Following the formal declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the early hours of Sunday, of the incumbent Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as the winner of Saturday’s gubernatorial election, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has congratulated his brother Governor for a well-deserved victory.
In a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Fashola congratulated Aregbesola, the people and government of the State of Osun for a well-fought and won election in spite of intimidation and harassment by agencies of the ruling opposition party who sought to militarize the State during the event.
The Governor said the victory of his brother Governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of the State of Osun would remain a strong indicator of the victory of truth over falsehood pointing out that no matter the amount of pressure or intimidation to suppress them, the ultimate power rests on the people in a democracy.
“The ordinary people of the State of Osun have spoken the truth about their Governor and the people-oriented policies of the All Progressives Congress. It could be possible to deny what is being said but certainly it is not possible to deny what the eyes could see. The State of Osun, like every other State under the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, remains a proof of our resolve to lead the people of Nigeria to a better rewarding future”, he said.
Governor Fashola also congratulated all members and supporters as well as the leadership of APC nationwide for the well-deserved victory urging them to work harder towards the other tasks ahead.
Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole also congratulated Aregbesola on his re-election victory, saying the wide margin of the victory is a validation of the confidence reposed in the Governor by the people to move the State of Osun to greater heights.
In a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole said “I have seen a new lease of life for the people of the State of Osun over the past three and half years due to the radical improvements in the quality of governance you introduced. It is gratifying to note that you have restored a people-driven governance, reminiscent of the Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige eras, thus placing you firmly in the pantheon of the greats to have come from that part of the country.
“The wide margin of the votes you recorded in your re-election victory over your closest rival in a clear testimony of your doggedness and the confidence reposed in you by the good people of the State in your ability to move the State of Osun forward and position it among the best in the country.
“Above all, your victory has strengthened the Progressive Movement nationally and further enhanced its capacity to positively affect the direction of the nation’s polity.
“I salute the people of the State of Osun for choosing to toe the path of positive progressivism and lasting legacies over the politics of stomach infrastructure which the other party has introduced into the nation’s political lexicon.
“As you settle down to the business of governance in your second term, I wish you greater and quality achievements in your efforts to reposition the State of Osun. I assure you of the continued solidarity of the people and Government of Edo State.”
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State in a statement issued in Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said the wild jubilation that trailed the announcement of Aregbesola as winner showed that the result was representative of the will of the people of Osun State.
While describing Aregbesola’s victory as a well-deserved one, the Ajimobi attributed it to outstanding performance of his Osun State counterpart in his first term as well as the love of the people of the state for the APC and the ideals which it stood for.
Ajimobi, Adedayo wrote, “commended the people of the state for their collective resolve to say `No’ to the reactionary forces who he said were bent on returning Osun State to the path of retrogression and for voting for continuity of good governance which the Aregbesola administration represented.”
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, also congratulated Aregbesola on his re-election for a second term in office.
Describing the outcome of the election as an expression of the will of the people, Fayemi said Governor Aregbesola’s victory was well deserved in view of the positive impact of his administration on the lives of the people of the state.
He however said that the Osun electorate deserves even a much bigger congratulations for rewarding Aregbesola’s exemplary and transformational leadership with electoral victory.
Fayemi in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, said he was confident that Osun State will witness a greater level of development in all spheres of life during Governor Aregbesola’s second term in office.
Governor Fayemi, who flayed the security clampdown on the state and unwarranted arrest and detention of APC leaders before and during the period of the election, said it gratifying, however, seeing the people’s power triumph in spite of these ugly incidents.
He also commended the leadership of APC for increasing its vigilance ahead of the Osun election.
“This is indeed a well-deserved victory. We congratulate Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the people of Osun State. It is victory for democracy, integrity and performance.
“The election in Osun has shown that performance still counts in electoral contest and that the average voter, if allowed to make his /her choice freely, would vote for the candidate and the party that have the greater impact on their lives.
“On behalf of myself, the government and good people of Ekiti State, we heartily congratulate Governor Aregbesola on his re-election. We also congratulate the people of the state as they get set for another term of purposeful leadership under the APC-led government of Governor Rauf Aregbesola” Fayemi added.
