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Group faults, Salam, Ajulo over Mimiko’s return to Labour Party

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie
23 June 2018   |   5:55 pm
A civil society group - Congress of Promoters of Labour Party Ideals (CPLPI), had flayed former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko for his recent defection to Labour Party (LP). In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, Chairman of the group, Aremo A. Adepoju, also condemned an Abuja-based constitutional lawyer, Kayode Ajulo and factional leader of…

Former Ondo State governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko acknowledges cheers from his supporters after announcing his return to Labour Party recently

A civil society group – Congress of Promoters of Labour Party Ideals (CPLPI), had flayed former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko for his recent defection to Labour Party (LP).

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, Chairman of the group, Aremo A. Adepoju, also condemned an Abuja-based constitutional lawyer, Kayode Ajulo and factional leader of the party, Alhaji Abdulkadr A. Salam, for their endorsement of Mimiko’s action.

The group faulted the press statement issued by Salam, welcoming Mimiko back into the party, which it claimed, discountenanced the collective decisions earlier announced by the acclaimed authentic chairman of the Party, Mike Omotosho, on behalf of the Party in his capacity as the Chairman Board of Trustees.

Meanwhile, Ajulo had in a statement issued shortly after the defection, stated clearly that Mimiko had the right to pitch a political tent anywhere he wished.

According to him, it was even more comforting that the former governor had chosen to return to a party where he once made and left sterling contributions.

“Granted, things warped up in Nigeria, such that genuine harbingers of progressivism are often controverted and sometimes largely misrepresented.

“However, there will always be exceptions and for one, it is pride to be counted as one of those who believe in certain principles of handling things, and who embark convincingly on such pursuits on logical basis at each point where doing same is important. That is what Dr. Mimiko has done correctly”, the statement read in part.

He added that the rejoining of the Party by Mimiko was a plus to the Party.

But Adepoju has described as ridiculous, the fact that both could support the alleged act of illegality perpetuated in the party.

“It is a very sad commentary that some lawyers in and outside Labour Party are supporting the running of an institutional Party as LP without any strict adherence to its rules, regulations, constitution and philosophy as espoused by its owner and promoter – the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The group held that Mimiko left a troubled, disorganized party in 2014, “which today is in urgent need for healthy recovery.

“So, in party leadership, administration and management, as far as LP is concerned, Mimiko is a complete failure.

“The claim by Mimiko that he left LP in order to help the then ruling party, PDP and also achieve his restructuring plan is laughable and does not hold water.

“Must he leave or collapse his party just because he believed in another party’s agenda, or before he could work with any other party for what appears clearly as a desperate pursuit for a personal political interest,” He asked.

Speaking on freedom of association, Adepoju held that Mimiko’s defection constituted serious anti-party activity that could warrant expulsion.

“Freedom of association does not condone opportunism, perfidy, dishonesty and lawlessness. We should not be fooled. Mimiko knows how alliances that work are being crafted.

“Throughout his eight-year tenure, Mimiko could not build or make LP expand even in his state, talk less of other states of the federation.

“Of the so-called “mammoth crowd” that filled the venue of his purported return to LP, how many of them are card carrying and dues-paying members?

The group warned that for LP to distinguish itself from others, it must retrace its steps.

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