Labour Party Versus Ondo State People: The People Shall Win
Since the creation of Ondo State from the old Western State in 1976, the collective aspiration and the determination of the people to succeed as an entity within the Nigeria commonwealth has never been threatened as had been witnessed in the last two years.
Not during the post-election crisis of 1983 when scores of prominent lives were wasted and hundreds of millions of naira worth of property destroyed when the anger of a politically conscious people was visited on the unbridled ambition of some power mongers who were hell bent to steal their ballot was the state moved to the edge of the precipice.
Not even during the difficult days of the struggle for the actualization of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, won by business mogul, M.K.O. Abiola but annulled by a gang of selfish military cabal when identified political icons in the state stood unwaveringly on the side of justice, was the state drawn to the verge of disintegration.
The two above-stated episodes instead of threatening the unity of the state, only reinvigorated the believe of the people of the Sunshine State in their collective responsibility to blaze the trail of democratic principles as enshrined in the power of the ballot and their commitment to the oneness of Nigeria based on fair play, truth and social justice.
Like every other state of the federation, Ondo had its ups and downs specially during the military regimes when non-indigenes were made to preside over the state affairs, leading to the heat-up of the system and the neglect of all the indices of growth thereby stunting development of a people whose state, because of their sophistication, should be the flagship of others in the country.
The democratic experience of 1999 – 2003, during which the flag of democracy was hoisted over the land through the rule of the Alliance of Democracy (AD), a party that laid claim to continuity of the old political order of the South-West region when this part of the country witnessed tremendous growth, only wet the appetite of the people for the goods inherent in representative governance.
The growth, in the real sense of the world, wherein an unprecedented list of development was recorded in every facets of social and economic life however came with the advent of the administration of Dr. Olusegun Agagu’s administration in 2003.
And for once, the progressive minded people of the state saw development as it had never been seen before. It was almost unreal, like watching a grain of maize grow before your very eyes and in your presence. All the flashpoints were doused and irreversible steps of development that launched the state well ahead of its peers were being taken in measured and sure gaits.
But when the Labour Party (LP), an amalgam of groups of political jobbers who found leadership and direction in the character of a public name with uncontrolled personal quest for political power, things took turn for the worst.
The first sign of their appearance was the introduction of violence into the political field such that even before the election, fear of the unknown hung like the sword of Damocles on the state’s political firmament.
It is on record that on the eve of the gubernatorial elections, something unheard of in the state, the frightening sound of a detonated bomb, planted within the premises of the Agagu Campaign Headquarters, minutes before a schedule meeting of prominent individuals, shook the building and indeed the whole of Akure, to its foundation.
Caches of arms and ammunition, meant to play out the bizarre drama of the emergence of an over ambitious man and his band of political leeches as the controllers of our collective inheritance, were smuggled into the state with the connivance of dubious security agencies and powerful outsiders who, discredited at their various homes, wanted to pitch their camp on our shores to loot our treasury.
A ravenous band of opportunists had been unleashed on the state and the polity would never be the same again as several unwholesome antics were brought to play in the field of politics putting concrete meaning into the saying that politics is a dirty game.
As expected, a dark cloud of apprehension was hovering over our state but our people, despite the unprecedented release of a floodgate of negative propaganda and outright lies, stood their grounds and re-elected governor Agagu, who in the previous four years had given a refreshingly new meaning to governance.
Even during the polls, attempts were made to literarily set the state on fire to prevent the democratic train from running its full course. In Irele, several of these people were rounded up by the security agencies in possession of fearsome armoury with which they intended to unleash mayhem in the sleepy community.
Arrested alongside these destructive political elements were several hoodlums who were brought in from outside the state but unfortunately the Irele stoppage could not be replicated in other parts of the state and many of these thugs found their way in to cause general confusion on poll day.
With the defeat of these elements at the polls despite all their antics and violence which could not stop the aspiration of a people determined not to halt the cause of development, one would expect that they would at least give peace a chance but even after the exercise, they appeared more resolute in their destructive tendencies.
To the tribunal they went with all manners of manipulations that could be found in their books of tricks and at the end of the day, succeeded in getting a flawed judgment.
And when the matter had been taken to the appeal level, where the inconsistencies of the lower court are expected to be revealed and the truth upheld, a new onslaught is being visited on our state.
An order to stop the state from functioning was obtained without any legal representation from the government and this was done in Benin even when a parallel court of equal jurisdiction exists in Akure.
Prior to this, they had, through spurious petition to the EFCC and the ICPC, obtained restraints against the government from discharging its statutory responsibility to the people of this state through the spread of general goods among the population.
Some of the projects that these people hoped to stop are the N14.4 billion Owena Multipurpose Dam water reticulation scheme which would in effect put a stop to the thirst of millions of people in the Central Senatorial District for potable water and the N3.8 billion Akure Township Stadium that will change the skyline of the state capital.
Their recent actions have however showed clearly that they are a band of retrogressive elements that are uncomfortable with the giant strides that the state under Agagu is taking in the area of development and who are ready to do anything from stopping the people’s progress.
It is a pity that the Labour Party is fighting it dirty and making politics look like a do or die affair. Politics is not dirty. Neither should it be as vicious. Politics is not a do or die affair where people are honest and sincere.
The people will overcome.
Which people are you referring in your conclusion? Certainly not the people of Ondo State!
Besides that, you may want to head over to Grandiose Parlor.com, the writer there has taken you up on your statements, in fact he will like to see you lips sealed!! LOL!!!. And I agree with him, enough of your misinformation!
Atinuke Damilola! Grandiose palour.com unfortunately has always rejected my articles and has not allowed it published as other credible sites like Nigerian Muse, NigeriansinAmerica, et all. That will suggest to you their bias and flaws as regards the truth and fair state of the events here in Ondo State. I may not be able to educate you further on these as we awaits the final verdict on Monday and I wont be suprised if all of you followers of Mimiko’s lies and anticedents disappears into thin air after the verdict. You incidentally should have something better to do with your family and kids that’s if you have but on the contrary find something worthwhile to do and stop puting your mouth where you cant put your money! Go and learn more about the development here and stop being a Zombie! Have a great day!
Grandiose palour.com unfortunately has always rejected my articles
Sir, I run and own that site, it’s my blog. You have never made a submission to GP, never!
What are you talking about?
Wonder will never cease!
No I’m not a zombie – I’m a bonafide daughter of Ondo State, see.
It is funny you mentioned money – How big were the wads of Naira your masters in Alagbaka have been stuffing down your throat to write this piece and others you have been circulating on the web?
I’m glad your got a response from Grandiose Parlor, it just shows how credible your statements are.
What you and many others like you do not get is that the political situation in Ondo State is not about Mimiko at all. The people are just fed up of Agagu and the smoke he keeps blowing in the people’s faces over the last 5-6 years. Don’t you get it?
Oga Imnakoya haba! You and I are not strangers anymore and I expect a bit of familiarity, How are you doing? As you’ve always known that I post my blogs and articles on almost every blog sites available but I still stand and maintained that your blog site (grandiose palour) had always refused my articles and I have witnesses who also have tried it and got the same results as well. Anyway it’s your site and you hold and have every control on it’s running. What is your veiw presently on the expected verdict come Monday? Will you congratulate me? or vice versa! Have a great weekend.
Atinuke Damilola, I always love your comment as it always opens me up to educate you more on this issue on ground.
1. I am a bonafide Son of Ondo State just like you but extreemly more educated on the development as they unfolds here.
2. I could deduce from your reply that you must be very young and dont appreciate addage, that, I won’t hold against you because I know you’ll have some elders around you who could explain that to you. When I said “put your money where your mouth is”. I meant can you afford to take a bet? You see it’s not about money hence I’m always everywhere on the web, ask your superiors they know me very well. There is no amount of money that can be offered someone like me but the development in my area of the State is enough for me because that’s what I stand for THE PEOPLE. If you care to know I am from Ilaje Local Govt and Im extreemly proud of the development that has sprouted up revolutionalise these areas sincce the inception of the Agagu’s led Govt. So you see, money has no place in this. And for your information I have my proffession, very lucrative that has always made me so comfortable here in Nigeria and Abroad. I know you work hand in hand with Imnokoya he can tell you more about me. Make sure you are here even after Monday so we can both celebrate at least for our dear Ondo state. Will you? Have a great weekend!
Yeah, I keep a tab on your writings Mr.Ologbon, and I oppose your line of argument. That is why I would like to seal your lips for good
No offense.
If the ruling goes in favor of Mimiko — majority expects it will by the way — I will rejoice just for one day, By the next day, I will become one of his sharpest critics if he fails to deliver. Mark my word!
This is what you should have done with your man, Agagu — I see your are from the same area, maybe that explains the bias!
I can not recall your submission to GP still.
On Akinuke — she is just another commentator, I don’t know her or work with her.
Dear All,
I would very much like to see the dawn of that day when fellow Nigerians in expressing their opinions (not matter how strongly held they are) on any subject will remain polite, respectful, and maintain some civility in the way they address others. Is it not possible for us to agree to disagree? Can we not have an argument based on facts, figures, hard evidence,…?
Mr Imnakoya, point of correction me and Agagu are not from the same area as you’ve deduces Agagu is an Ikale man while I am an Ilaje flesh and blood. Let me congratulate you on Mimiko’s mandate restored and to let you know I am ultimately interested in the development of my State and not in anyone rulling. I am not a politician and I am very aware that here in Nigeria politicians are just unfortunately the same no matter their party. My first time in Nigeria was brought about by articles and blogs establishing that Gov. Agagu Administration was not doing anything in Ondo state and to my amazement when I came in I saw with my own eyes what he has done most especially for my people in the reverine area and other monumental development around the State. That arouse my anger and I had no choice but concluded it was a political gimmicks and unnecessary propaganda against the then rulling Govt of Dr Agagu. That was what prompted me to counter all arguments as relating to the govrnment of the Agagu led administration. The truth is the appellate Court has decleared Dr Mimiko as the duly elected Gov but that will not in any way negate the fact that Dr Agagu’s Administration has been the best so far in the development history of this State, Dr Mimiko now has a huge task ahead of him to beat this record if he will retain the convidence the entire citizen of the State impose on him. I will still applaud him if he follows the development trend in Ondo state but will still remain castigative if he digresses and seek his selfish ambition that he’s well known with. Have a swell day.
Mr Ologbon,
Eku tactical psycophancy. People like you are the ones giving youths and younger people bad names. Only God knows how much you were paid for this your Agagu is good song. Sugbon, eranti eyin ola o.