Stories from Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
No fewer than 6,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Idanre local government area of Ondo State yesterday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
The defectors claimed that their decision to dump the All Progressives Congress(APC) was as a result of their love for the candidate of the PDP, Mr Eyitayo Jegede.
The new PDP members also promised to support Jegede in his desire to rule the state, even as they declared their readiness to work for the PDP ahead of the poll.
The defectors from APC led by Mr Adebowale Olowoeye said the APC candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu was not a popular candidate to win the election.
In his Ofosu Onisere ward alone, Olowoeye led 86 former members of the APC to the PDP.
The defectors from Ala ward in the same local government area numbering over 1000 were led to their new party by Bidemi Oladapo reputed to be one of the most influential members of the APC in the area.
Abayomi Akinsolie said they took the action as the “Eyitayo Jegede’s wind blowing across the state is too real to be ignored.”
At the event which took place at the Broad Street in Idanre, Ebonyi, Kwara and Osun natives who are apolitical but resident in the area took turns to declare support for PDP and its standard bearer, Jegede.
Artisans, mainly fashion designers also took turns to declare for the PDP and its candidate on the occasion.
Receiving the defectors, the state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko thanked them for their decision to join hands with true progressives to ensure that the state maintains its model status. Represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Kola Ademujimi, Mimiko said the support given his government by the people of the area is commendable, adding that there are enough signs on ground to suggest
that they will extend their unfettered support for him to the PDP candidate.
Akeredolu’s running mate emerges
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has unanimously chosen Agboola Ajayi as the deputy governorship candidate of the party.
The party had earlier set up a five member screening committee to appoint the running mate for its candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu.
In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Prince Abayomi Adesanya, the party said the choice of Ajayi would further boost the chances of the APC in the state.
Adesanya said: “we have confidence in the ability of Hon Ajayi to pull crowd as the running mate of the governorship candidate of our great party, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and we believe the two of them will serve the state well.”
The statement reads: “The selection of Hon Agboola Ajayi as the Deputy governorship candidate of the party is the outcome of an extensive and exhaustive consultations and deliberations with leaders and members of our party.
“The choice of Hon. Ajayi reflects the best interest of our party and represents the collective interests of the good people of Ondo State.
“With the unmatched combinations of Akeredolu and Ajayi as our candidates for the forthcoming governorship election in the state, we are confident of landslide victory in the November 2016 election.”
“We believe the choice of the two persons will give strong and clear signal to the debt-ridden administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko that it should kick-start the process of preparing handing-over notes, as APC is set to constitute the next government in Ondo State.”
Mimiko solicits NULGE’S support for PDP
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has appealed to members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state to support the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming election in the state, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) in order to ensure continuity of his programmes and policies.
Speaking at a “thank you” rally organized by NULGE for his government in Akure, Governor Mimiko said the only way to appreciate his government is to ensure that there is a continuity of his lofty programmes, saying this can be achieved by voting for Jegede.
Mimiko who thanked members of the union for their unalloyed support for his administration, noted that the only way to ensure the continuity of the good relationship between government and the union is to vote for Jegede.
He assured the workers that his administration will not relent in promoting the welfare of workers no matter the financial situation of the state.
NULGE members from the 18 local government areas of the state whovconverged on Akure said they were impressed by the good leadership of Mimiko, hence the rally.
The thank-you rally, led by the National President of NULGE, Comrade Ibrahim Khalid was also attended by national and Ondo State officers of the union.
Addressing the gathering, NULGE National President, Comrade Khalid passed a vote of confidence on the administration of Mimiko, which he described as being sensitive to the plights of the workers.
The NULGE President thanked the governor for re-absorbing over 900 local government workers that were affected by the 2013 screening exercise in the state and for the unprecedented elevation of three local government officers to the position of permanent secretaries in the state.
Describing the level of infrastructural development under the administration of Mimiko, especially in the areas of healthcare, education and urban renewal as marvellous, Khalid noted that the governor never closed his doors to them, especially when the issues of welfare of workers arose.
He stressed that Mimiko has brought a new concept to governance in the state and assured of his members support for his administration.
Also in his speech, the Ondo State president of NULGE, Comrade Bunmi Eniayewu said despite the dwindling economic fortune of the nation which has affected revenues accrued to states, promotions have been regular for all categories of workers that are due for promotions in the state.
He added that the 2016 promotion exercise has also been carried out without delay, saying the Mimiko’s administration takes the welfare of workers with preference.
UPN vows to takeover
The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Ondo State has expressed its readiness to take over the reins of government from Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
Governorship candidate of the party, Bola Aidi who spoke in Akure stated: “we have begun the beginning of the end of slavery in Ondo State and we are sure of taking the state to a higher height.” Aidi said the party would return to the political scene for true service to the people even as he promised a welfarist government if elected the next governor of the state.
Aidi said that he would focus on development of manpower and job creation for all if he becomes the governor.
Also, speaking, the State Chairman of the party, Mr Rotimi Boboye said the party was ready to take its rightful position not only in the state but in the entire country.
Boboye said the party was formed to bring up true leaders that could dedicate their lives to the service of Nigerians.
According to him, the party has come to correct the wrongs and the disservice by the so-called “big” and national parties.
He said the party has confidence in Aidi as its candidate because he had been a voice of the masses and had been supporting the masses for so long.
Ondo professionals adopt Jegede
A group, the Ondo Professionals Coalition has endorsed the candidature of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Coalition, an alliance of professionals in the state said the candidature of Jegede is considered the best option for the people of Ondo State.
In a communique issued at the end of its extraordinary meeting held in Akure and signed by Mr. Kunle Adedipe and Jide Atandeyi, the group said Mr. Jegede has demonstrated the calmness, integrity and administrative acumen of a true professional, hence the resolve to support him.
According to the communiqué, “having painstakingly assessed the candidates of the key political parties in the state, the meeting resolved that Jegede’s experience at governance will be an asset at this time.”
It added: “Mr. Jegede’s comments and actions over the years have shown him to be one who recognized the roles of professionals in national development hence, the need to support him.”
The Coalition said it considered it a duty to be the voice of reason to help the good people of Ondo State to “adopt decisions using evidence devoid of emotions, passions, wants, perceived needs and party sentiments but based on reasoning conducted according to strict principles of validity.”
The group said its members are already in talk with Jegede in order to hold a town hall meeting with all the professionals in the state at a later time.
The group said it believed that such meeting would be an opportunity for the PDP candidate to address critical issues that border on all professionals in the state.