APC alleges plot by Mimiko to travel out ahead of handover date

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo  State says it has discovered a plot by the outgoing Gov. Olusegun Mimiko to proceed on vacation ahead of Feb. 23 handover date.

The Party Publicity Secretary, Abayomi  Adesanya, made the allegation  in  a  statement in Akure on Tuesday.

He alleged that Mimiko planned to abscond before the expiration of his eight years tenure.

“If this happens, it will create complexities and pit-holes in the smooth take-off for incoming Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

“Mimiko’s plan is designed to create complexity and pit-holes in the smooth take-off of the new administration as against the seamless transition he once promised.

“Mimiko  is  making  plans  to  relocate  to  Canada or  China,  thereby evading  possible  arrest  by Economic and  Financial  Crimes Commission (EFCC)  for  interrogation and  prosecution  and to launder his last minutes loots.

“The  governor  has  concluded  plans to proceed on a 10-day vacation  and  to  delegate  power  to  his  deputy  to act  as governor  prior  to the handing  over date.

“He had transmitted a notification letter the state House of Assembly  under  the  leadership  of  the  former  Speaker, Ms Jumoke  Akindele,  some  days  before  her  removal  from  office  over  N15 million fraud  allegation.

“This arrangement failed  because  the  former  Speaker  could  not announce or read  the  governor’s  vacation  letter  at  the plenary  as  a  result  of  her  removal,’’ he said.

Adesanya alleged that Mimiko planned to sneak out of the country to a neighbouring country through the land border, before travelling through a chartered flight to either Canada or China.

“We, therefore,  call  on  security  agencies to beef-up security  and surveillance in and around the country’s borders to prevent the  outgoing governor  and  his  cronies from  escaping with alleged state’s looted funds,’’ he stated.

Reacting to the allegation, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, described it as the imagination of the writer.

“Am a member of the transition committee and am aware that the governor and the governor-elect met three days ago to fine-tune the transition programme and they had useful discussion.

“I am aware that there are lined up projects to be commissioned by the governor between now and the handover day, so if somebody is coming up that the governor is planning to proceed on vacation, that means such person is coming from outer space.

“This is concocted information. There is no outer of truth in what he is saying,’’ Akinmade said.