Date Published: 03/22/11

Vote LP and defend your votes – Mimiko

Gov. Mimiko addressing a mammoth crowd at Ore

Governor Olusegun Mimiko led the Labour Party in Ondo State on its first election mega rally yesterday in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the Southern Senatorial District where he called on the people to vote for the Labour Party as well as defend their votes.

Addressing a mammoth crowd of party faithful at the Government Field, Ore, Mimiko said the only thing that can keep the rigging machine of the PDP in Ondo State in check is the vigilance and resilience of the people in the April 2011 election.

Lacing his songs and jibes at the PDP, Mimiko, who is the only Labour Party governor in the country said he is convinced that the Labour Party, by the massive impact on the life of the people in just two years and the feedback received from the people, is the only credible platform to continue the revolution in governance initiated under his government.

“We promised four years ago to deliver the promises of democracy in an unprecedented manner, the results are there for all to see in areas of health, education, markets, roads and other infrastructure both in the urban as well as the rural centres. We are building roads, schools health centres and changing the face of the State and in doing this we feel you, the people, we fell what you feel because we are where you are.

“What has become obvious is that the PDP in the state has no clue as to how to win any vote having squandered the last opportunity. They are only concerned with ways to rig elections and prevent lawful votes across the State having not made the most of the opportunity they had until 2007 when they were voted out of office. They also messed up with the two illegitimate years between 2007 and 2009, Mimiko said.

Taking a swipe at the PDP on violence and insecurity he said: “We know they are stockpiling arms, we know they are recruiting young men and women to help them foment trouble. We also know they are trying to move fake police officers into some identified locations across the state to intimidate the people into apathy and submission. Their thinking is that if you are prevented from voting, they can inflate figures and announce fake results. So, you have to prevent them; and the way to do just that is to vote and wait to see the result of your votes declared.” He then presented the candidates of the party to all the positions to the people.

While addressing the mass of party supporters, the Deputy National Chairman of the Labour party, Comrade Dayo Akinlaja said the people of the State cannot afford to concede one seat to the PDP as that will be a hint that evil deserve some reward. Said he: “With the likes of Agagu still carrying on as if they did not fritter away the time and resources of the State in the two years of illegitimate occupation and usurpation of the peoples’ vote, you, the electorates ought to treat them as political outcast and nothing more. They have not atoned in any way for such crimes as rigging, vote manipulation and sorts of malfeasance which turned the people against them in 2007. More than these, they have no track record of ever truly and correctly representing the electorates, hence they deserve only ridicule, scorn and rejection from you, the electorates.”

Dr. Olaiya Oni, the State Chairman of the party while speaking on the party’s candidates across the state said: “The labour party and its candidates remain the best for the people of the State both for true representation and respect for the will of the people. We know that you know that a man who for six years of temporary residence in Akure felt you were too unimportant to matter will not, now that he will either be in Abuja or Ibadan, think you are better than unnecessary irritants. What to do therefore is to resoundingly reject Agagu and the PDP in all the elections.”

The women leader of the party, Lady Yemi Mahmud enjoined the women to come out en-masse to vote on the days of election asking them to also prevent their children from being used as thugs and instruments of violence.

All the speakers took time out to educate the people on the logo of the party and how to vote in the forthcoming election.

The rally witnessed by more than a hundred thousand supporters of the party also had cultural displays, dance by various women groups, artisans and market women.