;No agreement on office sharing with Mimiko – PDP

Ondo State governor, Dr. Mimiko

Embattled executive council of the People’s Democratic Party in Ondo State has reacted to statements made by Governor Olusegun Mimiko on the state of the party, saying that no decision was reached on the sharing of positions in the state chapter of the party.

A statement by the State Organising  Secretary, Afolabi Akinbowale, in Akure on Thursday said the governor’s claims were untrue as there was a disagreement on the sharing of the positions and further reconciliatory meetings were being expected.

The statement was in response to the assertions by Mimiko that he had made a modest claim on 14 out of the 27 positions in the structure of the party, but the executive members were unyielding.

He said, “It must be put on record that the Senate President was commissioned to  head the reintegration and reconciliation committee for the southwest, therein Ondo State. In furtherance of his assignment the senate president called a meeting wherein Dr. Mimiko requested that he be given the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Secretary, Organizing Secretary among  other State Executive positions.

“The negotiation broke down because Mr. Governor was unwilling to shift grounds as PDP leaders agreed that some positions in the State Executive be conceded to him. However, the leaders were quick to  call the attention of the senate president to the lopsidedness in the request, therefore, the Chairman and the Secretary of  the party cannot be in the same bundle met for the Governor, rather the two positions be separated in different bundles met for both groups.

“Also, the  leaders from the side of PDP equally requested for positions in government wherein those relieved of their positions and interested leaders could occupy, which the Senate President agreed to, as a way of forging proper integration.

“However, Mr. Governor refused to accept the request . This logjam necessitated another meeting called by the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan and Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the National Chairman where the apex leadership gave a directive that the Senate President Dr. David Mark should continue with proper reintegration and reconciliation and submit agreement reached to the party for implementation.

“However, the leadership of the party in Ondo State is expecting invitation from the senate president to a meeting.  Therefore, no agreement whatsoever has been reached or purported to have been reached.”

Akinbowale notes that the party leaders in the state were not indisciplined, even as the governor had promised to be fair to all.

According to him, David Mark was asked to submit a report of the reconciliation for implementation by the National Working Committee, but instead a parallel secretariat has been created where membership cards are being issued to people.

He said his group was prepared to work with Mimiko, but added that, “A landlord should not be made a tenant in his house.”

Source- Punch