The following excerpts from Nigerian dailies capture the strategy of an incumbent PDP governor in Nigeria [Ondo State] who has resolved to news media and some sycophants to validate his stolen mandate.
This is an excerpt from the Nigerian newspaper ThisDay on Ondo state deputy governor who hijacked some ballot boxes during the state elections in the state.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to prosecute the deputy governor of Ondo State, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru, for allegedly hijacking ballot boxes at Continental Area of the state capital, Akure, during the April 14 Governorship and State Assembly elections. Oluwateru, the sitting deputy governor, was the running-mate to the state governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Olusegun Agagu during the April 14 governorship and state assembly polls during which the duo sought re-election.”
Yet, a traditional chief in the state [Oba Adesina] sees what millions of the state residents didn’t. In a story featured in The Nation, the Oba described the governor’s re-election as:
“A clear testimony and appreciation by the people of Ondo State of his progressive governance and leadership, which had all along been sound, visionary and purposeful… It is our firm belief that, with this mandate, the laudable achievements of your government witnessed by the state through your people-oriented programmes during your first tenure in office, and which are clearly visible in all nooks and crannies of this state, would be multiplied and consolidated in another four years of governance.”
The statement credited to this traditional ruler defies any logical explanation. And he’s not the only one; several individuals and organizations in the state have sponsored congratulatory messages in the dailies. Some samples:
Daily Independent: “The National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NPTAN) has described “the re-election of Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State as a victory for the poor and less privileged in the state.”
Guardian: “A group of professionals under the aegis of Ondo Professionals has commended the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Agagu over his plans to establish a unity government in Ondo State.” This is from the spokesman for the group:
“I wish to use this medium to commend Governor Agagu for being sportsmanlike and urge other politicians to take a clue from him and emulate him. They should reach out to those who are aggrieved, pacify them and find a way to accommodate them in the scheme of things. In the same vein, those aggrieved should not be implacable. They should exercise some restraint in their quest to redress the perceived wrong done to them, knowing full well that it is only God that gives power. In fact, I will urge them to bury the hatchet in the overall interest of our people and the development of our dear state.â€
This is atrocious! Is this a case of news manipulation/fabrication by a state executive, or some sycophants working to line their pockets?
It is on record that there was mass condemnation and protest following the announcement of the results of the election in Ondo state. A Guardian article featured a statement (entitled: “Official Rip-off and Daylight Robbery”) of the Chairman of a Yoruba socio-cultural association, the Yoruba Parapo and retired Bishop of the Akure Diocese of the Anglican Communion. An excerpt:
“The entire exercise was a mockery of democratic norms, especially in Ondo State where he [Gbonigi] alleged that the verdict of the people was manipulated in favour of an unpopular candidate…“The dimension and genre of rigging we have just witnessed, especially in Akure where I live, can only be said to be unimaginable. Believe me, it is incredible. It is true that some leaders of the ruling party went round collecting election boxes by force with the aid of their security officers, with voters at the polling stations watching in utter amazement. It was daylight robbery. To deny that it happened is to top up the scandalous, wicked act with lying.â€
So can the voices of a few faceless entities of questionable character weigh more than that of the esteemed personalities and multitude and that against the governor?
So far the former appears the case, however, it is up to the election tribunal and Dr Mimiko – the Labour Party candidate and the acclaimed winner of the polls – to pull the plugs on this charade in Ondo state.
Incredible!
May 11, 2007 at 5:49 am
[...] Read the full post on Grandiose Parlor [...]
May 11, 2007 at 6:51 am
[...] The atrocity continues in Ondo State… Responding to the allegation of hijacking ballot boxes during the April 14 state elections (see this post), the alleged perpetrator – the deputy governor of Ondo State (photo: Omolade Oluwateru) states “he’s innocent and besides, as a sitting deputy governor he has immunity against prosecution!” [...]
May 11, 2007 at 8:20 am
Mimiko is indeed trying to do things the right way. We pray the election tribunal also does the right thing. When the cat is not in the mice will play but this CAT will return and then…. silence from all lying arrogant and falacious actors in this epic. Painful for now as insults are added to injury but just for the time being…
May 11, 2007 at 11:38 pm
I read that Mimiko’s legal team filed a 45,000 page petition at the tribunal on Monday.
May 12, 2007 at 11:20 am
Yes, plus volumes of evidence to support the petition. Ondo state awaits the outcome with interest but only one outcome do we know will be the truth as Mimiko clearly won with a landslide victory over Agagu/PDP
May 12, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Yes, The labour party won by very wild magin,for instance in oke-aro ward 8, which is the largest ward in Akure the state capital of Ondo state where it is almost imposible for anybody to rig the election onthe14 of march 2007. Labour Party has 4711 and PDP has 714 vote in the governorship election. almost the samething happen in ever polling boot in the state’ but the INEC chjoose to impose Dr Agagu on us. i let us see what God will do.
May 28, 2007 at 6:37 pm
The fight is one and will continue to the just end. Mimiko is not giving this up. He owes it to the people who sacrificed their all to ensure that HE MIMIKO a man of the people is voted in, in Ondo state to turn things around. AGAGU’s 4 year tenure was maladjsuted. He had nothing to offer except to copy cat OBJ by empowering his family members, using the state money to shut some poeple up and using more of the state money to ‘empower’
the above sychophants so that some could sing his praise. Only towards the end of his four year reign of absolute nonesense did he start i.e. towards the end of 2006 to do some skeletal and inferior projects. You see the types of Agagu always believe that the people are fools and they are wise. Unfortunately for them, it was never so, and not so now. The difference is that the people are ready to openly say their mind, and thank God for PEOPLE POWER especially throuhg the Media and worldwide blogs, the shame, corruption, daylight robberies, use of power to oppress, etc etc are being exposed daily. IN ONDO STATE WE ARE AWARE THAT THE CHEATING OF MIMIKO WAS SO TRANSPARENT THAT THE WHOLE WORLD JOINED IN THE OUTCRY. HOW CAN A GOVERNOR WHO WAS WINNING WITH OVER 80% MAJORITY BE DECLARED THE LOSER? The result was announced not in the state – Ondo but first in Abuja. The Militia were ordered to parade the streets in Ondo state before the result was forced on the people. This is one reason why OBJ will never know any rest. See how much disgrace came his way recently? Agagu is also facing an indictment charge in court for the thefts of billions in his Aviation days. THE STOLEN MANDATE WILL NEVER BE VALIDATED NO MATTER WHAT MEANS, CHANNEL OR METHOD AGAGU USES. HE IS ONLY LIVING ON CLOUD 9 FOR THE TIME BEING. Let us wait and see. The results from the Electoral Tribunal this time will be a jsut one and we shall all see that all hope for the truth is not lost in Nigeria.
May 29, 2007 at 2:36 am
The case in Ondo state which is my state is a test case for the electoral petition tribunal and we are cock sure that all things being equal Mimiko will regain its mandate given to him by millions of our people. Agagu is an impostor.
October 10, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Agagu is a man of many names – IMPOSTOR, LIAR, THIEF, CHEAT, CORRUPT, DRUNK, UNGODLY, WICKED, STUPID …. Now I am not passing insults on this man. I am only stating facts from my viewpoint going by his 4 year governance in Ondo state which is also my state and his recent activities which from April 07 to date include, Stealing Mimiko’s mandate, Squandering Ondo State funds, Sacking Awanebi who threatened to “sing”, and the man gets killed immediately after, then they try to point fingers elsewhere; having a deputy speaker who physically stole ballot boxes; another who comes to court covered in charms like orisa. Agagu pallying with Militants who soon sang when he did not pay them, and quickly paying up and they quickly become PDP friends and instantly turn from the name “criminals” to “activists”, being challenged to come and swear in front of an oracle, terrorising Ondo state with the bacckings of the police and army, attempting to dubiously loan money, (dont forget his Aviation days embezlement), and recently buying 19 Toyota Avensis as “gifts” for Ondo State Magistrates (we know what this means, you scratch my back, i’ll scratch yours)and hoping to blatantly bribe his way through the oncoming electoral petition. So dont be angry with me when I make mention of the real names of Agagu the snake. It is not an insult. BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THE REAL TRUTH OF THE ONDO STATE SITUATION WILL BE REVEALED AND MIMIKO REINSTATED AS HE MIMIKO IS THE MANDATE HOLDER IN ONDO STATE.
October 10, 2007 at 11:25 pm