MIMIKO: ONE PARTY SYSTEM NOT FEASIBLE IN SOUTH-WEST

By Olawale Olaleye

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko at the weekend gave a radical perspective into the proposed regional economic integration by the Action Congress of Nigeria in the South-west zone and dismissed the possibility of a one-party system. Mimiko, who
was elected and presently seeking re-election on the platform of the Labour Party, however, affirmed his belief in the said integration but said political affiliation should not be a condition for the practicality of such a critical policy.

The governor, who is conscious of the economic importance of his state in the geo-political zone, however, said Ondo remains critical to
the proposed integration because it (Ondo) is the power house of the region.

“We are of the opinion that there must be economic integration of the South-west but the issue of one political party dominating the zone, I believe, is a fallacy. It is a fallacy saying that economic integration of the southwest must be based on political party.

Similarity in our value system is of paramount importance to us.  I want to tell you that today, Labour Party is redefining progressivism.”

The governor, who made this known in Akure, the state capital, during a courtesy call on him by the immediate past caretaker committee chairmen of the 18 council areas of the state and their supervisors, reiterated his belief in the economic integration and transformation of the zone but stated that such development should not be tied to any political party.

Mimiko maintained that “the people of Ondo State are intelligent and wise enough to choose their leader,” and that they are ready and determined to take their destiny in their hands.

“What we are doing in this state is an empirical evidence of what progressivism is all about. We are the economic and intellectual power house of the Southwest. Our cocoa had done the wonders of the Southwest. The people of the state will determine who will lead them,” the governor said.

Commending the former council bosses for raising the benchmark in local government administration in the state, Mimiko noted that most of the projects executed at the grassroots level during their tenure were world-class and unique, calling on the present council bosses to build on the legacy of their predecessors.

He thanked them for their vision to constitute a grassroots network aimed at propagating the laudable programmes of his administration.

Meanwhile, the labour fold in Ondo State, at the weekend, recorded some membership boost when the personal assistant to Dr. Olu Agunloye, a gubernatorial aspirant of the ACN in the state, Bolaji Tanimola and some other politicians from Akoko North-west Local Government Area of the state defected to the ruling Party at Arigidi-Akoko.

Other defectors included Chief (Mrs) Tinuade Komolafe (PDP), Hon. Oloruntoba Olugbenga (ACN), Hon. Mayowa Olugbogi (ACN), Hon. Francis Aderopo (PDP), Hon Dele Oloba (PDP), Mr Are Johnson (ACN), Mr Ropo Alujo (youth secretary PDP), Mrs Deborah Agunbiade (Iyaloja Arigidi PDP) and Mr. Ajulo Olanrewaju (PDP).

Tanimola, who had earlier defected to ACN alongside his erstwhile boss, attributed his return to the Labour Party to the Mimiko’s exemplary leadership qualities and the unprecedented development that has taken place since the inception of his administration.