Ondo State governor, DrOlusegun Mimiko was a beautiful bride in the build up to the 2007 general election in the state. He was then Minister of Housing and Urban Development under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The then president wanted Mimiko in his administration. But then the people of Ondo were also in love with bride Mimiko. He was courted by many who pressurised him to take up the challenge and contest the governorship election. It was a battle that would pitch him against the then governor Olusegun Agagu.

Obasanjo was the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in whose government Mimiko was serving as a minister. He knew that a titanic battle would be afoot if Mimiko and Agagu were allowed to slug it out for the PDP ticket in the state. Obasanjo tried to play a fast political trick on Mimiko by holding him back in Abuja with the ministerial slot. On several occasions, Mimiko was reported to have asked to be allowed to contest the party’s ticket with Agagu. But sources said that each time Mimiko asked for the permission from Obasanjo, the former leader only requested more time to respond.

At a point in October 2006, it became apparent to Mimiko that the plot by Obasanjo was to keep him in Abuja as Minister while Agagu retains his seat as governor in Ondo state. The push from the people was however discomforting. Mimiko decided to turn in his letter of resignation from the government and also the PDP. Since it appeared to him the ticket had been ceded to Agagu.

It was however a political gamble for Mimiko, who risked his personal comfort and popularity against the might of an incumbent. He launched a brand new political party, the Labour Party (LP) and within days, the ranks of that party had been populated by bigwigs of the PDP. Five key members of the state executive Committee of the PDP in Ondo immediately announced their defection to Mimiko’s party, just as many in the grassroots. In a short while, Mimiko’s campaign became a movement of some sorts and the election of 2007 was a war of two Oluseguns.

Though Agagu was declared the winner, the controversy that dogged the declaration already gave clear indications that the people’s mandate was wrongly assigned.

A close ally of the late Agagu who broke the news of his victory to him on telephone confirmed to this writer that the former governor’s countenance confirmed to him that Mimiko originally won the election. A battle of two years at the courts however affirmed the miscarriage of justice and Mimiko was eventually sworn in as Ondo state Governor.

Having recorded a number of firsts in his caring Heart government in the state, Mimiko did not have to labour hard to win re-election in 2012. Not a few stakeholders in the state applauded the developmental strides recorded by the governor, which they believed should be further strengthened with a second term in office. With the second term in the kitty, Mimiko is faced with politics of self actualisation.

Last week, he gathered his supporters and stakeholders in Ondo politics to discuss the way forward. The governor, according to sources has remained grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan’s insistence on conducting free and fair election in his state, which guaranteed his re-election and thwarted the plots of the acclaimed progressives to uproot him. He has ever since remained a close ally of the President and his confidant. Mimiko was said to have told his loyalists and stakeholders in Ondo politics that he has come to a stage where he has to put his food where his money is and reciprocate the President’s love for him by directly joining his (Jonathan’s) re-election bid.

Investigations revealed that at different points in the past, the Governor of Ondo state had sought to intervene to correct perceived lapses in the government at the federal level, but that some of the PDP stalwarts have always treated his advice as coming from an outsider. Whereas sources said that the governor would have offered the advice based on his conviction to assist his friend and benefactor, the President.

After series of discussions behind the closed doors, Mimiko is now set to rejoin the PDP, which he left late in 2006. He would be returning to a familiar terrain actually, but with more power and influence at his disposal.

It was gathered that Mimiko decided to take the bull by the horn and return to the PDP not just for personal reasons but in order to preserve his legacies and ensure he plays at the big stage where he truly belongs.

Sources said that having won his reelection, the governor has achieved all that LP can offer him and that he and his supporters would be limited if they remain in the LP. It was also gathered that the governor and his supporters believed that now that the country is moving closer to a two party state, his party and his supporters should right away find the correct bearing and align with the party that can project their ideas and aspirations. It was also gathered that not a few associates of the governor have complained about the lone ranger posture his continued membership of the LP was painting of him.

For instance, a source said that the governor does not really have any party caucus to compare notes with. While the PDP Governors converge under the platform of the PDP Governors Forum and the APC Governors converge under the Progressive Governors platform, Mimiko is left to stand alone.  

“It appears as if the country is drifting towards a two party state right now. And it is a foregone conclusion that the LP cannot merge with the APC, whose chieftains had castigated the governor at different times. The PDP offers a wider reach for the governor, his followers and the people of the state.

“There are limitless opportunities on offer if he rejoins the PDP; secondly, he would feel at home because he was a Minister of the PDP up to 2006. His members in the National Assembly will also be in a position to play at a bigger scale, while he can attract more federal presence to the state,” a source said.

Although the state’s Commissioner for Information, KayodeAkinmade confirmed the governor’s imminent return to the PDP, he could not set a target for that. He also confirmed that series of consultations have been ongoing in that regard for weeks if not months now.

It also emerged that the leadership of the PDP has been reviewing its strengths and weaknesses in the South West for months now. The party was said to have placed a huge hope on its ability to reclaim the two states, Ekiti and Osun through the governorship elections of June 21 and August 9. It happened that only one of the states came into its kitty. Sources said that the discussions between the Presidency and Mimiko which were kept at bay sometime ago was immediately revived after the loss recorded by the PDP in Osun state. Besides, it was gathered that the defection of former Ogun state governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel to the LP has not only added to the leadership vacuum for the South West PDP but also complicated matters as to which governor can lead the region’s charge for Jonathan in 2015. Daniel was the chief campaigner for the President in 2011 and he was supported by the former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State. The party had therefore calculated that it would be suicidal to rest all its hopes on the incoming governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose who would have been the sole PDP governor in the South-West zone.

According to sources, it became apparent that the PDP needs a central figure in the South-West, one whom the APC cannot easily write off. The president was also said to be convinced of Mimiko’s ability, loyalty and commitment to his reelection and insisted on the governor returning to the PDP. Another plus for Mimiko, according to sources is the way he demystified the perceived invincible media presence of the Action Congress of Nigeria ahead of his reelection bid in 2012. The governor was seen to have outclassed the then ACN, thus allowing the voters the free atmosphere to vote their conscience.

Thus, the local realities and the national circumstance have combined to play in favour of Mimiko’s return to the PDP at this time. Will his return to the PDP bring more goodies to the people of the Sunshine state? There are signals that the people stand to gain more from a Mimiko in the ruling PDP than a standalone governor in LP.

Now it is easy for him to rejoin the PDP and he is eternally grateful to the President who helped him won his second term as governor but if Tinubu had not help fund his case in court against this same PDP, would he have ever become a governor talk less of reciprocating a perceived help for second term victory?