Mimiko, Obi will defect to our party – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has said all is set for the defection of the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi, to the ruling party as the 2015 elections approach.

Mimiko is the only governor on the platform of the Labour Party, just as Obi is the only one from the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Both Obi and Mimiko are serving their second term as governors.

There have been speculations about the duo’s planned defection following their intense hobnobbing with the PDP.

On Tuesday, both Mimiko and Obi attended a meeting between PDP governors and PDP lawmakers at the National Assembly. The National Working Committee of the party was also at the meeting.

Again on Thursday, President Goodluck Jonathan said Obi’s services would be required at the national level, when he steps down as governor in March.

The Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who represented the President at schools facilities distribution in Awka, Anambra State capital, said the governor had done so well that the Federal Government was desirous of employing his services.

Wike said, “We will need his services at the national level.”

When the Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi was re-elected as Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum with 19 votes on May 24, 2013, the two governors had pitched their tent with their PDP counterparts led by the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, who had 16 votes. They also belong to the Jang-led factional NGF.

Confirming the planned defection, the Chairman, PDP, Osun State, Gani Olaoluwa, on Saturday said Mimiko had concluded arrangements with the leadership of the PDP to defect from the Labour Party to the ruling party. Olaoluwa said this while speaking to journalists in Osogbo, on the preparedness of the PDP for the August 9, 2014, governorship election in the state.

He said, “Arrangements have been concluded with Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State to defect from the LP to the PDP.

“The PDP is gaining and we are attracting heavyweight politicians to the party. (Ex- Kano State Governor, Ibrahim) Shekarau has come to the PDP and you can see that we are winning and that is just the beginning.”

Also, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, PDP, Mr. Abdullahi Jalo, said the planned defection of the governors was “one of the fruits of the reconciliatory efforts embarked upon by our new chairman, Adamu Mu’azu.”

Jalo, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH via telephone from the venue of a reception organised for the new PDP National Chairman, Mu’azu, in Bauchi State on Saturday, said the party was prepared to welcome the governors.

Jalo said, “It is cheery news because we are expecting not only Governor Mimiko, but all other genuinely progressive governors to join us in the task of nation building.

“We will welcome them with open arms, just as our doors will remain open to all Nigerians who are willing to join the winning party.”

A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, also told one of our correspondents on Saturday that Obi and Mimiko are political allies of the PDP. He said they are supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said, “These are great men and visionary politicians. During the last (2011) presidential elections, the two of them supported our (PDP) presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

“During Mimiko’s election, I was one of the PDP leaders that supported him for re-election; I supported him fully. He has been a very straightforward person; a very nice fellow, very visionary. I won’t be surprised if Mimiko continues with his support for President Jonathan. Same with Obi of Anambra, they are nice people.”

When reached for comments on Saturday, Mimiko, however, said he had no plans of joining the PDP.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Eni Akinsola, who spoke on his behalf, said, “There is no truth in it. The governor has said if he wants to align or realign politically, he will let the world know. To the best of my knowledge, the governor is contented with where he is right now.”

When asked to explain why the governor had been in close relationship with PDP, Akinsola said the close relationship between his boss and President Goodluck Jonathan had not erased the separation between the Labour Party and the People’s Democratic Party.

He said, “The President is President of the whole country, and the Governor is the governor of the whole state, so the relationship he has with Mr. president is at  it affects matters of state.

“The governor does not believe in criticising everything, just to be heard or to be popular; he believes in constructive engagement.”

Also, the Chairman, LP, Ondo State Chapter, Mr. Olu Ogidan, said Mimiko was not planning to defect to the PDP. He said it was unlikely for Mimiko to defect, especially at a time the party was becoming stronger in the state.

Ogidan said, “It is a mere speculation. Mimiko brought Labour Party to Ondo State and we are in government. How can he now defect to the PDP? He has not defected, and he has no intention to defect.”

Mimiko was a member of the PDP before he defected to the Labour Party in 2006 to contest the governorship election in his state.

He had wanted to contest the election on the platform of the PDP but ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, insisted that the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu would run for a second term.

The insistence of Obasanjo made Mimiko resign his ministerial position and defect to the LP.

Equally, Obi denied plans to defect to the PDP.  His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Mike Udah, said, “It is unfounded. It is unnecessary. It is inexpedient. There is no truth in it.”

On the close relationship between Governor Obi and the PDP, Udah said their closeness dated back to when the governor assumed office.

“This closeness, which was absent during the administrations of Obi’s predecessors, has paid off well for Anambra State and it did not require the governor leaving APGA to secure any further benefit to the state,” he said.

He listed the benefits to include the funding of the state-owned Ojukwu University, the Second Niger Bridge and the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

The state Chairman, APGA, Mr. Mike Kwentoh, could not be reached on his telephone line for comments.

Copyright PUNCH.