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The dispirited
camp of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State received a major
boost yesterday when business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim was unveiled as the
latest member of the party in the state.

The state chapter
of the PDP, which has been enmeshed in crises since the Labour Party
took over administration of the state, came alive as some party
loyalists stormed the party’s secretariat along Oyemekun Road to give
Mr. Ibrahim a heroic welcome. Hundreds of former PDP members, including
its leaders, have defected in droves to the Labour in recent weeks.

However, speaking
at the official welcome reception, Mr. Ibrahim told party members that
he decided to join the party in order to make it more vibrant. The
Igbotako born businessman, who described himself as a beneficiary of
PDP’s good governance of the country, said the party would bounce back
into reckoning in Ondo State.

Mr. Ibrahim, who
was the gubernatorial candidate of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in
the 2003 General Election, however said time is not yet ripe to discuss
his political ambition. He spoke against the background of reports that
he is moving into the PDP to actualize his plan of governing the state.

“ The aim of
joining the party was to make it virile in the state so that it can win
election both at the local, state and national levels,” he said. ‘‘It
is not about any election. I join the party to work together with the
leaders to re-build it. If it is about contesting elections, I can
contest under any party. Afterall, I have the resources to contest for
any position. I benefited a lot from the party. It was the PDP
government that confer on me the Order of Federal Republic (OFR)
honour. So, I am ready to work for the party.” He also said the PDP
government had appointed him into various boards, including being
Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Commenting on whether his current action will pitch him against the incumbent governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko,
whom many believed he supported in winning the 2007 election, Mr
Ibrahim said the governor would always remain his friend.

“A friend is always
a friend. I can assist anybody. Nobody has a monopoly of assistance. As
far as I am concerned, party affiliation cannot disturb my friendship
with anybody.

Moreover, Mimiko himself was a former member of the PDP,” he said.

Mr. Ibrahim, a
lawyer and businessman, ventured into politics in 1998 when he became a
member of the All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP). He was picked as the
party’s governorship candidate, but lost to Olusegun Agagu in the 2003
governorship election.

After his failure
in the governorship election, Mr. Ibrahim announced his withdrawal from
politics to focus on his business. After Mr. Agagu was removed by the
Court of Appeal, Mr. Ibrahim became close to him as a way of
solidarising with his kinsman. He is also said to be keen on having
another go at the governorship post.

Some politicians
are, however, of the opinion that the zoning formula might not favour
Mr. Ibrahim considering the fact that he is from the southern
senatorial district, same as Agagu.

In the last couple
of months, many bigwigs of the party have openly defected to the Labour
Party, mostly especially commissioners and chairmen of board and
parstatals during the immediate past government of Governor Agagu.

The party’s woes
were also worsened with the recent development in the state house of
assembly, which Labour Party is now in control of. At least three PDP
lawmakers have boosted the camp of the ruling government with their
recent defection to the ruling party.