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• Mimiko moves against AD candidate

From Romanus Ugwu, Fred Ezeh, Abuja and Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

Indications emerged, yesterday, that, ahead of the November 26 governorship poll in Ondo State, former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has sealed an alleged power sharing deal with the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Olusola Oke.
Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was allegedly in the know of the deal, it was gathered.
Although details of the power sharing deal are still sketchy, a source privy to the arrangements said Oke has agreed to concede the following positions: Secretary to the State Government (SSG), chairmanship of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Commissioners for Finance, Works, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Health and headship of the Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue. Others include six caretaker committee chairmanship positions, that is, two per senatorial district as well as four special advisers.
The source added: “You know that the circumstances that led us to the AD are peculiar. At first, we wanted Action Alliance but when the national leader suggested that we needed to test the ground with AD in lieu of the zone’s interest ahead of 2019, we had no choice than to accept the AD proposal.
“But what I just told you is not abnormal in politics especially when you view it from the prism of the need to cut down the APC candidate. I can assure you that the arrangement will work perfectly well and we will have no problem about that,” the source noted.
Chairman of the Media and Publicity of Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation, Kolawole Olabisi immediately dismissed the arrangement and described it as “part of the hallucination of the opposition faced with the stark reality of their imminent defeat in the governorship election.
“Asiwaju Tinubu and Aregbesola are not members of the AD, thus, its stands reason on its head that some people could go to town to say that they are the ones sponsoring Oke.
“This fly in the ointment tactics will fail because it is mere political propaganda that will not thrive as the people cannot be fooled by such tales by moonlight stuffs.
“The AD governed this state between 1999 and 2003, and given the unprecedented performance it made during its tenure of office, most of which have sadly been reversed over the years, the party, under Olusola Oke, is set to bring back the good old days of life abundance, of hope for a brighter future for the people of Ondo State and that is why the AD is the party to beat.
Meanwhile, disturbed by speculations that Oke reportedly has the blessings and backing of Tinubu, Governor Olusegun Mimiko has allegedly perfected arrangements to stop him in the poll.
A source in the camp of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) revealed that Mimiko and his preferred choice, Eyitayo Jegede, knocked out in a legal battle with businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim, over the eligible candidate for the party, has reportedly told him of a Plan B.
He said Mimiko has held preliminary meeting with Imo State Governor and Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, on Tuesday, to firm up an arrangement which will see his supporters switching allegiance to the party’s candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu in the event Jegede does not succeed at the court.
The meeting reportedly took place at Akure Airport.
Regardless Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr, Ibrahim Idris has allayed fear of Ondo residents on possible breakdown of law and order during the governorship election.
He assured that the police will restrict violence and other criminal activities in the state before, during and after the poll.
The IGP also reiterated commitment to peace and harmony in the country and stressed that the force will ensure that peace reigns in all parts of the state during the election.
Speaking at a public presentation of the Security Threat Assessment for the governorship election in Ondo, prepared by the Cleen Foundation, Idris said the election has potential for violence going by issues surrounding it but quickly reiterated that the police will prevent violence during the poll.
Represented by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) at the force headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Sola Okediji, the IGP said security agencies in the country will ensure peace in the state during and after the election.
He disclosed that the security agencies, including the military and para-military have been meeting and strategising on ways to ensure peace in all parts of the state during the election. The IGP urged stakeholders in the state to support the
police and other security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the election, stressing that the success of the election lies on their co-operation, especially the contestants.
Presenting the security threat assessment, Chief Consultant of the Foundation, Dr. Sola Omotola, said: “The governorship election in the state will be the most keenly contested election in the history of the state since the country return to democracy in 1999.”
However, as part of last minute strategy to win the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, national secretariat of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) has granted waiver to its candidate, Chief Olusola Oke.
Indications emerged, yesterday, that, ahead of the November 26 governorship poll in Ondo State, former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has sealed an alleged power sharing deal with the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Olusola Oke.
Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was allegedly in the know of the deal, it was gathered.
Although details of the power sharing deal are still sketchy, a source privy to the arrangements said Oke has agreed to concede the following positions: Secretary to the State Government (SSG), chairmanship of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC)‎, Commissioners for Finance, Works, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Health and headship of the Ondo State Board of Internal Revenue. Others include six caretaker committee chairmanship positions, that is, two per senatorial district as well as four special advisers.
The source added: “You know that the circumstances that led us to the AD are very peculiar. At first, we wanted Action Alliance but when the national leader suggested that we need to test the ground with AD in lieu of the zone’s interest ‎ahead of 2016, we had no choice than accept the AD proposal.
“But what I just told you is not abnormal in politics especially when you view it from the prism of the need to cut down the APC candidate. I can assure you that the arrangement will work perfectly well and we will have no problem about that,” the source noted.
Chairman of the Media and Publicity of Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation,  Kolawole Olabisi immediately dismissed the arrangement and described it as “part of the hallucination of the opposition faced with the stark reality of their imminent defeat in the governorship election.
“Asiwaju Tinubu and Aregbesola are not members of the AD, thus, its stands reason on its head that some people could go to town to say that they are the ones sponsoring Oke.
“This fly in the ointment tactics will fail because it is mere political propaganda that will not thrive as the people cannot be fooled by such tales by moonlight stuffs.
“The AD governed this state between 1999 and 2003, and given the unprecedented performance it made during its tenure of office, most of which have sadly been reversed over the years, the Party, under Olusola Oke, is set to bring back the good old days of life abundance, of hope for a brighter future for the people of Ondo State and that is why the AD is the party to beat in this.
Meanwhile, disturbed by speculations that Oke reportedly has the blessings and backing of Tinubu, Governor Olusegun Mimiko has allegedly perfected arrangements to stop him in the poll.
A source in the camp of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) revealed that Mimiko and his preferred choice, Eyitayo Jegede, knocked out in a legal battle with businessman, Ibrahim Jimoh, over the eligible candidate for the party, has reportedly told him of a Plan B.
He said Mimiko has held preliminary meeting with Imo State Governor and Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, on Tuesday, to firm up an arrangement which will see his supporters switching allegiance to the party’s candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu in the event Jegede does not succeed at the court.