Jonathan to reconcile Jimoh Ibrahim, Mimiko, promises to partner Ondo on devt.

President Goodluck Jonathan has promised that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would resolve the differences between Olusegun Mimiko, governor of Ondo state, former PDP governorship candidate in the state, Olusola Oke as well as Jimoh Ibrahim, a top businessman who hails from the state.

Jonathan made the promise on Wednesday in Akure during the PDP presidential campaign rally.

Jonathan  said that the Federal Government would be able to work with leaders to bring the dividends of democracy to the state if only they consider the interests of the state.

“We have issues in Ondo State.

`` The party will work very hard to make sure that Jimoh Ibrahim, Gov. Olusegun Mimiko and Olusola Oke, the three main contenders in the state chapter, sit down together and talk about the interest of the state.

"They must not sit down to discuss personal things or individual interest. They must work together to make sure that, collectively, we attain the development of Ondo State and the nation.

"Everything about politics is the people, not self. I know how I came into politics. Politics is about the people; but for the people, I wouldn't have been here today.

"I did not join politics because I wanted something for myself. So I am encouraging every politician to think about the people," he said.

Jonathan promised that the Federal Government will work with the Ondo State Government to further develop the state if re-elected in the Feb. 14 presidential election.

"All we request from you is your votes.

`` When you vote massively for us to ensure we remain in power beyond 2015, we will work with your government to make sure that we give you the best," the president said.

Earlier, Mimiko, had said that the people of the state were supporting Jonathan on principle.

He said the president's transformation agenda had brought unprecedented development to the country.

The governor assured the president of massive votes in the state because of the recent merger of the PDP and the Labour Party, saying this was an electoral asset.

Vice-president Namadi Sambo also appealed to the people to vote massively for all PDP candidates in the elections.

According to him, power generation, which stood at just 2, 000 megawatts in 2011, was now over 4, 000 megawatts under Jonathan's administration.

He said that the president had also added 20, 000 tarred roads to the mere 5, 000 he met in 2011 while he had revived the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

It would be recalled that Ibrahim and Mimiko have been at logger heads for years, but their differences have become more worrisome since October 2014 when the governor defected to PDP, which Ibrahim is a member of.

In March 2011, the state government petitioned the presidency over Ibrahim’s utterances during a face-off with the governor.

Mimiko had coincidentally met Ibrahim at the airport and decided to symapthise with him over the kidnap of his mother but not only did Ibrahim snub the governor, he was also quoted to have said that he would “deal with Mimiko”.

 “Jimoh Ibrahim pointed angrily at the governor and bellowed, ‘Look, am not interested in your greetings,” Kolawole Olabisi, the then chief press secretary to Mimiko, said in a statement.

 “I will ensure that we burn Ondo state down and burn you with it. I will deal with you and your bunch of rabble rousers.”