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Tag: AREGBESOLA

  • Unite to ensure victory for APC in Ondo, Rep urges

    A member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, has urged supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to unite and work for the victory of the party in future elections in the State.

    He spoke in Akure, the State Capital, at a rally organised to mark the victory of Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola at the August 9 governorship election in Osun State.

    While expressing delight on the victory, the lawmaker noted that the development would boost the morale of members of the APC in Ondo State, many of whom demoralised due to the loss suffered by the party in the last governorship election held in Ekiti State.

    He charged APC members in Ondo State to be united and ensure that the party records a good outing in the 2015 general elections.

  • LG boss congratulates Aregbesola, APC leaders

    LG boss congratulates Aregbesola, APC leaders

    The Chairman of the  Odi Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Aremo Alli Adeyemi, has joined others to congratulate Governor of  Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over the success of his party, APC, in the just-concluded governorship election in the state.

    He gave kudos to the Osun State governor and the APC leaders despite the provocation, intimidation and militarizing the state.

    The chairman said the incumbent governor won the election as a result of maturity displayed and rapid infrastructural developments of the state, adding that the  Osun State people believed in continuity so that the governor could complete his projects for the people.

    He charged the APC leaders to adopt the Osun State governorship election method on the subsequent elections in other states, so that the oppositions will not be able to rig or hijack future elections in other states.

  • Aregbesola’s victory a landmark event— Akume

    Aregbesola’s victory a landmark event— Akume

    The Senate Minority Leader, Chief George Akume, has described the victory  of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State in last week’s governorship election  as a landmark event in the political history  of the state.

    Akume, the immediate past governor of Benue State,in a congratulatory message on behalf of the APC Caucus in the Senate,to Aregbesola, described him as an exemplary leader and a good ambassador of the APC.

    He said that Aregbesola, by his victory,has “proved to our detractors that governance is about the people and that the people appreciate good work wherever they see it.”

    “Osun State has seen your good work and has indeed appreciated it by the massive support reflected in the election results.

    “All your detractors, men of doubtful integrity that will haunt them to their graves, have been put to shame.

    “I urge you to continue with the fantastic work you have been doing in the past four years in the next four years.The beat must go on.”

  • Rep hails Aregbesola

    Rep hails Aregbesola

    The Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Legislative Compliance, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai has described Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s victory in Saturday’s election as heroic.

    Akinderu-Fatai, who represents Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency 1, said despite the “molestation and harassment” of All Progressives Congress (APC) members, the party triumphed.

    He said the poll showed that the APC had a bright future and described Aregbesola as a grassroots politician, who has, through his people-oriented programmes, earned the people’s confidence.

    Akinderu-Fatai said: “No doubt, it is a victory of good governance over a leadership with tyrannical tendencies. Osun people have sent a clear message to all usurpers, who exploit power to abuse and deny the people their rights. The message Osun people sent to Abuja and its hirelings is that no amount of intimidation will affect their determination to express gratitude to anyone who serves them efficiently. Aregbesola deserves the victory because his work speaks for him. No amount of hooded soldiers can stop the peoples’ determination to stand by a just leader.”

    He urged Aregbesola to be charitable in victory and carry everyone along.

  • Aregbesola’s Thank You visit

    Aregbesola’s Thank You visit

    From left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Member, National Assembly representing Osun Central Senatorial District, Senator Sola Adeyeye and Executive Secretary, Ifedayo Local Government, Mr Kunle Ayantoye, during Aregbsola's Thank You Visit to Ora-Igbomina in the State of Osun
    From left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Member,
    National Assembly representing Osun Central Senatorial District,
    Senator Sola Adeyeye and Executive Secretary, Ifedayo Local
    Government, Mr Kunle Ayantoye, during Aregbsola’s Thank You Visit to
    Ora-Igbomina in the State of Osun

  • Adeleke thanks electorate

    The first civilian Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, has thanked residents for re-electing Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    He particularly thanked the people of Ede, his country home, for voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

    In a statement yesterday, Adeleke said: “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. I am particularly grateful to God Almighty, the people of Edeland and Osun State for their spontaneous show of love, affection and solidarity in Saturday’s election.

    “What could be more? Ede people have shown by their massive votes that they still have unflinching confidence and undiluted trust in my leadership politically and as the Asiwaju of Edeland. I am humbled by your spirit of sportsmanship, even in the face of extreme odds and tribulation.

    “You stood your ground that your darling party, the APC, should coast home to victory and the Almighty God answered your prayers, for the voice of the people is the voice of God.

    “Your efforts shall not go in vain. The Aregbesola administration will be all-inclusive and evolve programmes that are beneficial to the generality of Osun people. You all worked hard and you will reap bountifully through mass-oriented projects, such as good roads, functional education, health facilities that are second to none, electricity and water supply to rural areas.

    “I implore you not to be swayed by the antics of the opposition, which may not stop at anything to preach the politics of bitterness. For the APC, it is no victor, no vanquished.

    “Osun State is our joint heritage. Let us join hands with Aregbesola and offer constructive ideas, as well as healthy criticism, to make his second term in office a lot easier than his first.”

  • Emenike: Ogbeni should have won 80% of votes

    Emenike: Ogbeni should have won 80% of votes

    An Abia State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Ikechi Emenike, has congratulated Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on his “deserved victory”.

    In a statement yesterday, Emenike said, ordinarily, the Osun State election would have been a walk-over for Aregbesola, given his “unprecedented impact” on the people.

    He said: “Only a few governments in the Third World can honestly claim to put human beings at the centre of government as much as Aregbesola. Even his opponents accept that his policies in health, stipends to the elderly and massive urban and rural road construction are commendable.  Add to these his interventions in the education sector, from the tablet of knowledge to the school feeding and uniform programmes, mega school projects and jobs for thousands of Osun youths, and the picture of a government that is committed to serving the people is laid bare.”

    The APC chieftain said Aregbesola’s uncommon connection with the people, through his walk-to-live programme, made it possible for a large section of the population to defy the “so-called federal might” and re-elect him.

    He said the APC had cause to be happy, but very little to shout “uhuru’ because “if Aregbesola and Osun people could go through what they were subjected to to extract victory, then few should expect 2015 to be a tea party”.

    Urging APC members to be cautious, Emenike said the election result was worrisome, adding: “Nigeria’s brand of democracy is struggling to compel us into believing that popularity and performance count for little in the result of an election. If not, if many people were not frightened to come out to vote, if votes were not spiced up in some captive areas, Aregbesola should have scored over 80 per cent of the votes.”

  • Osun poll: Democracy in danger, says Aregbesola

    Osun poll: Democracy in danger, says Aregbesola

    Jubilation in Osogbo

    Jonathan, governors hail election 

    Victory parties continued yesterday in major towns of Osun State.

    Osogbo, the state capital, was throbbing with crowds of revellers as Governor Rauf Aregbesola led a victory parade.

    He was declared re-elected by the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday morning with 394,684 votes to his opponent Iyiola Omisore’s 292,747 votes.

    Aregbesola said in spite of his victory, the process was faulty and “gravely endangered democracy.”

    The governor took a hard look at what he and his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – faced in the run-down to the election and declared that had it not been because of the People’s commitment, something untoward could have happened.

    President Goodluck Jonathan, governors and other eminent Nigerians congratulated Aregbesola.

    National leader of the APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said Aregbesola “bruised the head of tyranny with his victory.

    Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and other APC leader kept vigil at the Aswiwaju residence in Lagos monitoring the situation. There was anxiety as the results were not announced by INEC Returning Officer Prof. Bamitale Oluwole, Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife until 7:30am yesterday.

    Addressing a huge crowd of supporters at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo, the governor noted the traumatic challenges he faced before he winning the poll.

    “It was so sad and unfortunate that the contest that should be a normal, routine process was allowed to snowball into a needless virtual war by the Federal Government and the Peoples’ Democratic Party.

    “Ordinarily, this should be a moment of joy and celebration consequent upon the hard-earned triumph of the people’s will. However, this election shows that democracy is still gravely endangered in Nigeria. We witnessed gross abuse of power and of due process before, during, and even after the actual voting process.”

    Aregbesola lamented the unduly militarisation of the election saying the people’s courage had triumphed over an unprecedented criminal intimidation and psychological assault on the state.

    He said that the election witnessed an abuse of security agencies which he described as corruption of their professional ethics and integrity.

    Aregbesola added that the security agencies were unprofessionally utilised to harass, intimidate and oppress the people whose taxes were used to pay their salaries.

    He said: “Hundreds of leaders, supporters, sympathisers and agents of our party were arrested and detained. Also, hundreds of other innocent citizens, including women and the aged were harassed, brutalised and traumatised. In spite of this condemnable repression and abuse of human rights, the unflagging spirit of our people triumphed.

    “Our victory is due to the steadfastness and resolute determination of our people to assert and defend their rights. The PDP obviously did all it could in a most desperate manner to steal the people’s mandate.

    “Despite our victory, it is pertinent to condemn and also point out the fact that the number of accredited voters in most local governments was less than half of registered voters. Against this trend, it is curious that the bulk of the PDP candidate’s votes came from only four Local governments –  Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North and Ife South.”

    Aregbesola said the outcome of the election reflected the unwavering determination of Osun people to ensure that democracy triumphs in Nigeria.

    “With this election, the people of Osun have sent a strong signal to all and sundry that no might is powerful enough to thwart the will of the people. This should always strengthen our resolve to ensure that as from now on, every vote must not only count in Osun but must count in this country as a whole.

    “Nobody or party must ever exercise power unreasonably at any level except in accordance with the will of the people to whom sovereignty belong.”

    He added: Let me assure the good people of Osun state that I appreciate that this victory is a reward for our hard work and commitment to the welfare of our people.

    “I promise that we shall not rest on our oars but shall be spurred to work even harder with all well meaning people of the State of Osun and the generality of Nigerians to continue to enjoy your trust and support. You can be assured that we will leave no stone unturned in our continued effort to transform Osun into a land of progress, prosperity and peace for all with renewed fervour.

    “I realize that this victory and the challenges we went through is a call to greater service and sustained commitment to our people.

    “I pledge a rededication of myself to the service of our people and the strengthening of democratic values in Osun and Nigeria generally. Our country remains in political bondage and we must set her free.”

  • Jonathan congratulates Aregbesola

    Jonathan congratulates Aregbesola

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and national security agencies for ensuring that the election was free, fair, credible and peaceful in line with the commitment of his Administration.

    He applauded Osun people who came out en masse in all the local government areas of the state to peacefully and freely exercise their democratic right.

    The statement said the President  believed that the free, fair and peaceful conduct of the election fully reaffirmed his administration’s determination  to positively reform Nigeria’s electoral process.

    The statement reads: “The outcome of the election has also given the lie to the false, unfair and uncharitable allegations that measures put in place by the federal government for the Ekiti and Osun State elections were partisan and designed to achieve a favourable outcome for his party.

    “As Governor Aregbesola prepares to begin a second term in office, President Jonathan looks forward to continuing to work with him and other state governors to further improve the living conditions of Nigerians in Osun and other states of the country.” It stated

    He wished Governor Aregbesola continued good health and a successful second term in office.

  • Residents celebrate Aregbesola’s victory

    Residents celebrate Aregbesola’s victory

    Yesterday was Sunday, but it did not look like a day of worship for Christians. Osun State residents took to the streets in jubilation over Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s victory in Saturday’s election.

    The Returning Officer, Prof. Bamitale Omole, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (O.A.U.), Ile-Ife, announced the result of the election a little after 7am at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo, the state capital.

    Aregbesola, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had 394,684 votes, defeating his main contender, Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had 292,747 votes.

    Immediately the result was announced, residents took to the streets, singing and dancing in delight.

    Many converged in front of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state secretariat on Gbongan Road, where they set up a makeshift public address system for a victory party.

    The party caused a traffic gridlock on the road.

    The story was the same across the state, including Ilesa, Ejigbo, Iwo, Ikirun, Iragbiji, Aagba, Ada, Igbajo, Ilobu, Ifon, Oba-Oke and Oba-Ile.

    Some security agents, who drove past the jubilant crowd, made victory signs in solidarity with the people.

    The elated residents celebrated Aregbesola’s victory with fireworks at various locations in Osogbo, including 7 Up area, Olaiya Junction, Okefia, Isale Aro and the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park.