Dr. Olusegun Mimiko

Interview with Niyi Bello of The Guardian, Febuary 12, 2007

Dr. Rahman Olusegun Mimiko, former minister of Housing and Urban Development and governorship flagbearer of the Labour Party in Ondo State, told NIYI BELLO of The Guardian how the opposition would dethrone the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the coming polls. Excerpt:

WHAT is your reaction to President Olusegun Obasanjo’s allegation, last week that you soiled your hand while serving as a minister under him?

I don’t want to join issues with the President. The best thing is to keep mum. No comment! [Read Mimiko's response to President Obasanjo's allegationon Thisday]

What are your chances and that of the Labour Party in Ondo State in the coming polls?

I am ready in terms of the structure that Labour Party has on ground. Labour Party is about two months old in Ondo State but you can check this out. With all sense of modesty we are already bigger than the Peoples Democratic Party. Before the election, we will probably be bigger than all the parties put together. We are already in every home, every hamlet, every village, every political ward and every town. We are strong and we are on ground.

We are not only strong in terms of number we are also strong in terms of commitment to the people and ensuring that the next election produces a change in the government of Ondo State. So we are prepared in terms of the structure that will deliver the votes.

I am also psychologically prepared to take over the mantle of leadership in the state. I have been in and out of government in this state. I know the problems. I have lived with the people and I know their problems. I have worked with them and I know where the shoe pinches. Now with all sense of modesty, I think I have enough experience and social commitment to proffer workable solutions to ensure the rapid transformation of Ondo State.

The PDP appears a formidable force that will require concerted efforts of the opposition to crush. Are you reaching out to the other segments of the opposition to achieve this?

Essentially before election, it will be all forces that want change in Ondo State versus Olusegun Agagu’s PDP. I have no doubt in my mind that within the next few weeks, a lot more of the opposition groups will be meeting to see how we can produce a stronger platform to confront the PDP. But as the Labour Party stands today, with all sense of modesty, if elections are held in Ondo State today, we will have up to 70 per cent of the votes, the incumbent governor will be lucky to have 15 per cent.

However, there is no question about the fact that the sentiment being expressed about all forces coming together is already in the works. We may not be able to achieve total unity as it were but I think a lot of the forces are coming on board. You could recall that last Friday, the whole of Action Alliance, and quite a sizeable number, in Ondo State decamped to the Labour Party. And in Akoko South East, prominent Action Congress (AC) leaders decamped to Labour Party. I think this is the type of synthesis that is going on in the political terrain of Ondo State . We hope to see more of this but like I said, we are already strong enough to dislodge the PDP in this state.

What is your comment on the voters’ registration exercise and fears that the polls might be manipulated?

During the last voter’s registration exercise, there was no question about the fact that it did not start right because of some obvious logistic problems. But as the exercise gathered momentum and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) got its act together, a lot of people in the state came out to register. We don’t have the final figures yet but I think a sizeable and decent number of the electorate came out to register. And we must commend that. In terms of general logistics arrangement nationwide, the INEC did very well.

Of course there are pockets of complaints, even in Ondo State, of people registering in their homes and all that. In such instances, we made representation to the police and we have documents and videotapes, to prove that even people were registering under-aged voters. But the preponderance of the people that registered is actual voters and I have no doubt in my mind that majority of the people who registered in Ondo State would vote Labour.

Have you considered the power of the incumbency as a potent electoral factor in your permutation?

No politician would deny the incumbency factor in an election. But I want to assure you that in Ondo State, Labour Party, by sheer number of committed voters, by sheer strength of the commitment and decision of the people for a change, we shall overwhelm whatever incumbency factor that the present government has in Ondo State.

What is your plan for Ondo State?

We have put together a 12-point agenda, which would help transform Ondo State in a very accelerated way into a state where the people are happier and to put the state on an irreversible path of social and economic development. In a week, we will reel out the details of this programme.

But one important element of it is that I will provide leadership. The type of leadership that is credible, and will gear the people into action, reach deep into the inner recess to bring out the strength of the individual and our corporate strength in Ondo State to take up our development and transform our state into a modern state. It will be a state that will be the envy of all other states in Nigeria.

Via Odili.net: http://odili.net/news/source/2007/feb/12/42.html

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