Olusegun Mimiko, the embattled Governor of Ondo State on Sunday evening said he is battle ready to place his stooge, Eyitayo Jegede as the gubernatorial candidate of the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mimiko bragged publicly that the candidature of Jimoh Ibrahim who was imposed by a court order fro the November 26, 2016, governorship election in the state would be short lived.
Mimiko added that he would also use all the machinery of government in his capacity to ensure mr. Eyitayo Jegede is reinstated as the main governorship candidate of the party in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
He stated this at a meeting held with political leaders and supporters of the factional Peoples Democratic Party in Akure, the state capital. SaharaReporters learned that Mr. mimiko's renewed confidence stems from his outreach to wanted drug lord Senator, Buruji Kashamu who was the person behind Mr. Ibrahim's candidature.
At today's parley, Mr. Mimiko explained that he is prepared to deal Mr. Ibrahim by fighting with justice through the combination of Mr. Jegede and Olamafo as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the PDP.
“Eyitayo Jegede and John Olamafo would get there, and they will never spill any blood on the ground before they get there.
"I can assure you that we shall take back our right in reclaiming this mandate and by the grace of God I shall shame Jimoh Ibrahim.”
He told the leaders that Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, still holds the key to the flag of the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party in the state despite contentious cases pending at the Court of Appeal.
He tasked attendees not to entertain any fear despite the court case.
Mimiko also faulted the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja that ordered the replacement of Mr. Jegede's name as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He claimed that the substitution of Mr. Jegede's name with that of Ibrahim led to the sponsored protest that brought terror to the streets of Akure, the state capital, and other nearby towns which led to the death of primary school student.
He alleged that Mr. Ibrahim, a controversial businessman "bought the court judgment" that affirmed his name as the governorship candidate and standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Mimiko further explained that his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso villa was to complain about the alleged fraud in the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja.
"I don't have any business in the All Progressives Congress (APC) because I know the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will win the governorship election in Ondo State.
"So, I met with President Mohammadu Buhari and complained to him about the fraud in the substitution of the PDP candidate for the governorship election which is capable of setting the state on fire.
“We all know that Jimoh Ibrahim bought the judgment of Justice Okon Abang and I told President Buhari about this because I know he believed in justice and he instructed me to put it into writing.” Mr. Mimiko's frustration with the courts was due to his inability to successfully bribe judges at the Court of Appeal despite spending a whole week in Abuja trying to do so.
Mimiko also claimed that his government has really worked for the people of the state by revamping some abandoned projects especially in the northern area of the state, but his critics say he has been a failure as he has abandoned several projects started by his predecessor in the state and failing to pay state workers for six months.
The governor also lambasted many of his critics in the opposition parties that abuse his government for not resuscitating many of the abandoned companies left behind by the past administration of late Gov. Olusegun Agagu.
“Those governorship candidates saying that they would revamp the moribund industries in the state are talking rubbish.
“Let them tell us their forensic studies and what led to the dearth of those industries before they start telling us they revamp it,” he said.
SaharaReporters correspondent heard that as a way to pleasing the people of the state; the embattled governor canceled the hefty tax levied on traders in the state during the meeting in an attempt to buy their support.
Legal analysts have said Mr. Mimiko's candidate still has a long legal hurdle to overcome to become the authentic candidate of the PDP in Ondo state on time for the November 26th governorship election in the state considering that the appeal has lapsed and that he needs to get the courts permission to join the lawsuit. A three-man panel of Appellate Court judges stepped down from the case last week after they were accused of accepting bribes from Mimiko and his cronies.
