The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has congratulated the Governor of Osun State and candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s election, Ogbeni Rauf 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 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 State 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, Olayinka Oyebode, said he was confident that Osun State will witness a greater level of development in all spheres of life during 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 was 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 State election.
Fayemi added: “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.”
A former governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ogbeni Lanre Banjo, has also congratulated Aregbesola on his victory.
Banjo, in a statement on Sunday, saluted the citizens of the state for shunning violence for peace and for trooping out to exercise their birthrights amidst terror.
He commended officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission who oversaw the election for not allowing the agents of darkness to use them as pawns.
He praised all the officials for patriotically avoiding the impairment of their independence.
He said he “rejoiced with his fellow Ogbeni, a dogged fighter, his colleague on the street, the man who is adept on how to deal with PhDs, those with and without Ds, and those with Phs only”.
He added: “Nigerians must learn from the event in the State of Osun. The resolve of the Osun citizens to exercise their rights without succumbing to threats, and their unyielding determination not to allow delinquents to preside over their affairs is commendable. They have twice rejected the man imposed from the prison, the Consultant Extraordinary, to be their Senator and now to be their Governor. They have proven to the whole world that they had no hand in that imposition. For these and more, I applaud them.
“Now that the election is the State of Osun is over, the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega must assemble his foot soldiers in INEC and objectively engage them in “lesson learnt” for improvement on the subsequent elections. INEC had done its best, but must please consider to change the requirement of accreditation first and voting later.
“In Ondo, 1.64 million people were registered to vote, but only 645,597 were accredited and 624,659 actually voted which implied that 20,938 voters decided not to go back to the polling booths due to the crude manner we conduct our elections. In Edo, 1.6 million voters registered to vote, 667,993 were accredited and 629,461 voters actually voted. Again 38, 532 people did not go back to the polling booths due to the unrefined manner we conduct our elections.
“In Anambra, 1.8 million Nigerians registered to vote, 300,000 voted in 2010, only 17% of the registered voters. I have been crying out that this accreditation first and vote later system needs to be changed. The system disenfranchises many including the elites who are not willing to be exposed to the risks associated with voting in Nigeria. This exposure to risks needs to be minimized by encouraging a system where people who want to come in, get accredited, vote, leave and those who want to hang around could be accommodated. Ekiti figures are not available yet, but I am sure it will be the same trend. The State of Osun has approximately 1.4million registered voters, while figures of accredited voters are not available, it can be concluded that many did go back to vote based on the result of the election.
“The leadership of the All Progressive Congress must critically engage in self review of certain issues tearing the party apart. Governor Aregbesola’s ecumenical approach yielded fruits. He managed the State of Osun in his first term without rancor from his fellow party members. He even extended collegiate hands to members of the opposition party including the National Conscience Party in a matured manner not witnessed in any other State. Unlike many in his position, he does not feel conceited, and he respects those who are not yet Governors. Aregbe’s style must be studied and emulated.”
The Labour Party governorship candidate in the June 21 election in Ekiti State, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has congratulated Aregbesola also.
He described Aregbesola’s victory as well deserved and a further entrenchment of democracy in the country.
Bamidele in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Sunday by his Media Aide, Ahmed Salami, described Aregbesola as a thorough-bred and simple politician, who understands the feelings of his people, saying: “His victory did not come as a surprise.”
Bamidele, who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, posited that the return of the unassuming and
maverick governor for a second term by the Osun State electorate, had confirmed that his first term had actually met the yearnings of the people beyond rhetorics and media hype, which is fast becoming the way of politicians lacking in substance.
The LP chieftain added that Aregbesola’s victory had taught a great lesson that politicians with track record of achievements would automatically win the hearts of their people, not minding the complexity and dynamism of their environment.
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