Mimiko free to return, says Labour Party chieftain

Ladi Iliya,  deputy national chairman of Labour Party (LP), says Olusegun Mimiko, governor of Ondo state, is free to return to his former party.

The two-term governor won his elections on the platform of the party, but defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on October 3, 2014.

Iliya, who described Mimiko as a “politician of repute”, said no one would prevent the governor if he makes the move.

“The governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, and his followers are free to come back to Labour Party,” Iliya told NAN.

“Gov. Mimiko is a person to be reckoned with politically and he is free today if he decides to come back to Labour Party.

“Nobody will stop him because he has contributed his quota to the party and he has worked in Ondo state as governor under the Labour party.

“Whether we like it or not, when we write the history of Ondo State and the performance of Gov. Mimiko, the Labour Party will be mentioned.”

Iliya said the defection of the governor from Labour Party was not personal, but a decision of the majority of his followers.

“When we talk of politics, some people do not look at the party. Some look at the person and it is what your people want you to do that you do,” he said.

“As far as lam concerned, l will not blame Gov. Mimiko for leaving our party for another party because he did not go there as a person.

“It was the same group of people who asked him to contest under the Labour Party that also asked him to go to another party.”