Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has said the passion of the people of the state for the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in the coming election, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede,( SAN), was becoming higher as a result of the injustice done to him temporarily, by removing his name from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list.
He said the recent crisis in the state was a battle of the Lord and had been taken care of by God himself.
“Despite the little challenges because of people who want to short change the people of Ondo State who don’t know what the people of Ondo State want, the passion for the man they wanted to remove his name from the ballot paper is growing up the more,” the governor stated.
Mimiko, who thanked the religious people in the state for their persistent prayers for the prevailing peace in the state, even as he thanked God for the sustained peace.
In the same vein, Jegede said he was very close to retrieving his mandate using the instrumentality of the rule of law.
Speaking with newsmen following the decision of the Special Panel of the Appeal Court to grant him Leave to appeal Justice Okon Abang’s ruling which ordered the substitution of his name with that of Jimoh Ibrahim, as PDP candidate for the November 26 governorship election.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the judiciary to correct all manipulations of his candidacy by those opposed to democracy.
“I again reiterate that I am absolutely committed to the rule of law, I have submitted my grievances to the courts and despite the contrivance and manipulation by those who are opposed to democracy, we have been vindicated at the first step and God willing, we will continue to “trudge on”.
There is no looking back, we are here because we have the interest of the people at heart,” he said.
He thanked the people for always standing by him through the thick and thin, restating his optimism of partaking and winning this month’s governorship election.
“I remain indebted to the wonderful people of Ondo state who have always remained steadfast with us knowing full well that this is one project that will succeed no matter the volume of opposition from any quarter”
Jegede also appealed to his supporters to intensify their campaigns across the nook and crannies of the state.
Meanwhile, one of Eyitayo Jegede’s counsel, Dayo Akinlaja, SAN has said consequent upon the prayers granted by the Special Appeal Panel, including abridgement of time and departure from the normal court procedures, the appeal proper has been filed.