Governor Mimiko Stops Salaries Of His Deputy’s Aides

Following the defection of the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko has allegedly ordered the stoppage of the the salaries and allowances of all the deputy governor’s aides.

A competent source, who disclosed this to DAILY POST, said Mimiko took the decision in order to witch-hunt all those who are loyal to the deputy governor.

Sources confided in DAILY POST that Mimiko had initially given an order to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Isaac Eke to withdraw all the security aides of Olanusi and also prevent him from having access to all official vehicles met for the office of the deputy governor. The source however added that immediately Buhari was declared winner on Tuesday by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, the State Commissioner of Police, Eke immediately returned Olanusi’s security details, while he was also allowed to have access to all the grounded vehicles.

The source said: “You know Baba Olanusi’s defection came as a rude shock to Governor Mimiko; he never believed Baba will defect to APC because as at Tuesday, before the Presidential election, both of them and other PDP leaders were all together at the First Lady, Patience Jonathan’s rally in Akure.

“It is the style of the governor, he never forgives people easily, and Olanusi is well prepared for this huge task ahead. Immediately the information reached the governor that his deputy has defected, which was just two days to the Presidential election, he directed the Commissioner of Police to withdraw all the security personnel attached to the office of the deputy governor and also grounded all the vehicles belonging to the office. But the Commissioner of Police returned all the security men of Baba on Tuesday because they sense that Mr. President Goodluck Jonathan has lost.

“The latest thing was that he had given a directive that they should stop the salaries of all aides of Baba Olanusi. This is Mimiko’s style. If you are not in his camp again, he will be looking for means to hunt you down. A leopard can never change his skin. How can you stop the salaries of the aides of your deputy just because he defected to another party. Mimiko is the king of defectors, his political life has never been stable before.

“When the Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s deputy defected, did he withdraw his security details or stop the salaries of his aides? Mimiko must learn how to tolerate people”.

Confirming this maltreatment, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the deputy governor, Daisi Ajayi, said it was true that Olanusi’s security details and vehicles were removed before it was returned on Tuesday.

He also confirmed that there was a directive from the office of the state governor to stop the allowances and salaries of all the political aides working with the deputy governor.

Efforts to confirm the directive from the state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade did not succeed as he did not pick calls to his mobile phone.