Wole Arisekola Lauds Seyi Makinde, Oyo State Governor-elect

PRESIDENT of the Association of Online Media Practitioners of Nigeria, (AMPON) and publisher of a renowned Ireland-based journal, Wole Arisekola, has congratulated the Governor-elect of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, and his running mate, Engineer Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan, on their resounding victory at the polls on Saturday. Seyi Makinde was declared winner and returned elected by the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, having polled a total of 515,621 votes to defeat his closest challenger and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, who polled 357,982 votes.

In the congratulatory message, Arisekola said the feat was a reward for the vigorous campaigns embarked upon by the People's Democratic Party candidate and his running mate across the length and breadth of the State. "I herby congratulate the Oyo State Governor-Elect, Engr. Seyi Makinde and his deputy, Engr. Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan, on their well-deserved victory. Let me also thank all the people of Oyo State and Ibadan in particular for keeping faith with the PDP,” he said.

The publisher of _The Street Journal_, Wole Arisekola, also admonished the Governor-elect, in his congratulatory message to immediately hit the ground running, because he is part of the system, he lives in state, and he sure knows the pains and the worries of the people living in the state.

Speaking further, he asked the Governor-elect to uproot the political thugs and their masters from the system by arresting the people involved immediately he is sworn into office and put them behind bars where they belong, to avoid future occurrence of their onslaught. The state is like the parent of the citizens, and now that he is the custodian of the state, he should begin to see himself as the parent of the Oyo State's citizens and inhabitants, so the onus lies on him to guide and guard them properly.

Arisekola, an Ibadan-based entrepreneur and media mogul, in his message, also extended words of compassion and solidarity to the APC adding that the party in the state has learnt its lesson and can still bounce back to reclaim the state's number one position in subsequent governorship elections.

He thus urged them to be gallant losers and take the defeat in good faith by going back to the drawing board to re-strategize for future political contest in the state.

Soji Akanbi Congratulates Seyi Makinde, Charges Him To Fulfil His Promises

The senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Soji Akanbi has congratulated the Oyo State Governor-elect, Engr. Seyi Makinde on his victory at the just concluded polls.

Soji Akanbi, in his congratulatory message, didn't only praise Seyi Makinde's victory but also advised him not to forget his promises to the people of Oyo State.

"I convey my hearty congratulations to the Oyo State Governor--elect, Engr. Seyi Makinde on his victory in the just concluded elections. I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your well-deserved and overlong success. Your persistence finally paid off. I pray you easily fulfil all yury promises. Wishing you all the best for yury noble future endeavours.

Once again, congratulations Engr. Seyi Makinde. Congratulations good people of Oyo State,"Soji Akanbi said.

Ajimobi Congratulates Makinde, Encourages Him to Focus on Sustaining Peace and Security

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has congratulated the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Mr Seyi Makinde, who was declared winner of Saturday’s keenly contested election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

In a congratulatory message, Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr Bolaji Tunji, quoted the governor that now that the elections are over, Engr Makinde should ensure that all stakeholders were carried along in his administration.

The governor urged Makinde to start getting prepared for the onerous task of governance by putting behind him all the electioneering acrimonies and prevail on his followers and supporters to guard against acts and utterances capable of igniting crisis in the State.

Ajimobi said, “In the last eight years we have ensured adherence to the rule of law. We have done a lot to ensure the growth and development of our dear state through our visible unprecedented achievements, as acclaimed by the masses of Oyo State and the outside world.”

“While congratulating you and wishing you a successful tenure, I enjoin you to focus on the sustained development of our state in the areas of peace, security, as well as safety of lives and property that the state has enjoyed in the last eight years.

“I extend to you the right hand of fellowship and promise to avail you my wealth of experience on critical developmental and governance matrix for the continued growth of our dear state and for the betterment of the lives of the entire citizens of the state.

“Since the duty of every government is to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive and for citizens to go about their lawful duties under a peaceful and secure environment, may I advise that you leverage on our widely-acclaimed achievements in these areas.”

Oyo APC congratulates Seyi Makinde, thanks voters, party members

The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has congratulated Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Governor elect declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday in Ibadan.

• In a statement released by the party’s Publicity Secretary Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde on Monday, the party congratulated its gubernatorial candidate, Oloye Bayo Adelabu and the Governor elect for a good race and a well fought battle at the polls, concluding that an election is not a do or die affair while respecting the declaration of the electoral umpire.

  The Oyo Apc also appreciated its party faithful, supporters and voters in the recent National and State elections.

  According to the Oyo APC spokesperson, “The elections have come and gone, won and lost and the people of Oyo State have spoken. We respect the INEC declaration of Engr. Seyi Makinde as the Governor elect and wish to congratulate him. Similarly, we commend the gallantry of Chief Adebayo Adelabu who gave a good account of not only himself but the APC in Oyo State. Our commendation also goes to all the victorious candidates in our party.

  “Meanwhile, we will watch developments and use this opportunity to appeal to our party members and supporters to be calm and conduct themselves in a peaceful manner as the unprecedented eight year tenure of the APC led by Governor Abiola Ajimobi has been a season of peace, safety and security which yielded monumental developments in various sectors of the state’s economy,” Dr Olatunde added.

  The party’s statement also decried and condemned the recent spate of violence witnessed in the last 48 hours in the state, emphasizing that it would be unfortunate if the state returns to the era of violence, brigandage and chaos with the turn of the PDP being in charge.

  It further reminded the perpetrators of violence that the APC government is still in charge of the state and no one should seize the opportunity of victory at the polls to take laws into their hands.

Osun Election Is A Charade And Breach Of Democratic Norms-PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State Chapter has described the recently concluded house of assembly polls in the state as the worst in the history of democratic process in Nigeria due to unprecedented, unorthodox, unimaginable and strange situations that were on display in the last two weeks break between the presidential and State assembly polls when Osun was turned virtually to a theatre of war.

Shortly after the presidential and national assembly polls, there were in flux of strange faces in military uniforms, parading all nooks and crannies of Osun state harassing and arresting as many as possible members of PDP including the State House of Assembly candidates. For instance:

(1) the PDP Candidate for Obokun LG was arrested a day to the Election.

(2) PDP Candidate for Irepodun/Orolu was arrested on election day where he wanted to cast his vote

(3) APC thug, Mr. Omotoso Ebenezer Adeyinka carried the ballot box in Ojo/Aro ward 9 Unit 1 in Egbedore local government area of the state in the presence of Securities agents who didn't do anything but for the determination of the electorates who over powered him and rescued the box from him, the policeman at the unit said he was sent to maintain peace and not to protect election or election materials.

(4) More than 10 members of PDP were arrested in Ilesa West during a ward meeting of the party few days to the election including the PDP candidate and a former Executive Chairman of Ilesa West local government, they were detained at the State CID for more than 24 hours before the party chairman in the state went to secure their release.

(5) Shooting of gun in Ife South and Ife East led by APC thugs remained unabated, scaring people away from voting for more than ten days into the election. Scores of PDP members that were injured and maimed in Ife South local government are still in the intensive care unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching University till now after being detained for several days before the election. Ife East is the worst hit with serious damages to peoples homes and properties by APC thugs.

(6) There was a near fatal ttack on the PDP Candidate in Ede South LG Mr. Niran Atidade a day to Election. He narrowly escaped being shot dead by APC thugs who wounded his supporters with gun shots and severe machete cuts.

(7) Also there was a physical attack on the PDP Candidate at Ede North LG on election day by APC thugs who shot directly at him but was lucky to go unhurt.

(8) On election day, 9th of March Obokun local government was turned to a theatre of war when the APC thugs went on rampage shooting directly at electoral officers and policemen on duty, the party leaders had to invite the Osun State police patrol who assisted the INEC to rescue the election results from the Ward Collation centres with their Armoured Personnel Carrier Vehicles that were shot at by the APC thugs at Ward seven, Esa-Oke, they felled a palm tree on the road which disallowed the armoured tank to pass through Ere-Ijesa ,  ijebujesa road  to Ibokun, the vehicle had to detour, passed through  Ijebu Jesa - Ilesa / Idominasi road to Ibokun. 

(9) On that day alone, more than 40 People were injured in Obokun,Ife South, Ife East, Egbedore, Ifelodun, Ede North, Ilesa West and Ilesa East.

(10) Also we have the record of the illegal arrest and detention of members of PDP in Boripe local government including Hon. Dada, the Personal Assistant to a PDP leader in the local government Rev Kajogbola.

(11) Vote buying not minding presence of security operatives in, Ife North, Ife East, Ife South, Ife Central, Modakeke Area Office, Osogbo and Olorunda local government areas became an eye sore where security operatives were the ones guarding their vehicles and money for them while open negotiations went on unabated in an open 'market' if I'm permitted to use that word, though investigation revealed that most of the uniformed men who were guiding them  were fake policemen.

Several other misdemeanor marred the electoral process in Osun State which makes one raise the question, whether we are truly in a democracy.

The Peoples Democratic Party, in the light of the above analyses condemned in its entirety, the election into the Osun State House of Assembly which was marred with massive rigging, vote buying, intimidation, harassment and disenfranchisement of voters in all ramifications.

Hon. Olasoji Adagunodo,

Chairman, PDP,

Osun State Chapter.

"I Will Not Disappoint You", Makinde Assures ìn Thank You Address

The Governor-elect of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde has assured that he will not disappoint the people of Oyo State who elected him to fulfill their desire for a better life. He made the promise while delivering a thank you address at his Ikolaba GRA home on Monday.

Makinde said the political struggle of the past two weeks reminded him of the Agbekoya struggle of 1968.

"I compare the two historical events because the original Agbekoya struggle was a peasant revolt that kicked against high taxation and tariffs, particularly of farmers by the powers that be, yesterday's voting pattern, clearly showed your dogged determination in spite of spirited efforts to frustrate you", Makinde said.

He went on to state that the bloodletting, maiming and killings of members of opposition parties which led to the death of a federal legislator, Hon Olatoye Temitope Sugar and some others was an unfortunate dent on our democracy. He assured the families involved that they will not die in vain.

Speaking further, the Governor-elect said "it is for us to move together and for me to fulfill my campaign promises to you in the clear understanding that we will take realistic decisions together because you did not elect me to compensate me for anything, you elected me to fulfill your desire for a better life and God helping me, I will not disappoint you".

He noted that the electorate made it easier for his party by voting majority of its legislators, which he said will help "push through without much ado, all our people-oriented policies particularly in critical sectors of education, health and job creation.

He thanked High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, the Osi Olubadan and former Governor of Oyo State together with Senator Femi Lanlehin of the ADC, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli of Zenith Labour Party, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde of the SDP and others who decided to relegate their own ambitions to support him for the greater good of the masses. "Posterity will forever paint their names in gold", Makinde said.

-theanchoronline