Mimiko joins APC, declares support for Nigeria’s development drive

Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, on Thursday formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Ward 7 in Ondo, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area.

Speaking during the event, Mimiko said he was attracted to the party by what he described as the developmental strides of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu across the country.

“There are a lot of good things being done by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government, though much more will still have to be done.

“I am coming in to lend my support to ongoing efforts to keep Nigeria on the path of peace, progress and genuine development.”

The former governor also commended the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, NELFUND, for expanding access to education, while backing ongoing efforts towards state policing.

“The NELFUND initiative to democratise access to education is another commendable effort of Mr President which must be applauded and, for an avowed supporter of State Police like myself, the current effort to decentralise policing as being pursued is another reason I am happy to be part of the current effort under Mr President,” he added.

Mimiko had earlier resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after months of political speculation surrounding his next move.

The former governor, who had remained largely inactive within the PDP in recent times, said at the point of his resignation that he needed to formally clarify his status after being distanced from party activities.

He was received into the APC by Ward 7 executives, leaders of the party from Ondo East and West local government areas, as well as the state chairman of the APC, Kolawole Babatunde.

Welcoming him into the party, Babatunde described Mimiko as “a progressive in all ramifications,” citing his achievements in health, education and infrastructure during his time in office, saying, “Mimiko is a progressive all through and his coming into the APC is like a homecoming.”

He added that the policies and initiatives of Tinubu were yielding positive results capable of attracting more progressive-minded Nigerians into the APC.

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Also speaking, former member of the House of Representatives, Joseph Iranola Akinlaja, said Mimiko’s defection marked the final consolidation of the former governor’s political structure within the APC in Ondo State.

“Before now, some of us had moved into the APC mostly with his consent, but now feel fully satisfied that he has finally joined us so that we can all contribute to the landslide electoral success of President Tinubu and all the party’s candidates in subsequent elections,” Akinlaja said.

Among the dignitaries at the event were the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji; former Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Fasoranti; Senator Gbenga Ogunniya; and the member representing Ondo East/West Federal Constituency, Abiola Makinde, among others.