Mimiko Goes On Campaign, Wins Converts For Jonathan 

THE intimidating crowd at the President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign rally in the capital city of Ondo State, Akure recently had suggested what would play out at the Peoples Democratic Party local campaign rallies which kicked off in Idanre a week later.

Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Governor of Ondo state and Coordinator, Goodluck Jonathan Campaign, Southwest led the team to the hilly town of Idanre where residents trooped out en masse.

   Addressing the mammoth crowd, Mimiko who had earlier visited the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Frederick Aroloye in his palace thanked the people for their support at all time and implored them to vote for President Jonathan and all PDP candidates in the coming general elections.

  Mimiko noted that although the party would definitely win the presidential election, but the quantum of votes for President Jonathan would go a long way in determining the quantity of goodies for the State.

   According to him, Nigeria needs a compassionate leader like Jonathan at this crucial stage of her development, stressing that the nation has experienced justice and equity under the Jonathan administration.

   He described President Goodluck Jonathan as a cool headed leader who in spite of the various challenges facing the nation has remained focus and determined to transform the nation.

  He maintained that the elections were beyond the various candidates, but solely for the future of country, adding that being in PDP at this period would bring more dividends of democracy to Ondo State. 

   At the campaign kick off point in Idanre, Mimiko declared that his government would construct the 27.5 Kilometre Odoko-Ondo road before the expiration of his second term in office.

He added that if residents vote for all the PDP candidates in the Presidential, national and state Assembly elections, he would, in company with the serving Senator in the district, Ayo Akinyelure, lobby the Federal government and ensure the construction of the 65.6 Kilometre Idanre-Ofosu road.

   The state’s campaign sub-committee chairman on Media and publicity and the state’s Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, who is an indigene of the town also lends his voice to the call to vote Jonathan for a second term. He said a vote for President Jonathan and the PDP candidates in the coming general elections is vote for the security of the future of the Nigerian youth.

   He said President Jonathan has done creditably well since assuming office, adding that he needs a second term to consolidate on his initial achievements in office. 

   Akinmade added that the unity of the nation should be paramount in the minds of whoever claims to love the country, thus, submitting that Jonathan has demonstrated over time that he is more interested in a united Nigeria. 

   The Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party grand campaign, which covered the 18 local government areas of the state also visited Akure and Ifedore local governments on the commencement day.

 Moving up north, the campaign train on day-2, basking in the euphoria of the success of the opening day visited Ose and Owo, from where it moved to the Akoko axis of the Ondo North Senatorial District on the thierd day.

   In Owo, Mimiko said Ondo State will key into the Federal Government fortune to develop the state, stressing that he has achieved his electioneering promises to the people of Owo by at least 80 percent.

   Insisting that Nigeria cannot change from the present rate of development to bad or the old era, the Southwest coordinator of Goodluck Jonathan National Campaign Council who had earlier visited all the traditional rulers of Owo kingdom at the palace of Olowo, Oba Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi said he will complement the Owo township beautiful roads with beautiful light points and as well lighten the entire Owo streets to compliment its good road recently completed by the government.

  At Ifon, headquarters of Ose Local Government and venue of its own rally, Mimiko assured the people that he would leverage on the Federal Government connection to establish extractive industries in the Northern part of the State, which he said is blessed with abundant natural resources.

  He said a General Hospital will be established in Ifon and will be properly equipped soon.

Addressing all the traditional rulers of Ose Local Government at the palace of Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adeusi, Mimiko assured that his administration would upgrade the status of the health centre in Ifon to a general hospital before the end of the year.

  It was defection galore from the opposition All Progressives Congress to the PDP on the third day of the rally in Akoko, also in the North Senatorial District where Mimiko appreciated the large turn out and pleaded with them to obtain their PVCs so that they can cast their votes for President Jonathan and other candidates of the party.

   The chances of re-election of President Jonathan and other PDP candidates got a big boost when after the Governor’s speech over 2,000 leaders and members of the opposition APC dumped their party for the ruling PDP. At the mega rally held in Oka, headquarters of Akoko South West Local Government Area, precisely at the Old Secretariat Ground in Ibaka quarters in Oke-Oka, the decampees were led by two House of Assembly aspirants of the APC, Mr Taju Epe and Mr. Balogun Arogunjo.

  Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Epe said he and his team have come to join the winning team of PDP as he declared that there is no road again in his former party.

  He boasted that his team will work for the success of all PDP candidates in the coming elections.

Also speaking, Hon Arogunjo said he thanked God that he saw the light and followed it. He assured the PDP leaders at the rally that he has come to add value to the party and to ensure that PDP wins the forthcoming general elections.

Earlier, all the leaders of Akoko South West LG who spoke at the rally declared that the people will vote enmasse for PDP candidates in the coming elections.

  Caretaker chairman of the council, Wale Suuru said his people will vote massively for PDP candidates to appreciate the appointment of their son as Chief of Staff to the President and other appointees from the council area.

   Also, Dr Bode Iwaloye another popular member of the party in the area said PDP will win all the elections with wide margin, while Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Emiola Dare said all votes from the area will be for PDP candidates.