BEVERLY HILLS, November 21, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, separately met behind closed doors with the outgoing Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President was in Ondo State at the weekend to campaign for the APC candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, while the Ondo Governorship election takes place on Saturday,
The meeting between the President and Governor Mimiko, a staunch supporter one of the aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede, to emerge as his successor, lasted about 30 minutes.
Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Mimiko denied the allegation that he was planning to dump the PDP for APC saying he
was in the Villa to brief the President on the security situation in his state.
“What is frequent. This is my second visit to the villa since this crisis in our party started,” he said.
“Like I said, as the chief security officer of my state, if there is any credible threat to security, I owe the responsibility to Nigerians to apprise Mr. President of what is
going on in the state.
“Mr. President was in my state to campaign for his party. I extended to him the courtesy of receiving him at the airport and seeing him off as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not as APC.
“I understand that people have speculated that this means I am going to APC. There is nothing of such. I only extended him normal courtesy that protocols demand.
“As a governor and chief security officer of the state, if the President is visiting, no matter the party he belongs, it is only appropriate.”
The President later met with Amosun who arrived the Presidential Villa around 4 p.m.
Journalists waiting to know the purpose of the visit dispersed when many staff in the President’s office closed for the day as the governor was believed to have followed the President to his official residence.
Story by Oputah David
