• Ajube combs PDP structures for APC; pledges to fund election in Ondo South senatorial district

• we will reciprocate Ilaje’s 2023 support for Rep”-Agadagba-In-Council

Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo state, the Ijaw speaking Arogbo Kingdom on Sunday, boosted the chances of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the Kingdoms Traditional Council endorsed his candidature. 

Governor Aiyedatiwa is also the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom’s endorsement came as Niger Delta Peace Ambassador and entrepreneur, Senior High Chief Bibopere Ajube pledged to fund the governors election in the six local government areas of the south senatorial district of Ondo state. 

The Agadagba and Paramount Ruler of Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom, Pere(Barrister) Zaccheus Doubra Egbunu, Opukutu 111, who made the endorsement pronouncement said the decision hinges on the massive support the Ilajes gave to their son, Hon Donald Ojogo during the 2023 House of Representatives election.

“Our governor is our son in Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom because he is our closest neighbour. There is no way we will not give him maximum support especially as an Ilaje man.

“In Ijaw land, we value and reciprocate good gestures; we cannot forget in a hurry how the Ilajes mobilized hugely for our son, Hon Donald Ojogo to win the House of Representatives seat in 2023. For the very first time, an Ijaw man is in the Green Chamber. So it’s our duty, it’s an obligation for us to massively vote for this Governor who happens to be our Ilaje son”, the monarch said.

Ajube, who is the Pathfinder of Arogbo Ijaw Kingdom while playing host to Governor Aiyedatiwa at an elaborate ceremony where over 2,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC pledged his commitment to fund the election 

“Mr Governor, your election is our election and that of the president because it is the first governorship election in the Southwest since the 2023 presidential election that produced our own President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. 

“As such, it is of great consequence to the President, and we cannot afford to play with it. We will not disappoint our president and that is why we have demolished all the ward structures of the PDP in our Kingdom.

“So Your Excellency, just leave the six local government areas in the southern senatorial district of the state for me to provide the money. Just keep the little money you have for other senatorial districts. I have the capacity. I am an Ijaw man. We don’t deceive people. If we say, we will do something, don’t doubt it, we will do it.

The Governor, while receiving the defectors, appreciated them for joining the APC family of the true progressives where everyone’s voice counts. He thanked all the party leaders for their support and announced various initiatives of his administration aimed at improving the lives of the people of the state.

The Chairman of Arogbo LCDA, Hon Caleb Ebi Molos, in His welcome address, expressed appreciation to the Governor for his concern for Arogbo Kingdom and assured him of the total support of the people of Arogbo LCDA.

The event was attended by Hon Donald Ojogo, member of the House of Representatives representing Ilaje/ Ese-Odo Federal Constituency; Hon Agabra Atili, Deputy State Chairman of APC; Hon Toyin Allen, House of Assembly Member representing Ese-Odo State Constituency; Hon Samuel Twatimi, Head of the Ondo State Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme; Hon Kolade Akinjo, former member House of Representatives, among other leaders.

Fresh insights have revealed why former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has yet to officially defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), even as many of his loyalists have already abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling party.

Sources close to the situation told “News Eyes Daily” that Mimiko, the PDP leader in Ondo State, is awaiting a “green light” from the Presidential Villa before formally announcing his move to the APC. 

Mimiko, who governed Ondo State for eight years is reportedly aiming to make his defection a national event rather than a state-level affair.

According to insiders, Mimiko is in talks with his allies within the APC to arrange for a high-profile reception by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and key national leaders of the party at the Presidential Villa. 

He is said to have already instructed his supporters to return to their local wards and officially exit the PDP for the APC.

Last Saturday, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, reportedly met with several of Mimiko’s loyalists at the Governor’s office in Akure. 

Among those present were Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele, Engr. Gboye Adegbenro, Arc. Olajide Adejuyigbe, Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, Barr. Tunde Atere, Ms. Taiye Afilaka, and Omooba Eni Akinsola.

One source revealed, “It is true that Mimiko has directed his followers to join the APC. While his body remains in the PDP, his soul is already with the APC. They have become political wanderers since 2014 when he rejoined PDP from LP. Mimiko dumped PDP for ZLP where he contested for the senate which he lost in the 2019 general elections. He and his followers returned to the PDP in 2021, and they are now joining APC.

“Mimiko views the APC as a platform to revive his political career and wishes to be accorded the respect he believes he deserves.

“It is an insult that he will now decamp in Akure where he will be received by the State Chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin or Aiyedatiwa. Mimiko is a national figure that will add value to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections”.

The former governor is reportedly seeking a reception similar to that of other notable defectors, such as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Pius Anyim and ex-Katsina Governor Ibrahim Shema, both of whom were welcomed by President Tinubu at the Villa, bypassing state-level receptions.

Mimiko’s defection is seen as a strategic move, possibly aimed at leveraging the recent passing of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, to assume a significant leadership role within the APC. 

As the only living former governor in the state, Mimiko may see this as an opportunity to reassert his influence without needing the current governor’s endorsement to access the party’s national apparatus.

However, insiders suggest that Mimiko is still awaiting confirmation on whether he will receive the presidential reception he desires, which is delaying his official switch to the APC. 

His past as a political ally of Tinubu, followed by a rift when he supported the PDP and attempted to weaken the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), adding a complex layer to his anticipated defection.

South East Governor Fingered In Dissolution Of Adhoc Committee
…as group threatens showdown, vows to expose Abbas-led House leadership

The Reformed National Coalition For Democracy (RNCD) has alleged a governor from the southeast on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the mastermind of the dissolution of the Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere led adhoc committee.

The group has therefore threatened a showdown with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, even as it vowed to expose s heady deals under him unless he rescinded the decision of the House leadership to dissolving the ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee to sanitize the sector.

“We are aware of the pivotal role played by a particular APC Governor in the Southeast who has been the mastermind of the crisis in the House of Representatives, as this same Governor is enabling insecurity in his state and the Southeast in general while continuing to expend efforts in sustaining the crisis in the House to suppress voices calling for sanity”, RNCD said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The RNCD, a civil society organization, said the work the committee was carrying out was too important to be stopped midway.

The group, in a statement widely circulated to journalists on Monday, and signed by its National Coordinator, Francis Ujah accused the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of conniving with some powerful people to sweep the shocking discoveries of the Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere-led committee under the carpet.

Una said the Speaker’s decision to dissolve the committee was unhealthy for democracy and the country’s economic development.

While noting that Ugochinyere’s courageous efforts must be saluted, the group threatened to expose all the shady deals under Abbas’ leadership as Speaker of the House.

According to the statement, Ugochinyere had acted boldly and brilliantly by indicting the Group Chief Executive Officers of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, and NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, without fear or favour.

The statement reads:”Ugochinyere has done well by investigating the allegations of the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and broader threats to Nigeria’s energy security.

“He acted like a true patriot with bravery and integrity by calling for the suspension of the NNPC GMD. His dedication to national assignments and the courage with which he delivered is remarkable.

“However, it is disgraceful to see the House leadership led by the Speaker dissolving a committee that has done well to protect our common interest. It is a shame that the integrity of the House has been compromised.

“Nigerians should take note that the House leadership visited Dangote refinery lately and commended him, but the probe recommended by the Ugochinyere committee is part of the process to sanitize the system and allow Dangote a level playing field.

“Unfortunately, the Speaker has dissolved the committee and stopped the good work it was doing.
We are calling on all Nigerians to hold the House leadership responsible if NNPC goes ahead with the planned crude-for-loan deal. We are also putting it on record that delaying the suspension of the NNPCL and NMDPRA CEOs is dangerous, despite the thorough job done by the joint committee.

“If the dissolution of the committee is not reversed, we will be forced to expose the dealings that took place when the House leadership visited Dangote Refinery.