Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Barring any last minute change of mind, former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko may, next week, formerly dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for his former political party, the Labour Party (LP)
Indications emerged, on Tuesday, that the former governor had met with some of his political associates, friends and well-wishers on his move to defect from the PDP and rejoin the LP.
But the state chapter of the PDP said it was not aware of move by Mimiko to leave the party.
The state publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Ayo Fadaka told Daily Sun that the former governor has not informed the leadership of the party at either the ward, local government or state level of his intention to dump the party.
Fadaka said, “We are not aware that Dr Mimiko is planning to defect to any other political party, but if he has such plan in his mind, we plead that he stays with us in the PDP and jettison the plan in the interest of our democracy in Nigeria.”
However, Fadaka said that “The PDP is like an orange tree that bears fruits and when fruits fall down it has no effect on the tree, because the tree will still produce many other fruits.”
He added that, “the PDP has survived the defection of some of its bigwigs in the past and we shall also survive if Mimiko leaves the party, but we want him to rethink and look back.Many of our leaders who had at one time or the other are back in the party and many are on their ways back to the party. So, Mimiko should also be patient in the PDP.”
It was gathered that the former Governor may formerly announced his defection to the LP next Thursday after consultation with his associates and leaders of the party (LP).
Mimiko, a former chieftain of the LP, had served as governor on the platform of the party before he defected to the PDP and completed his tenure as governor under the platform of the party (PDP).
Speculations were rife in the state that the former Governor had already left the PDP and joined the LP.
Mimiko who had maintained a low key style since he left government in February, 2017 has not participated in any activity or attended any meeting of the PDP at both the state or national level since Prince Uche Secondus emerged the national chairman of the party.
Although the former governor could not be reached for comment, his former Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Eni Akinsola said, “We have been silent for a while over this matter, but we shall make our position open very soon.”
Akinsola hinted that Mimiko will soon address a press conference to inform the people on his political status, adding that “during the press conference he will tell the whole world the political party he belongs to.”