heading for Ondo from Akure got to the scene, the governor went into work to rescue the victims.
“On sighting the accident, the governor ordered his convoy to stop while he came down and moved to the scene of the accident. On hearing the cries of the victims who were trapped inside the two buses which had been flung into the bush by the impact of the crash, swung into action and was supported by his aides.
“After he successfully removed the trapped victims, five of them, including a female, an old man and a little boy all who had fractured legs as well as the driver of one of the ill-fated buses, Dr Mimiko ordered that they be taken in one of cars in his convoy to the General Hospital, Ondo town which is closer to the scene of the accident than Akure.”
Greetings. Courtesy of Punchng.com dated 1/04/09 I read about the appointment of commissioners to the God given administration (Mimiko – New Generation administraion). Am glad to read aboutthis development because it is time to move the state forward.
I want to believe that the people appointed are individuals that will enhance the achivement of the vision of our beloved governor. I am a little disturbed when I was looking through the names and did not see any of the Ondo Indigenes overseas – Technocrats. Likes of Fred, Iroko Kekere Uk, Omotaylor. Please my dear governor it is time to give opportunity to our beloved overseas brothers and sisters to contribute to the development of our state. I beleive and am sure they have a lot to offer. They were also there for you spiritually and physically when the fight was on. Please do some thing SIR.
Will be glad to have passionate persons like the Omotaylor, Fred in your government who have focus on issues without bias. And am sure you will do this.
I wish I can talk to or beloved governor, regarding this person that are nominated into the position of commissioners. Some of them are people with questionale characters, if he want to pick PDP members their are many of them that have reputable characters and not this one listed. Please let us look beyond politics and let us do what is right to move the state foarwd. This are people who were there for years without any input into the life of the people and do you now think sometin can come out of them? Please our dear governor be careful.
I have goggled the names of the proposed commissioners, I must say I’m not impressed… Many are politicians and local players, maybe there are 1 or 2 technocrats…
I also observed that we only have 2 women represntation in the commissioners sent to the House. Hope the remaining 2 will be women. Fair representation of women in goverment has help the building of our nation. Likes of Dora.
We expect the commissioners to hit the ground running, literally, when they are through with the state legislative arm of government. And we hope these are the right calibre of people who have the interest of the masses at heart, and not just the typical Nigerian commissioners who see public post as a means of self aggrandisement. I am sure majority of us will expect this to be the case i.e that they are of the right hew, as we wholly trust Dr Mimiko’s judgement. If the commissioners’ fail then he, by extension, fails as well. And I want to believe that if this project fails, given the hope and goodwill that the people have invested in Dr Mimiko, then we are all doomed in Nigeria.
There is a thought that occurred to me recently about Nigerian public office holders, and this was prompted by an interview given by the immediate past president – Obasanjo – on a BBC programme called Hard Talk (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodeb00j6bhxHARDtalk_Olusegun_Obasanjo_Former_President_of_Nigeria/) The host of the programme basically asked our wise ex-president why, given Nigeria’s wealth of resources, she is still languishing amongst the most economic and socially backward nations of the world. She is the the 6th largest producer of crude oil. Our ex president’s response? – He says it is a mistake comparing Nigeria with countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates etc – his rationale? – Nigeria has a population of over 150 million people whilst the aforementioned countries have fewer. In effect, our backwardness is being explained away by the mere fact that there are too many Nigerians. What hogwash! What resources have Japan, Malaysia, Australia, even our colonial master the UK etc?
Sadly this view of Obasanjo is symptomatic of the way public officials in Nigeria perceive governance. There is nothing much that can be done, all they need do is just get into power and do the usual pedestrian and cosmetic stuff. But we will continue to observe events locally and nationally and proffer critiques to these backward people with their throwback mentality.
@Ola, I have not been available for sometime now and came back to the site today to see your write-up. Thank you for the confidence in some of us but I must tell you that even if I had been called upon in that capacity, I would not have been available for such. There are other ways that people like us can and will help our beloved State and belief me, we are doing this. I know the Governor`s crowd and he is doing a good job, of course, there will be some names that you may personally know of that you belief should not be on the list but I can assure you that Our Governor and the good people in his inner circle will make sure that they perform, just trust what I say here Mr Ola. You will not be dissapointed in this Governor.
All remain blessed.
Dear all, I have only been away from the site for one day and seemed it was for 1 week with the developments and pleas of Ola. First I would like to say to Ola, thanks for the vote of confidence and also thanks for the genuine interest in the government of Dr Mimiko. I will want to believe Mr Fred in his response above and I for one believe very much that our Governor knows what he is doing. I will not say I was not disturbed about the reference to old PDP hands being in the list. Really wonder what is happening. One thing I had to conclude with is that PDP could be a party of thiefs, looters and no do godders, but there could be the odd one or two who have the very interest of Ondo State at heart.
Dont be disillusioned so soon Ola, for whatever one would be in this world would have to be of God and not of man. If God decrees it, no one can change it. I am sure like you that our prime interest is the welfare of our state, Ondo State. Positions etc are secondary. I know very many people who have fought very hard the fight would be disappointed that they have not been called to serve. This should not be the case. The love and support that we should all give to Governor Mimiko and Ondo State should be unconditional. Technorats, Diaspora Naijas, OndoState lovers etc, all we really want is that Ondo State is made a model state, turned around, restored to lost glory and made a number 1 tourist attraction in Nigeria to boost the economy.
We have been calling for alternative economic yield, so that Nigeria is not solely dependent on black gold. Ondo State has a lot of these only waiting to be looked into, invested, patrionised and kept going for ever.
It is very well. We shall all do Ondo State proud in whatever way the good Lord wants us to. You, me, Mr Fred, Iroko nla, kekere, birin, et al.
No shakkkiiiiiiiinnnnnng.
One point I missed to comment on Ola, re your comments above; about being able to speak to the governor. This is a forum that we would pray the new government develops in Ondo State, just like the internet day with Raji Fashola for questions and answers. Our governor is really busy now and there is so much to do. Nevertheless, I am confident that this would materialise in the not too distant future.
Mimiko jo gba sibeeeee. You are doing fine our governor and God will continue to Minister grace, wisdom, understanding, and excellence to your already attained knowledge.
Be blessed all.
@ Fred thanks for your commets and your mature ways of speech. I cherish i so much. I want to say it once again we will appreciate likes of people like you in Nigeria leadership. You are all unique on your own, one way or the other. Please I will appreciate your participation either way – directly or indirectly. I am talking of people with focus. That is our leadership problem in Nigeria.
@Omotaylor. Please be sure that I will be much disappointed and not happy if likes of you are not in government. Am not bias about this but your effort can be rewarded one way and to put to action all your contribution regarding the development of Ondo state. I read in paper the ICT coordinator during the Agagu regime-he gave an assessement of what he achived and challenges. Despite he is not a politicial I was he was able to give a steward of his leadership. I was so much to know him better and I discover he was picked from London. That is what am saying we need people in the diaspora that will bring their wealth of experiece to action in Nigeria and not remain overseas. Please I want to say it and I will repeat it again, please we are tied of men that will not deliver. When you loot and deliver it is a different game. Duke did alot for his people that does not mean he did not have some “kick back” one was or the other. Please get my point clear. We have nigerians politician who are after their next ppoilitical ambitions and not the people so the aquire all this money to be used for the develpoment of the nation and leave the people in poverty. We need likes of Okonja, Dora, Nuhu, Babalola-Mister for power, Sam Egwu etc in Ondo state. MY BELOVE GOVERNORS AM SURE THAT ALL WILL BE WELL WITH YOU. PLEASE DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND DONT BE UNDER PRESSURE OF PARTY. “I WILL WORK FOR YOU”
God bless Ondo state.
@Admin am glad you kept this site going. God bless you real good.
@Ola, I give you A1 for your tenacity and I am sure that all will be well in Ondo State. Let us remember from the start that this journey had the hallmark of GOD on it from the start. In spite of all the odds, the pressures, the cheatings and the enemy arrow, Governor Mimiko/LP/Democracy and my dear people of Ondo
State came up TRUMPS. God will never start and leave things half way except if we detour from His almighty service. God will support Governor Mimiko to the end for Governor Mimiko is God fearing, people loving, focussed and has good vision. Let us all agree that from the inside definitely Dr Mimiko knows what he is doing and especially in his choice of some PDP members. As Ondo State is for all, everyone that God has rubberstamped to work for Ondo State will work for Ondo State one way or the other. It is a people’s government (for a change) and the people will never be disappointed under governor Mimiko.
Thank you for your mention of the likes of Nuhu Ribadu in your list of mentors above. I know that man worked hard for Nigeria and EFCC under him was a department of strenght and delivery. Donald Duke did so well in his state and Fashola is doing great. But let us watch it, for by the grace of God, Mimiko will do greater.
It shall be well for us all in Ondo State. Admin by keeping this site open helps in letting us share not only our feelings but also the progress of governance in Ondo State.
Forward ever, backward never in Ondo State. Peace to all.
Good comments on the pace of the Ondo State Governor and the gradual selection of his team. We however, should not forget that the governor is a politician and so he will have to fill these positions with politicians, as you all know that he did not fight the battle alone. These people were the foot soldiers in their various local governments and before we know it, it will be election time again and he will definitely need them for re-election. I think the area where the governor can have a lee way is in the choosing of his personal staff and advisers which I think he will have the opportunity to fill with people who will man the engine room of the government. We should also not forget that most of the LP politicians are young and will definitely work hard in whatever position they are called to serve to secure their own political future. It is also incumbent on them not to disappoint the people who elect them and stood with them during the titanic battle to reclaim the mandate.
I trust the judgement of the Governor and slashing the emoluments of the political office holders by 25% is a step in the right direction.
One reason why not only Ondo State but the whole world supported Governor Mimiko is because we all have faith, confidence and absolute belief in him, his ability to deliver good goods and rule Ondo State with the wisdom of Solomon. I can assure you all that Governor Mimiko will not fail us for he indeed has all the hallmarks of a good LEADER. What we need to do is support him with our prayers, and use this channel to continue to share and speak Ondo State to all peoples all over the world. God will give us good things to say and we would never have to become sycophantic in our praises. That has gone with Agagu and his cohorts of evil followers.
Governor Mimiko is settling very well into his role as governor. Let us continue to support him especially with our prayers. I know it shall be well for all of my people in Ondo State.
Peace to all.
VANGUARD UPDATE ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISSOLUTION:
Stop parading yourselves, court tells Ondo LG Chiefs
Written by Dayo Johnson
Thursday, 09 April 2009
AFTER a month of controversies over the dissolution of the 18 councils in Ondo State, an Akure High Court yesterday restrained the Council Chairmen from parading themselves as Chairmen of the councils pending the determination of the suit challenging the dissolution of the councils by the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.
Justice Nelson Adeyanju, the presiding Judge gave the ruling on the interlocutory application brought by the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko through his counsel, Mr. John Baiyeshea (SAN).
Governor Mimiko had on March 4, 2009 dissolved the Executive and Legislative Arms of all the 18 Local government councils in the state citing impending litigations restraining the former administration of Dr. Olusegun Agagu from conducting the local councils’ election.
Adeyanju said the plaintiffs (chairmen and the Councillors) and their agents are also restrained from administer or act in any other form or disrupting all the activities of the 18 local government councils in the state until the case is determined.
However, Adeyanju equally restrained the state government and the House of Assembly from nominating or passing the list of caretaker committee members to run the affairs of the local governments pending the determination of the substantive suit.
According to him, “In view of the undertaken entered into by the governor, no caretaker committee, nominees should be constituted or persons to run the affairs of the council until the case is determined.
Mimiko had asked the court to restrain the chairmen of the local governments from resuming offices as chairmen or doing anything capable of disrupting the smooth running of the local government administration pending the determination of the substantive suit.
He supported his application with 12 paragraphs affidavit and predicated his arguments on three main issues with included the legality of the governor’s action, the balance of convenient and the need to maintain the status quo.
Baiyeseha said the issue before the court at the interlocutory stage was not to determine the legality or otherwise of the governor’s action but to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.
According to him, the status quo as at now was that the governor has dissolved the local government and that was reason for the suit, he argued that since the council bosses could not access the council secretariats, the reality of the governor’s action has dawned on them.
Baiyeseha said the court should grant the order of interlocutory injunction. He added that section 5 and 7 of the 1999 constitution gave the governor the legal right to tamper with the structures of the third tier of government.
According to him, “we have filed a reply to the counter affidavit of the plaintiffs and we rely on the affidavit in support and we want the court to determine whether the chairmen are justified on the legal processes that brought them to office. We also refer your lordship to paragraph 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of our affidavit.
“Also, the status quo we are saying is that the dissolution has taken place and the plaintiffs have seized to be in office since March 4, 2009 which they have accepted. The legal right of the governor is based on section 5 (2) and 7 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he said.
Mimiko’s counsel further stated that there was no evidence that local government workers were instigated by the state government and that there was no place in their affidavit that they have been functioning in their offices since the dissolution of the councils.
“My lord, the status quo is that they are out of office but trying to force themselves into the office. And since they have joined issue in the court, they should not have done any extra-judicial activities by forcing themselves in office again”.
Otunba Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) counsel to the council chairmen while replying said the order being sought if granted would affect the substantive suit as the application is a verbatim copy of the substantive suit.
Kalejaye pointed out that section 2 of the constitution does not give the governor blank cheque to deal with the local governments.
He argued that the defendant could not restrain the council bosses from parading themselves as council chairmen unless the governor agreed that they still occupied that position in which they were to be restrained.
“Our argument is that the status quo is known to law that is with peaceful state of affairs before the litigation and not unlawfully contravene state of affairs before the litigation. My counter submission is that the constitution did not give the governor a blank arbitrary power to dissolve the councils. The governor under the constitution must act in accordance with the law”, he added.
He therefore urged the court to discountenance the interlocutory injunction sought by the governor and should be struck out accordingly.
But the counsel to the governor who doubled as the Director of Civil Litigation, Mr Cyril Akinrinsola said the governor would not do anything to overreach the decision of the court.
On his honour, Baiyeseha said “my client (Mimiko) would not constitute caretaker committee pending the determinations of the substantive suit.
However, in his ruling the Presiding Judge, Justice Adeyanju said the defendant that is Dr Mimiko was right in his application and thereby restrained the council’s bosses from parading as council chairmen pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Adeyanju therefore adjourned the case till April 29, 2009 for the hearing of the substantive suit.
ONDO STATE FIRST LADY IS READY TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE. PLEASE READ REPORT COURTESY OF DAILY SUN:
Gov’s wife vows to tackle women abuse
From TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Mimiko, has decried the spate of physical and psychological abuses of women in Nigeria with a solemn pledge to work for the upliftment of the womenfolk.
Mimiko at this year’s International Women’s Day celebration called for concerted efforts towards alleviating the plight of women in the society. While noting that the theme of this year’s celebration tagged:“End Violence Against Women,” was very instructive, urged all nations to put in place policies and programmes to promote equality of men and women in all sphere of human endeavours.
She said that the present administration recognized the fact that African women suffered from many disadvantages and bore the greatest brunt of poverty, stressing that this government would ensure the transformation of the state of women “from this fundamental position of disadvantage, without necessarily upturning the more valuable aspects of our culture”.
According to her, women empowerment was one of the surest jets to rapid socio economic development. “This administration shall, therefore, embark on a sustainable women empowerment programme as a plank to the overall development of our society,” she added.
Mrs. Mimiko also expressed the determination of the Mimiko administration to ensure that a fairly large number of women was appointed into government positions, advising them to embrace all the laudable programmes to be put in place by the government as well as seize the diverse opportunities aimed at improving the quality of life of the people .
Your excellency ma,
your support for your husband is unparalleled not just in his quets to be the governor of the state, but even in other sundry things and we know you will surely join him to make our state great.
Similarly your passion for the betterment of the people is well known and we are sure you will not derail; we will even use prayer to keep you on course if there in attempt to look sideways.
May God give you the wisdom and the strength as you have purposed to affect lives positively.
Dear All, Democracy, accountable leadership and the plight of the people is being discussed via blog post and comments on African loft. Please find time to visit via this link:
http://community.africanloft.com/_IS-NIGERIAN-DEMOCRACY-IN-DANGER/blog/246458/4392.html
There are powerful comments that I would wish all Nigerian readers to read and digest and I will want to encourage you all to leave your comments also.
We are moving on and will not stop until we have ACCOUNTABLE PEOPLE BASED LEADERSHIP in Nigeria.
Peace my people
DEAR ALL, AS OUR EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR DR OLUSEGUN AJASEGUN MIMIKO TODAY SWEARS IN THE 17 RATIFIED COMMISSIONERS, LET US ALL JOIN HEARTS AND VOICES IN PRAYING FOR THEM ALL, TO BE GOOD LEADERS, WORTHY COMMISSIONERS AND WORKERS FOR THE PEOPLE. LET US ALSO JOIN HEADS, HANDS AND LEGS IN WORKING WITH THEM SO THAT THE ONDO DREAM WOULD BE A REALITY. WE DREAM OF AN ONDO STATE WHERE DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW WOULD PREVAIL; WHERE HEALTH AND EDUCATION WOULD BE TOP PRIORITY; WHERE GOOD ROADS, BASIC AMENITIES AND BOOSTED ECONOMY WOULD BE ATTAINED; AND WHERE BEAUTY AND HAPPINESS WOULD BE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE. WE SUPPORT GOVERNOR MIMIKO IN SPELLING OUT ZERO TOLERANCE AGAINST CORRUPTION, DISSERVICE AND NON PERFORMANCE. SUCH COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE SHOWN THE WAY OUT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER FOR YES IT IS A PRIVILEDGE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO LEAD IN THIS MIMIKO ADMINISTRATION OF A DIFFERENCE FROM THE NORMAL EVIL STATUS QUO THAT HAS PREVAILED IN ONDO STATE FOR TOO LONG. PLEASE READ THE REPORT BELOW COURTESY OF THE VANGUARD PAPER:
Mimiko swears-in commissioners today
Written by Dayo Johnson
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State yesterday met behind closed door the 17 commissioner nominees who were confirmed last week by the State House of Assembly ahead of their swearing in today. Dependable source told Vanguard exclusively in Akure that the governor spelt out to the commissioners his zero tolerant for corruption and non-performance.
Vanguard gathered that the governor told the commissioners that all eyes are on the new administration and that he has promised the people of the state that he would deliver to them the dividend of democracy.
Sources said Dr Mimiko warned that he would not hesitate to show any of them the way out if they slow him down by their lack luster performance.
He equally told them that they should count themselves lucky to have been picked from their individual constituencies, noting that many qualified persons are waiting in the wings to be commissioners.
The portfolios of the commissioners, it was gathered, would be disclosed to the public today by the governor.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy governor, Alhaji Alli Olanusi, the Party Chairman in the state, Dr Olaiya Oni and other party leaders.
Vanguard gathered that the governor’s next duty after the swearing-in of the commissioners is the constitution of the boards and parastaltals where majority of the party faithful would be accommodated.
Vanguard gathered that the two nominees not cleared by the Lawmakers are scheduled to appear again before the House this week for clearance after investigations into the petition against them might have been completed.
The commissioners whose names were submitted to the House of Assembly by governor Mimiko included two women and 17 men.
Those to be sworn-in today included Chief Julius Akinigbagbe, Prince Sola Amodeni, Adenike Fatogun, Alhaji Sikiru Basaru, Dr Kunle Asaolu, Mr. Akin Akingbesote, Mr. Clement Faboyede, Mrs. Bukola Tenabe, Wole Akinjo, Yele Omogunwa, Wale Akinterinwa, Oye Alademehin, Lebi Adepiti, Tola Wewe, Yekini Olanipekun, Akin Adaramola and Dr Lawrence Adegbenro.
It is my hope that the government of Dr. Mimiko will not disappoint the people of Ondo State. The have given all their support to him before and even now. I wish him the best of luck but he must not forget where he came from.