By Banji Ayoola
Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Monday in Akure, the state capital, flagged off his campaign for the forthcoming election into the Senate, pledging to join his colleagues in the National Assembly in the vitalisation of the struggle to ensure the restructuring of Nigeria into a true and balanced federation.
In fact, he described restructuring of the country from the lopsided contraption, which has prevailed since independence and has increasingly worsened over the years, and under which Nigeria now groans, as one of the major reasons underlining his bid into the Senate, to serve as a weapon for rebuilding this country into a nation state, where all the peoples live together in an atmosphere of true justice, peace and harmony.
Stressing the need for restructuring in view of the seemingly unmanageable problems confronting the country in various flanks, Mimiko vowed to join other senators of similar volition, and revitalise the struggle to ensure that the Senate, the nation’s apex law making body, enacts appropriate legislations on restructuring of Nigeria.
The former Governor, who is candidate of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, is contesting the Ondo Central Senatorial District seat in the Senate with Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, former Senator Ayo Akinyelure; and incumbent Senator Tayo Alasoadura of the APC, among others.
He told his supporters that ZLP as a party for the masses, was formed to transform the life of the common man for good’
Also, he said that he wished to go into the Senate to replicate at the national level through appropriate legislations, all the life changing projects on Health, Education, and other sectors, which he as Governor for eight years, implemented in Ondo State.
He vowed to repeat all that he did for the people of the state in the area of legislation, if elected. Besides, he promised to lobby his colleagues in the Senate to legislate on masses-oriented programmes.
His words: ” I know what I want to go and do in the Senate. I will make sure that I join the progressives in the Senate to legislate on universal education, restructuring and election finance bill.
“If you vote for me, I will be able to join hands with the progressives to legislate on access to free healthcare, free and quality education, and micro credits for market men and women, because I have done it before and I know it is achievable”
He also said if voted into the Senate, he would use the platform to advocate for legislation on election financing, so that “you don’t have to be a billionaire before contesting an election”.
He said he would pursue legislation that would provide universal basic health care for the country “as well as universal basic education for Nigerian children”.
Mimiko said: “Vote
for Zenith Labour Party and we will ensure you are well represented.” He added: “We have done it before, we will do
it again.”
He also urged
his supporters to ensure that candidates of the party who are largely youth,
are voted into the legislative houses at the polls.
Mimiko told his supporters that governance at any level does not require special skills but having the people at heart.
Maintaining that he stands a better chance at giving the people within the senatorial district adequate and quality representation in the National Assembly, he noted that his track record when he held sway as Governor, is yet to be surpassed.
His words: “I brought Labour Party to Ondo State four months to election, and it was widely accepted across the state. Again we are coming with Zenith Labour Party less than four months to election and you are behind us.
“In 2006 at this very venue, I pledged that health care would be free, affordable education and host of others which I did when I became governor. And I’ll do much more when I get to the Senate.
“Wait till I get to the Senate, you would realise you have not been having any senator all this while.
“The people have confidence in our representation as a result of the impactful outcome recorded while at the helm of affairs in Ondo State. We will continue to put the people first.
“If I should stand up and speak at the National Assembly, that it is compulsory that our pregnant women and children should be given free health care, and some people would say it is impossible, we don’t have money; I will say shut up, I did it in Ondo State.
“And if I should rise to speak for equality between the children of the rich and poor, they need modern schools, free transportation system and better life; and someone should declare it is unrealistic, I will say shut up, I did it as a Governor.”
Mimiko said that his programmes and policies as Governor were masses oriented which he pledged to build upon as senator.
He said: “We pegged the university fee (Adekunle Ajasin University) at N25, 000 because of the poor so that their children can raise and become great persons in life.
“Our party is basically for the poor hence the reason why we ensure that our policies are masses oriented.
“I can talk now because we have done it before. If anyone tells you it is not possible, tell them to shut up, I’ve done it before.
“Nigeria has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world hence the reason why I ensured we curbed it in Ondo state when I was the Governor. When I get to the Senate I would ensure that it is done across the country because we have done it before.”
Assuring of an unwavering commitment, Mimiko who had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, expressed his readiness to serve the Nigerian people in an exemplary manner as he served the people of Ondo state as their Governor.
He declared himself as the best candidate to represent the interest of the people, saying that his people oriented programmes wouldl further protect the interest of the common man.
Recalling his contributions to improve the socio economic life of the people as Governor, he promised that his service in the National Assembly would be premised on his past political experiences, even as he recalled the strings of life impacting social integration projects in at least 436 towns and villages across the state.
Specifically he told the supporters most of whom wore orange colour vests, fez caps and neck-tie, the political symbol and colour of the ex-governor, :“And if I should rise to speak for equality between the children of the rich and poor: that they need modern schools, free transportation system and better life; and someone should declare it unrealistic, I will say shut up, I did it as a governor.”
He urged his supporters to ignore the political campaign of bitterness against him by some opposition members, who allegedly sponsored thugs to destroy his posters and campaign billboards.
His words: “Just ignore them, continue with your campaign by canvassing everyone in your neighbourhood to vote Zenith Labour Party in all the elections. They are only being jealous because they know they have lost the election.”
Mimiko explained that the name of the party is strategic for winning elections, saying: “Zenith is the top of everything and this is why we will be on top of the election for victory. Our party will be positioned at the end, just glance down to the last party and vote ZLP.”
He said: “While we were in Labour Party, the logo was better life for father, mother and children. But in ZLP, we deem it necessary to include mother, father, children and other family members. That is why you see the whole family climbing the steps to the top.”
Earlier in a statement by his media aide, Mr Paul Akinduro, Mimiko urged the people to go and collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVC, without which they cannot vote.
However, he lamented that some political supporters were tearing his posters and those of other ZLP candidates in some places. Yet, he urged his supporters to be calm and not to engage in violence.
He expressed assurance that all ZLP candidates in the state would win in the forthcoming general elections.
National Chairman of the party, Barrister Dan Nwanyanwu, urged the people of the state to vote for ZLP candidates, as all the candidates of the party are people of impeccable character who would not disappoint when they get to the state House and National Assembly.
Represented by the state chairman of the party, Arch. Wale Gbakinro, the national chairman described Mimiko as a good person for the job, saying he performed excellently as a state Governor, and would represent the state well if he was elected to the Senate
It was like a carnival, as the Oba Adesida dual carriage road of the state capital, was on total lock-down during the campaign held within the premises of the Akure City Hall, which was besieged by a mammoth crowd of supporters of the former Governor.
The former Governor, who dressed in white kaftan, his trade mark orange colour neck sash, black Awolowo cap, and rode in an open jeep, was intermittently pumping the air with his right fist, amid jubilant shout and songs by his supporters.
His wife, Kemi, who similarly dressed in white, orange colour neck and body sashes, and fez cap, holding microphone on the podium, sang and danced to the jubilant songs of supporters … “Iroko, maa ba se re lo, ise re ma te wa lorun…” (Iroko, ride on with your good works with which we are pleased.)
The atmosphere became charged as Mimiko began his speech with the song “Gbe mi s’oke, gbe mi dide, fa mi l’owo s’oke, ki n ga ju aye lo, ogo aye mi, je k’o yo jade, fa mi l’owo s’oke, ma ma je o pe…” (Lift me up high above the world, let me shine, let the glory in me come to the fore, lift my hands up, and do these as soon as possible.)
