by Rachel Ogbu
The factional Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Olusegun Mimiko, and the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Dan Nwayanwu, have questioned video clips recorded during the NGF election held last Friday in Abuja.
On Wednesday at the democracy lecture delivered by the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs. Bola Akinterinwa, in Akure, Mimiko who is also Ondo State Governor described the release of the 10-minute video clips as the height of propaganda by the pro-Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s camp, challenged the originators to release the three-hour recording of the entire process.
[READ: NGF Crisis: Video footage confirms Rotimi Amaechi defeated Jonah Jang (WATCH) ]
Mimiko reportedly said:
“Nigerians should ask the pro-Amaechi’s group why he presided over an election, which he is also contesting. I specifically raised that issue and insisted that he must resign but his supporters maintained that he should supervise the poll as a sitting chairman.
“They asked me whether I resigned my position while seeking a re-election for a second term in office and I replied them that it was not the same thing, because the NGF is like an association; not a democratic institution which had its existence entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“When it was obvious that we could not guarantee the source of the ballot boxes and ballot papers brought by Amaechi, I protested again that we should conduct the election openly by raising up our hands in support of our preferred candidate, again, they rejected.
“The ballot papers they produced were without serial numbers, and we discovered this was a fraud; hence there were protests.
“They never captured all these facts but merely recorded the fraction of the process, which was in line with their pre-determined agenda. I challenge them to release the clips which will cover the entire three-exercise.”
The Punch reports:
Nwayanwu, who also described the purported emergence of Ameachi as the factional chairman of the NGF as a fraud, said he ought to have given up the claim to NGF chairman when it was obvious that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had pitched its tent with Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau state.
He also said since election had never been held to produce the NGF Chairman, the emergence of Amaechi could not have been in comformity with the regulations setting up the organisation.
The LP chairman said the fact that 18 out of the 35 governors that voted attended the meeting called by Jang as NGF head, cast moral burden on the 19 votes Amaechi purported to have got in the election held a day earlier.
Nwayanwu said since the days of Governor Adamu Abdullahi of Nasarawa State to Dr. Bukola Saraki of Kwara state, election had never been held for the chairmanship position of NGF. He, therefore, wondered where Amaechi got his legitimacy from.
He said, “Amaechi should not allow overzealous and anxious politicians to destroy his future. He is still young, about 48 years old now. He should go back and reconcile with his party.
“A party is always supreme. If he cannot abide by the philosophy of the PDP, he is free to leave. He can join the APC or come to LP; but in our party, the party is always supreme.”
Mr jonathan and mr mimiko,How 19 loss To 16?explain to nigeria. But remember ur six fit
You can imagine Mimiko saying this “Why Amaechi’s victory is fraudulent” “The ballot papers they produced were witout serial no, & we discover this was a fraud; hence there were protests. “They never captured all these facts(what fact?) but merely recorded the fraction of the process, which was in line with their pre-determined agenda. I challenge them to release the clips which will cover the entire three-exercise.” – remember this is just an election in which just 35 Governor where present, do u need to go and prints voting paper with serial no b4 u u can do election ni?
Mimiko don’t have moral value to question if a proccess is a fraud, that is a fact and the truth.. Our incumbent is a classic Scammer! I hope Dr GEJ had paid him hansomely for the role he is playing? Or he is doing that so fg might prevail over the appeal court judgement? This Naija democracy my broda na season film, absolute nothing to write home about. Sad! Sad!! Sad!!!
Its a pity Gov mimiko is saying dis n lp chairman we knw u r a pdp agent frm tym n its evident u ppl voted dis ur points are baseless,imagin an intelect sayin he askd d govs to raise dia hand up wia is dt obtainable in d annals of truwe dederalism pls dont stain ursef reetrace ur foeet
Orunmila will bless u more 4 being a true n truthfull YORUBA man!!!! Nigeria shall soon know Which of the party want GOOd 4 dem! Amaechi is a TRAITOR!!! N he shall soon be treated like one, yes we have many bad pple in PDP b4 but! As we can see all d BAD governors in PDP are re-grouping themself with amaechi to take us back but GOD wll not allow them, GEJ must remain as our SAVIOR till 2019. Whoever dnt lik it shld look around he/her’s street n HUG any TRANFORMER….
Gov mimiko,pls stay of ngf crisis,u ar a democrat per excellence.don't let this stain ur white linen
Mimiko, now we know that you did resign as governor before contesting your second term?
Instead of you to be ashamed of yourself for causing yourself shame last Friday you are still making unnecessary noise about NGF election that you also voted.
Oshimili and Mustapha….why r u guys leaning in the fools direction? You people should be wise and therefore speak wisely…Mimiko, nothing do u…these new generation don’t know much…but I can’t blame them…they r d direct product of bad leadership…
Olusegun,you fall my hand, i was looking at you before as intelligent person not knowing that you got nothing upstair,how will you separate ONDO from other yoruba party, do you remember that it was ACN that helped you retrieved your mandate from the same pdp that you are now courting.
Governor Mimiko of Ondo State is not only a disgrace to revered Yoruba race but also to humanity. He has demonstrated how dishonest and fraudulent he is in this NGF saga. No wonder he used forged security documents to oust PDP governor in 2007 gubernatorial election through court. Mr Forger Mimiko posterity will judge you.