By Ayodele Oni, Akure
Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko is a lucky man.
He is not suffering the fate of his colleagues in most states. His successor in office, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is a good man, and appreciates friendship.
He says he will never probe Mimiko. That Mimiko should relax, not minding what he did, or did not do while in office.
And the reason is simple.
Akeredolu says Mimiko is his friend. The two men have been friends for over 40 years. For the Governor, friendship is important. Friends don’t betray friends, no matter the pressure, the provocation, and/or the circumstances.
So, for Akeredolu, no intrigue or politics would make him expose the deeds or any misdeeds of his friend, former Governor Mimiko, to any anti corruption agencies for investigation.
The Governor was reacting to a story which has gone viral, alleging that he was set to probe Mimiko’s administration.
He says the story is the handiwork of mischief, being propagated by idlers and ne’re-do-wells.
He has no time for such things which would even involve more spending of the state’s scarce resources, and create unnecessary tension.
It is not the first time the Governor will be saying this. Long before now, and at several fora, Governor Akeredolu had described his predecessor in office as a good friend and someone that contributed immensely to his emergence as governor.
Their friendship dates back to their University days at University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) where both of them served as Students union leaders.
Also at the wedding ceremony of the former governor, Akeredolu served as his best man.
The question is why such story of probe would emerge now, a couple of months to the Governorship election, an election in which the Governor is seeking a second term.
Reacting to the report, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, dismissed it as a lie from the pit of hell. In a statement entitled
“Re: Threat To Expose Mimiko To EFCC,”
the Government dusmissed it as untrue, puerile and utterly mischievous, saying it is, to all intents, a cleverly laid path for the two friends of over four decades to engage in a needless mudslinging.
“It is, perhaps, pertinent to state unequivocally that Governor Akeredolu does not desire, not even in the least of anyone’s imagination, to travel such pernicious path typical of those who have taken the route of perfidy for the sake of their political ambitions. We have since wished them well, even in their self-inflicted tears of treachery and betrayal.
“Clearly too, the former Governor, in Governor Akeredolu’s view, is well acquainted with the antecedents of those who have chosen to embrace any straw, including those they had mindlessly plotted against in the past, to keep their waning political comfort zones afloat.
“Nonetheless, while Governor Akeredolu has nothing against his friend and immediate past predecessor, he has chosen to allow posterity to intercede and interpret the roles of men in whatever form.
“In this regard, the friendship of the duo shall remain unaffected by the current political permutations, alignments and realignment, however impotently strange.
Governor Akeredolu shall maintain that cordiality, even in the face of opportunism.
“It must, however, be noted that Governor Akeredolu remains unperturbed by forces of whatever colouration. He is resolute and unwavering in his belief that a more debilitating defeat awaits those who have chosen to travel the route of conspiracy come October 10, 2020.”
It is believed that government is apparently reacting to the unfolding event in which the embattled deputy governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi has, allegedly, approached former Governor Mimiko, for support in his quest to contest for the October 10 governorship election on the ticket of the Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP), believed to be founded, and funded by Dr Mimiko.
Since his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Deputy Governor had contested in the primary of the PDP, and lost the ticket to Mr Eyitayo Jegede.
In his desperate bid to participate in the election, the ZLP ticket has been conceded to him. On that ticket, he will face both Akeredou and Jegede.
Many people describe the move as desperate and of no effect, saying he stands no chance of making any impact during the election. Their advice: Go back to either the APC or the PDP, and prepare for 2024, all things being equal.
