Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s decision to contest for the Ondo central senatorial district of Ondo state has been greeted with joy, support and acceptance by his party members and other followers in the state.
Mimiko who initially declared his interest to run as the presidential candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has held town hall meetings in Abuja and Ibadan where he declared his interest publicly.
The events were well attended by all and sundry.
As such, observers from across the country look forward to the campaign season and election in 2019 which many believed would be a fierce contest between two major prominent Nigerians; incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and former vice president Atiku Abubakar of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and many others.
Having considered the political weight and sagacity of the above mentioned major candidates, the leadership of ZLP decided to appeal to their presidential candidate, Mimiko to rescind on his decision so that the party could channel their efforts to a more achievable goal while they can also mobilize support for either of the two popular presidential candidates. As an avid follower of the Nigerian politics, there is no mincing words that the contest/election is simply between Buhari and Atiku. ZLP corroborated this in a report recently.
As such, within the short while, the initial candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District, Gboye Adegbenro also accepted the new development and dropped his ambition to support Mimiko as ZLP senatorial candidate. This reveals orderliness, harmony and loyalty in the style of leadership adopted by ZLP in that, the sudden change of the position of the candidates did not in anyway lead to contention or acrimony in the party.
Without doubts, Mimiko’s decision to contest for senatorial seat Is quite a laudable decision. His several years of experience in the political sphere as a two time former commissioner, federal Minister, a governor is a major admirable factor which the people of the state should harness in their favor. As the saying goes that , experience is the best teacher, they will indeed have a good representative at the Senate come 2019 if Mimiko is unanimously voted in by the wellmeaning people of the district.
As an achiever with vast political experience, making relevant and effective laws that would better and uplift his people wouldn’t be a challenging task for Mimiko. He is in a familiar terrain. Mimiko already understood the political sphere of his state, the federal and Nigeria as a whole. Also to his advantage are the knowledge, ideas and understanding he has about Ondo state while he was the governor for eight years. This will in no time assist him to come up with relevant and impactful bills and projects to execute for the good of his people. He also knows the right steps to take to ensure his choice of bills are accepted and passed by leadership of the Senate. It boils down to his experience, familiarity, intelligent and goal getting nature.
Furthermore, there are some senators who are not productive. They have the opportunity of transforming their society and the lives of their electorates but they miss used or allowed the opportunity to slip away.
Some are docile and doesn’t even have an idea of what their job as a senator entails. In this age, it is important that Nigerians become active and stop voting inexperienced and corrupt leaders who are complacent and do not have an idea of what they are voted to do.
On the contrary, those who knows what to do to transfer wealth and better the lives of the people they represent wouldn’t do so because corruption and other vices have shielded their reasonings from doing the right thing.
The position of a senator requires some of the attributes of Mimiko.
His leadership and effective mandates are usually felt wherever he is chosen to lead.
Nevertheless, one or two abnormalies which marred his term when he was the governor was the salary crisis which he always has an explanation for. Unlike Chief Obafemi Awolowo who remained loyal to his party, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), until his death, some quarters do not admire Mimiko’s incessant change from one political party to the other.
Quite interesting, the records of Mimiko’ s achievements as a governor where he got several awards both internationally and nationally are everywhere in the media. More convincing would be a visit to Ondo State to see projects, historical and productive edifices in various sectors of the economy that were built and still the major structures in the state till now. Beneficiaries of his Abiye, free education, establishment of the first medical university in Nigeria, kaadi igbe Ayo projects to mention afew still show appreciation and recount how this great man whose leadership is first to none has impacted and changed destinies for the best.
Mimiko’s meritous achievements and commitment attracted the World Bank, UNICEF, Academy of Chocolate Award held in London to the state who all in appreciate of his uncommon dedication to the progress of the Ondo people gave him awards and special recognition for his great initiatives.
In 2015, the first Nigerian chocolate bar produced through the administration’s Cocoa Revolution Project won a Chocolate Silver award from the Academy of Chocolate Award, held in London
Away from all these impactful achievements which are too numerous to mention here, Mimiko definitely knows what is expected of him to create an atmosphere of relevance and progress for his people at the Senate.
As it is a known fact, the people of Ondo state are enlightened, forthright, diligent, intelligent and courageous.
Therefore, It is of utmost importance for them to elect an assertive, experienced , visionary political leader to represent them at the Senate.
