By Dele Moses
President Bola Tinubu has said that the Osun State governorship election won by candidate of the Accord party, Ademola Adeleke, reflected the will of people of the state.
The president stated this just as the winner of the election, Adeleke who is also the incumbent governor, declared that there was no victor nor varnguished in the election.
The President whose party All Progressives Congress (APC) lost in the election said the election was a fitting assurance that democracy would continue to flourish in the country under the APC administration.
He spoke in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga where he also congratulated the governor and commended all the contestants for their courage.
The president who noted that he had earlier called Adeleke to congratulate him charged the governor to unite the people of the state and rally them for social and economic progress regardless of choices they made at the poll.
“I called Governor Ademola Adeleke earlier today to congratulate him on his election victory in Osun State. His victory once again confirmed the confidence the people of Osun State have in him.
“I wish him great success as he prepares to lead the state for the next four years. Now that he has won, Governor Adeleke must unite the people of Osun State and rally them for growth, stability, and social and economic progress, regardless of the political choices they made at the election.
“I salute the courage and discipline displayed by other contestants in the election. Their participation deepened and enriched our country’s democratic culture. The outcome of the election reflects the will of the people and is a fitting assurance that democracy will continue to flourish in our land,” Tinubu stated
The President commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies for “conducting a peaceful and transparent election that produced a clear winner.”
Adeleke, while reacting to his victory shortly after the INEC declared him winner, said he was ready to extend an olive branch to his opponents.
“This is no victor, no vanquished. I want them to come over. I am expecting Oyebamiji to even call me and congratulate me,” he stated.
The governor while revealing that President Tinubu had called to congratulate him thanked the president.
“I want to seize this opportunity to thank Mr. President. Mr. President has called me and he has congratulated me,” he said
Adeleke secured 511,067 votes to beat to second place the APC’s candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes while candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Najeem Salaam, emerged distant third with 17,180 votes.
Meanwhile, Adeleke has also been congratulated on his victory by the former Vice President and presidential candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku who wrote on his Facebook page said the victory demonstrated the choice of the people of the state as expressed at the poll.
“I congratulate Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election as Governor of Osun State.
“His victory demonstrates the choice of the people of Osun, as expressed at the ballot box. I commend the people for their passion and peaceful participation. I wish Governor Adeleke continued success as he continues to serve them,” he wrote.
Also in his congratulatory message, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki said the people of Osun State had spoken and had spoken clealy
He wrote: “I congratulate my dear brother and friend, Governor Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election as Governor of Osun State.
“The people of Osun have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. They have had four years to judge the record of his stewardship, to weigh the promises against the performance, and they have asked him to continue. There can be no greater vote of confidence for a leader than the freely expressed verdict of the people he serves.
“I also commend the good people of Osun State who came out to vote and, importantly, remained vigilant in defence of their votes.
“At a time when there are legitimate concerns about the strength and credibility of our democratic institutions, every election in which the will of the people is freely expressed, faithfully counted and ultimately respected is an important victory for our democracy.
“Governor Adeleke now begins a second term with the benefit, and indeed the responsibility, of a renewed mandate. I wish him well, and I trust that he will use the next four years to deepen the work already begun, justify the confidence of the people of Osun, and leave behind a stronger and more prosperous state.”
