By Tajudeen Adefemi

Sources in Ondo political landscape have told Aljazirahnews that Governor Olusegun Mimiko has set aside about N4bn to ensure victory at the upcoming November polls in the state.

Credible sources also say categorically that the governor is not leaving anything to chance to ensure that his perceived anointed candidate comes top at the poll that is already creating ripples across the South West.

In the face of the recent win by the All Progressive Congress in Edo state where the incumbent governor, Adams Oshiomhole was able to push forward his successor into office, sources say Mimiko has vowed to ensure his party, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) wins the polls.

A stalwart of the PDP in the state, Barrister Tolu Babeleye said the rumours that Mimiko was planning to spend billions of naira in the polls should not be ignored as there is an iota of truth in it.

He said it was even more pathetic that the governor would spend such a collosal amount after allowing to the state to wallow in massive debts.

“Mimiko’s predecessor left billions of naira in the coffers before he took over. But these funds have been mismanaged by the governor. Now the state is owing workers 5 months’ salaries and debts to contractors that it cannot pay. Yet the governor is willing to spend billions to ensure he installs a stooge that will do his bidding and cover his crimes. This must be resisted,’’ he said inter alia in an interview with the medium.

A particularly peeved source told Aljazirahnews that if the massive funds the governor plans on deploying is injected into the campaign, it would spell doom for democracy in the state.

Mimiko is believed to control massive funds after being in politics and political office for a long time and political analysts believe he can marshal a multi-billion-naira campaign.

“If Mimiko spends N4bn towards the forth-coming Ondo state governorship election, then section 91 of the electoral act is meaningless especially in the face of the current recession and the rule of law on campaign finances,’’ an irate political chieftain in the state noted.

Attempts to get the governor to react directly to the report via telephone was abortive.

However, his chief press secretary, Eni Akinsola in a response said the allegations were untrue and laughable.

He said it was even more comical in the face of economic recession that has hit the spending power of states and individuals.

He also said the state governor would never do anything to flout the law as regards the spending cap for political office seekers.

“I would advise you to direct your enquiries as to the authenticity of the allegations to the sources who gave you the information,’’ he told Aljazirahnews tersely.

Section 91 (2) of the 2010 electoral act has made clear the amount to be spent by categories of political office seekers, Aljazirahnews reports.

The electoral campaign finances cap for presidential aspirants has been pegged at N1bn while the governorship aspirants cannot spend above N200m in their campaigns.

A source opined that although money is needed for a fruitful campaign, it must not be spent in flagrant disregard for enabling laws guiding elections.

“Although money determines election results, it must be spent moderately and not in a flamboyant way especially by a sitting governor controlling state purse. It must also be spent in a way the politician will not be able to derail from delivering on their campaign promises. The politicians must also avoid being controlled by money bags who sponsor elections.

“A situation where money is a prime determinant of who wins an election should not be encouraged.

A political chieftain in the state who does not want his name or party affiliation in print also says the law enforcement agencies and the Parliament should closely monitor campaign procedure in the Ondo polls and ensure the laws are not flouted.

This is not the first time the incumbent governor would be coming under attack over his perceived move to install the next governor.

Recently, the candidate of the APC for the elections, Rotimi Akeredolu described the PDP candidate Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, as a stooge put forward by Mimiko to cover his misdeeds in office.

He said if Jegede eventually becomes governor with the support of Mimiko, the people would have handed Mimiko a third term

“In campaigning for Eyitayo Jegede, the PDP Candidate, Ondo state Governor Olusegun Mimiko has been going around the state claiming the people of Ondo state prefer the PDP and its candidate to APC and its candidate Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN. Mimiko, in trying to mobilize voters boasted that Jegede’s tenure will bear an indelible imprint on the lives of the people and he will achieve monumental feat much more that his own tenure.

“It is important to state that Mimiko’s boasts are not only insulting to the memory and intelligence of the people of the state, they are evidences of his disdain for the sensibilities and emotions of the people.

“The point must be made clearly that Eyitayo Jegede’s candidacy is a daring attempt by Governor Olusegun Mimiko to seek a third term in office from the backdoor through the use of a stooge. Mimiko intends to impose upon Ondo state a wall almanac or a lickspittle governor as a surrogate to be controlled and manipulated from the innermost chamber of his country home in Ondo,” Akeredolu’s statement said.



The PDP candidate is lawyer who was appointed a Notary Public by the Chief Justice of Nigeria in 1992 and rose steadily to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

He was actively involved in political cases and election petition matters in the past. He was appointed Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in May 2009 by the governor.

He later emerged the winner of the recent PDP primary by polling 760 votes to defeat the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the PDP in the 2012 governorship election, Hon. Saka Lawal.

Mimiko, it would be recalled on October 2, 2014 officially decamped to the PDP from the Labour Party.

At an elaborate welcome party organized by the former Vice President, Namadi Samb; former Senate President, David Mark; and former Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus including top party men, Mimiko and his supporters were received into the party he turned his back on.

http://aljazirahnews.com/index.php/2016/10/09/gov-mimiko-deploys-n4bn-war-chest-november-governorship-polls/

Ngeneukwenu kind of news

I hereby place an everlasting curse on the thread

ok

U see now they av started disbursing billions of naira in d governorship election this will not work well for pdp oooo.upon not paying workers salaries in ondo state he still av d power to allocate billions of naira into d governorship election coming up next month. Well I will emplore that will come out to cast their votes to their various candidate,pls kindly collect their and don't vote for them ooooooo.they will not do anything but to embezzle state treasury

Johnnyessence:
U see now they av started disbursing billions of naira in d governorship election this will not work well for pdp oooo.upon not paying workers salaries in ondo state he still av d power to allocate billions of naira into d governorship election coming up next month. Well I will emplore that will come out to cast their votes to their various candidate,pls kindly collect their and don't vote for them ooooooo.they will not do anything but to embezzle state treasury

why are you drinking panadol for ondo workers headache.
Any union that doesn't go on strike after 30 days is OK with nonpayment