Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko and Publisher of Newswatch Times, Jimoh Ibrahim renewed their hostility as Ibrahim prevented the visiting President Goodluck Jonathan from presenting party’s flags to Mimiko’s anointed candidates for February elections.

President Jonathan was in Akure yesterday on his presidential campaign trip to Ondo State.

Mimiko, it was gathered, had ordered some gold plated flags to be distributed to his candidates who came with him from the Labour Party by the president.

However, President Jonathan declined and instead ordered the governor and Ibrahim to reconcile immediately, stressing that such reconciliation would only add to the already rising profile and popularity of the PDP in the state.

Ibrahim informed the president while on the podium that the governor was being smart and that the presentation of flags could not be done due to a court order of which the governor, PDP and INEC were put on notice and at which they registered appearances.

Mimiko, who looked dejected, worried and apprehensive by the refusal of the president to present the flags, had to be helped by a coterie of aides who used artificial fans to rescue the situation.

However, Ibrahim thanked the president for taking his advice at that critical moment to prevent a crisis, assuring Jonathan that all the candidates who are currently in court would abide by the decision of the court.

He said if the candidates were not given the opportunity to enforce their legal rights, they would have run away from the party.

He added the candidates pulled more than 30,000 supporters with Jonathan’s T-shirts for the rally and challenged Mimiko to show evidence of his mobilisation for the event.

Ibrahim, who faulted Mimiko’s strategy for declaring public holiday and closing down schools in the state during the president’s visit, said Jonathan’s popularity did not require public holiday.

He said before Mimiko joined PDP, Jonathan had polled 368,000 votes against his opponents, adding that there was no credible evidence to show that Mimiko’s coming to the PDP was of any advantage.

He assured the people of the state that the days of injustice, manoeuvring and strategic games would soon be over.

Adapted from Newswatch Times