Thanks Buhari, Oyegun, loyal govs
Time for reconciliation, say APC chair, Tinubu
Observers laud INEC, Fayose kicks
By Bode Olagoke, Joshua Egbodo, Moses John, Abuja, Oyibo Salihu, Lokoja and Rotimi Ojomoyela, Ado-Ekiti
In a sharp departure from the past during which elections were marred by violence, the people of Ondo state at the weekend exhibited peaceful conduct at the poll, which yesterday produced Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), of the All Progressives Congress as governor-elect.
In accepting the mandate, Akeredolu who spoke at his residence in Owo, said his victory was “a result of people embracing change across the country,” promising that the peoples welfare would top his administration’s priority.
Besides, the governor–in-waiting expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, the party’s chair, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the ‘faithful’ APC governors who stood by him all through the campaign.
Conspicuously, however, the governor-elect did not acknowledge the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was visibly absent during his campaign rallies in Akure.
Despite this, the APC national leader congratulated Akeredolu on his victory and called for reconciliation of all whose feelings must have been injured since the Ondo primaries.
Although Tinubu’s associate tried to rationalise his absence on the ground that the former Lagos state governor was on medical trip abroad, party sources insisted it was because he was not in support of Akeredolu’s choice as the party’s flag bearer for the contest.
Akeredolu, in the final results as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), defeated his closest rivals and candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) with 244,842 compared to 150,380 and 126,889 of the PDP and AD respectively.
Speaking from his Owo base shortly after he was declared winner, Akeredolu called on everyone to embrace peace, adding that the safety of lives and property of the people should be of paramount importance to all.
He said: “Today, Change has come. I hereby make a solemn pledge that this collective mandate shall address all issues with keen determination. The welfare of our people alone shall be the directive policy of the government.
“Today’s victory is a confirmation of the willingness and readiness of the people of Ondo state to change and seek a better life. I thank you for your faith and confidence in me. I thank all those, whose uncommon sacrifices, contributed in no small measure to the success of the exercise. A special show of gratitude must be extended to our security agents for their patriotic duty.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank, profusely, the President and leader of our party, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his exemplary leadership. I thank our indefatigable and principled party chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, and members of the National Working Committee, APC Governors and Ministers who remained faithful to the Party for their unflinching loyalty.
“I shall in few months be saddled with the task of providing responsible leadership, a leadership that would take our people from poverty and stagnation to productivity and prosperity, from pains and lamentation to joy and laughter.
“I wish to express my profound gratitude, first, to the Almighty God whose infinite grace has allowed us to see this day. This victory is of God through the people. It is not for me or the APC alone, it is a victory for the people of Ondo state irrespective of which side of the divide you stood during the election. For me it is a challenge to perform. It is a call to rescue our state and reverse its fortunes.
“I thank the people of my dear state for their steadfastness. I have heard their messages throughout the campaign to all the nooks and crannies of the state. Today, you have spoken with one voice. You have walked your talk. You have voted for me as your Governor for the next four years.”
Let’s close ranks – Tinubu
Notwithstanding the ‘blackout’ from Akeredolu, Asiwaju Tinubu has congratulated the governor-elect and called on all “disaffected from the primary until today to come together for the good of our party and its progressive ideals.”
Full statement: Following the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with regard to the governorship elections in Ondo State, I extend congratulations to Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN. on the outcome of the election and for his perseverance and persistence in seeking that office.
I must also congratulate the people of Ondo State for their generally exemplary conduct on election day and for demonstrating their will to shun the regressive politics of yesterday by returning to the progressive brand of politics that has been the trademark of the people of that state.
I congratulate all party members in the state, particularly the party leadership in the Southwest.
Finally, I must express profound congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari, the national leader of the party, whose stature and dignity helped guide the APC to another victory that should advance the progressive aims of the party and the people.
To all the people and parties in Ondo, your election has been had and held. Now is the time that all must work for the continued development, prosperity and peace of your state and our beloved country.
I appeal to all party members including those who have been disaffected from the primary until today to come together for the good of our party and its progressive ideals.
Time for healing – Odigie-Oyegun
In a related development, APC National Chairman, Chief Odigie-Oyegun, has said with the victory the next task before the party leadership “is uniting the party and healing wounds.”
Oyegun, in a statement he personally signed on behalf of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), yesterday in Abuja, also said the outcome of the election demonstrated the confidence and trust Nigerians have in the overall leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari’s APC-led administration.
While congratulating Akeredolu and his running mate, Hon. Agboola , he assured that APC will deliver on people’s expectations.
“The APC thanks the Ondo electorate for voting for the party in the keenly-contested election. The Ondo electorate have voted for the candidate with a proven track record of performance and who will bring about the kind of focused leadership and multi-faceted development which the state deserves. The party assures that we will deliver on this expectation.”
‘INEC has improved’
Meanwhile, an election monitoring group, Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG), has said that Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo state showed a significant improvement from previous elections in the country.
It, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as the security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the poll.
The group, which deployed 79 observers and election monitors for the exercise, said there were improvements in timely arrivals of election materials to polling units as well as timely response to issues related to smart card readers’ breakdown.
In a statement by its Director, Mobilization and Public Communication/ Team Leader, Faith Nwadishi, the group described the election as “generally peaceful,” adding that voters’ turn-out was hugely impressive.
She said reports from field observers across polling units in the state indicated that early arrival of voting materials and personnel was the norm, adding that accreditation and voting started simultaneously about 8:30 am in most polling units.
“We observe that five hours after elections ended in the various wards, collation is still ongoing in some wards, which will still have to proceed to local governments before reaching the state collation Centre. However, we must state that the collation process is transparent and is being done openly to the delight of all stakeholders.”
Victory, sign of love for APC –Dogara
Congratulating Akeredolu, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, described his victory as proof that Nigerians still love APC.
Dogara, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan said: “Akeredolu’s election and the APC in Ondo state is a clear indication of the popularity of our political party.
“I would like to congratulate my learned colleague on his victory at the poll, and also commend our great party, the All Progressives Congress, for a thorough and successful campaign.”
He urged all stakeholders to come together and ensure the incoming APC government in Ondo delivered on the mandates given by the people in line with the party’s manifestoes.
“As a party, we must take our victory in Ondo seriously since the people have placed enormous trust in us. We must, therefore, deliver on policies that will improve their standard of living”, he said.
While commending people of the state for keeping the election process peaceful and coming out to perform their civic duties, Dogara also praised INEC and security agencies for ensuring a hitch-free exercise.
Ondo spoke – Kogi gov
Also in a reaction, Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, said the Ondo people spoke with one loud voice.
The governor, in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Lokoja said, millions of Ondo people from Idanre to Okutipupa; Owo to Ondo; Ilaje to Akoko and the state capital , Akure have given the governor-elect a mandate to change their lives, their schools, their health institutions
“Your Excellency and my dear brother, Barrister Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, today has marked an unmistakable watershed in your life and in the lives of millions of Ondo people from Idanre to Okutipupa; Owo to Ondo; Ilaje to Akoko; and the Capital City Akure. They (Indigenes and non-indigenes alike) have given you a mandate to change their lives, their schools, their health institutions.
“I am proud to have worked with you to achieve this landmark responsibility. I shall continue to collaborate with you to enable us work together to give meaningful development to our people”
Bello who stated that the euphoria was over, noted that the task of rebuilding a new Ondo had started and the healing had also commenced, adding, “the reconciliation starts, the Sunshine State must shine again. The people have shown their believe in your capacity to steer them in a New Direction, they must feel the impact of their choice for change.”
The governor, however said: “I have no doubt that you will swim in the indelible qualities that will make you a successful selfless leader. I have no doubt that Ondo will be great again under your leadership.
“It is time to roll your sleeves and repay the confidence of your people in you. It’s time for service. I believe you will do our party proud in Ondo state”.
Poll rigged – Fayose
But the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has expressed disappointment at the outcome of the poll, alleging connivance between INEC, APC and their PDP collaborators.
“Just as I would have loved to congratulate the winner, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), because in every contest, there must be a winner and a loser, the role of INEC in awarding victory to him in the election left much to be desired,” Fayose claimed in a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayina.
According to him, INEC gave the APC victory in the election by deliberately replacing the name of Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, the PDP candidate, thereby creating legal logjam that lasted till three days to the election.
He said the PDP went to the election with its hands tied to the back because of the uncharitable actions of INEC, which according to him, no doubt became an arm of the APC.
Governor Fayose lamented that “to sustain the ‘see and buy’ strategy and legalise money politics, the APC-led federal government deliberately created poverty in the country so as to continue to enslave the minds of Nigerians with peanuts to get their votes on election day.
“Dibo ko sebe (vote and collect money to cook soup) was the slang used by the APC in the Ondo State election and that only worked because the APC federal government has put Nigerians in abject poverty.”
He said; “even though INEC allowed what appeared like a free and fair atmosphere on the election day, the election had been won and lost before it was held.
“For instance, INEC that witnessed the PDP primary election that produced Mr Eyitayo Jegede succumbed to pressure from the APC cabal to replace him with Jimoh Ibrahim, who did not take part in any primary election known to the Electoral Act.
“What could anyone have done under 72 hours in an election that was heavily monetised by the APC? The whole process was a deliberate sabotage by INEC, which has totally bastardised the electoral process.
“Obviously, all these shenanigans are geared towards turning Nigeria to a one-party state by weakening all opposition parties ahead of the 2019 general elections. But I can assure Nigerians that this will not last because the people’s will, will always defeat tyranny.”
