Pictures at event 

Former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, on Thursday explained the reasons behind his decision to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, saying he was impressed by the developmental strides of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Mimiko formally joined the APC at Ward 7 in Ondo City, the headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, where he was received by party leaders, ward executives and supporters.

Speaking shortly after his reception into the party, the former governor said several initiatives of the Tinubu administration convinced him that the country was on the path of progress and development.

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

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

The former governor particularly commended the Nigerian Education Loan Fund initiative, describing it as a major step towards expanding access to education for young Nigerians.

“The NELFUND initiative to democratise access to education is another commendable effort of Mr. President which must be applauded,” he stated.

Mimiko also identified the ongoing efforts to decentralise policing in the country as one of the reasons he decided to align with the APC-led Federal Government.

“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.

The former governor had earlier resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party after months of speculation over his political future.

Although many of his loyalists and close political associates had defected to the APC ahead of the last governorship election in Ondo State, Mimiko had remained in the PDP while largely staying away from active participation in the party’s affairs.

In his resignation letter from the PDP, Mimiko said he decided to formally clarify his political status following persistent inquiries and speculations.

According to him, having distanced himself from the activities of the PDP for some time, it had become necessary to publicly state that he was “no longer a member of the PDP.”

At the reception ceremony, the Ondo State Chairman of the APC, Kolawole Babatunde, described Mimiko as a progressive politician whose return to the APC amounted to a homecoming.

Welcoming the former governor on behalf of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and members of the party in the state, Babatunde praised Mimiko’s record in office, especially in the areas of healthcare, education and infrastructure.

“Mimiko is a progressive in all ramifications, having posted remarkable results in health, education, infrastructure and many other areas both in and out of office. His coming into the APC is like a homecoming,” he said.

The APC chairman also hailed Tinubu’s policies and programmes, saying they were yielding positive results across the country.

“President Tinubu’s initiatives and efforts are progressive in nature and are producing results that are attracting other progressive-minded Nigerians into the party,” he added.

Also speaking, former member of the House of Representatives representing Ondo East/West Federal Constituency, Joseph Iranola Akinlaja, said Mimiko’s defection signified the final movement of the former governor’s political structure into the APC.

“Before now, some of us had moved into the APC mostly with his consent, but we 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 APC candidates in future elections,” Akinlaja said.

Among dignitaries present at the event were the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji; Commissioner for Infrastructure, Hon. Olawoye Ayorinde; former Commissioner, Chief Mrs Lola Fagbemi; former Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; Senator Gbenga Ogunniya; and the member representing Ondo East/West Federal Constituency, Abiola Makinde, among others.