Physics of Destruction
The drama, the intrigues.
That the LP has given the PDP a scare in Ondo State is a fact the ruling party hardly admits in the open. The party came into existence in Ondo State four months before the last general elections. It had existed at the national level; it used to be known as Party for Social Democrats (PSD). Its antecedents stem from a rich heritage of progressive and labour-based intervention in national politics.
Its fortunes soared when it adopted Mimiko who resigned as the Housing Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo. The formerly obscure party became the thorn in the flesh of the PDP in Ondo State. Its rise was an unprecedented occurrence in the political story of Ondo State and perhaps in Nigeria. At a well-attended rally in Akure on December 14, 2006, Mimiko emerged as the Party’s gubernatorial candidate for the State.
Key PDP chieftains such as the former state chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Alli Olanusi, LP’s chairman in Ondo State, Dr. Olaiya Oni, Olatubora and many others crossed to the LP to organise it.
But perhaps the most devastating effect of the crack was the defection of Mimiko to the LP, which set the stage for the Mimiko versus Agagu battle. When Agagu was being sworn-in on May 29, 2003, Mimiko, popular as Iroko, was visibly present. Shortly after that day, Agagu announced the appointment of Mimiko as the secretary to the state government. It was expected, and for those in the thick of things in the then Ondo chapter of the PDP, the announcement was only a formality.
Their ‘romance’, in a way, began when Agagu as minister showed interest in running for the office of the Ondo state governor in 2003, a position he failed to clinch in 1999. Then he was the PDP candidate. Mimiko, at the time, was a key member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and he gave his support to the late Adebayo Adefarati, who later appointed him the Commissioner for Health.
Significantly, by the time Agagu showed renewed interest in governing Ondo State, Mimiko too was tired of the Adefarati government, which had by then been enmeshed in the popular ‘Plot 90 Gate’ scandal. Agagu chose that time to indicate his interest in taking over from Adefarati, despite the belief of his wife, Funke that he was doing well in Abuja as Minister of Power and Steel. She even cried when he resigned as Minister to come and take a shot at the state’s number one seat for the second time.
Trouble started rearing its ugly head sometime in 2004 when some people close to Mimiko started telling him that Agagu would go for a second term of office. Ordinarily, there was nothing wrong with that. But Agagu and Mimiko’s romance was not without conditions. The main condition was that Agagu would only serve a term of office and support Mimiko to take over from him in 2007.
Sources close to Mimiko revealed that the Ondo town born politician did not take serious those who first hinted him that Agagu would go for a second term. He was said to always waved off any mention of it, insisting that Agagu was not one to go against his word.
But time reveals the hidden. So it was in the case of Agagu and Mimiko. The governor confirmed it to Mimiko that the people of the state wanted him to continue and conclude the reforms he had started. Mimiko expressed his disappointment. Agagu stood his ground.
From then on, the battle line was drawn. Mimiko continued his job as the SSG, and was still representing the governor at events. Only those within knew of the crisis.
Harvest of Losses
The legal battle over who legally won the April 14, 2007 governorship election in Ondo State has finally come to an end as the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure declared the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Segun Mimiko, as the winner. Justice Garba Nabaruma who was the head of the tribunal also cancelled elections in three local governments -Ilaje, Irele and Ese-Odo - saying the elections were cancelled because the elections were characterized by massive rigging and election malpractices such as snatching of ballot boxes, destruction of election materials and massive arrest of opposition members during the elections.
Part of the details of the judgment revealed that one of the councils where Agagu did not win election was his own LGA.
But, the PDP has ben recording heavy losses lately. Before last week'’s ruling, the PDP had not had a good outing at the tribunal. There are nine House of Representatives seats in the state. Six had been nullified; two were upheld and one seat became vacant because of the death of its representative, late Col. Anota. Those nullified are: Ilaje/Ese-Odo represented by Hon. Agboola Ajayi, the Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Akoko North East/West represented by Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Sports; Chief Jones Akinyugha, representing Idanre/Ifedore constituency, Prince Abiodun Adesida representing Akure North/ South, Dr. Tayo Fawehinmi representing Ondo West / East Constituency and Emmanuel Adedeji representing Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Federal constituency. okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency and Ose/Owo Federal Constituency.
But, the guy man (Agagu) is planning to head for the court of Appeal..........But, am cock-sure , he shall incurr more losses...............just hold on my pple.
Its fortunes soared when it adopted Mimiko who resigned as the Housing Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo. The formerly obscure party became the thorn in the flesh of the PDP in Ondo State. Its rise was an unprecedented occurrence in the political story of Ondo State and perhaps in Nigeria. At a well-attended rally in Akure on December 14, 2006, Mimiko emerged as the Party’s gubernatorial candidate for the State.
Key PDP chieftains such as the former state chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Alli Olanusi, LP’s chairman in Ondo State, Dr. Olaiya Oni, Olatubora and many others crossed to the LP to organise it.
But perhaps the most devastating effect of the crack was the defection of Mimiko to the LP, which set the stage for the Mimiko versus Agagu battle. When Agagu was being sworn-in on May 29, 2003, Mimiko, popular as Iroko, was visibly present. Shortly after that day, Agagu announced the appointment of Mimiko as the secretary to the state government. It was expected, and for those in the thick of things in the then Ondo chapter of the PDP, the announcement was only a formality.
Their ‘romance’, in a way, began when Agagu as minister showed interest in running for the office of the Ondo state governor in 2003, a position he failed to clinch in 1999. Then he was the PDP candidate. Mimiko, at the time, was a key member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and he gave his support to the late Adebayo Adefarati, who later appointed him the Commissioner for Health.
Significantly, by the time Agagu showed renewed interest in governing Ondo State, Mimiko too was tired of the Adefarati government, which had by then been enmeshed in the popular ‘Plot 90 Gate’ scandal. Agagu chose that time to indicate his interest in taking over from Adefarati, despite the belief of his wife, Funke that he was doing well in Abuja as Minister of Power and Steel. She even cried when he resigned as Minister to come and take a shot at the state’s number one seat for the second time.
Trouble started rearing its ugly head sometime in 2004 when some people close to Mimiko started telling him that Agagu would go for a second term of office. Ordinarily, there was nothing wrong with that. But Agagu and Mimiko’s romance was not without conditions. The main condition was that Agagu would only serve a term of office and support Mimiko to take over from him in 2007.
Sources close to Mimiko revealed that the Ondo town born politician did not take serious those who first hinted him that Agagu would go for a second term. He was said to always waved off any mention of it, insisting that Agagu was not one to go against his word.
But time reveals the hidden. So it was in the case of Agagu and Mimiko. The governor confirmed it to Mimiko that the people of the state wanted him to continue and conclude the reforms he had started. Mimiko expressed his disappointment. Agagu stood his ground.
From then on, the battle line was drawn. Mimiko continued his job as the SSG, and was still representing the governor at events. Only those within knew of the crisis.
Harvest of Losses
The legal battle over who legally won the April 14, 2007 governorship election in Ondo State has finally come to an end as the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure declared the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Segun Mimiko, as the winner. Justice Garba Nabaruma who was the head of the tribunal also cancelled elections in three local governments -Ilaje, Irele and Ese-Odo - saying the elections were cancelled because the elections were characterized by massive rigging and election malpractices such as snatching of ballot boxes, destruction of election materials and massive arrest of opposition members during the elections.
Part of the details of the judgment revealed that one of the councils where Agagu did not win election was his own LGA.
But, the PDP has ben recording heavy losses lately. Before last week'’s ruling, the PDP had not had a good outing at the tribunal. There are nine House of Representatives seats in the state. Six had been nullified; two were upheld and one seat became vacant because of the death of its representative, late Col. Anota. Those nullified are: Ilaje/Ese-Odo represented by Hon. Agboola Ajayi, the Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Akoko North East/West represented by Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Sports; Chief Jones Akinyugha, representing Idanre/Ifedore constituency, Prince Abiodun Adesida representing Akure North/ South, Dr. Tayo Fawehinmi representing Ondo West / East Constituency and Emmanuel Adedeji representing Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Federal constituency. okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency and Ose/Owo Federal Constituency.
But, the guy man (Agagu) is planning to head for the court of Appeal..........But, am cock-sure , he shall incurr more losses...............just hold on my pple.
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