Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 2018 governorship election in Osun, on Friday congratulated Gov. Gboyega Oyetola on his victory at the Supreme Court.
Adeleke, in a congratulatory message issued in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said his ambition was never a do-or-die affair.
NAN reports that the Supreme Court in a split judgment of five to two on Friday upheld the election of Oyetola.
Adeleke said since the the Supreme Court was the apex court in the land, its decision, regardless of his disagreement and disappointment with it, remains final.
“As a democrat and law abiding citizen, I accept the ruling no matter my misgivings.
“I wish Governor Oyetola well in the governance of Osun State, ” Adeleke said.
He expressed immense gratitude and appreciation to his supporters as well as leaders and members of the party for their massive support throughout the duration of the case.
“In all circumstances, we must thank God Almighty. We gallantly fought a good fight in pursuance of a democratic cause. The ideals we fought for live on.
“Our ambition was never a do-or die-affair.
” We aspired to serve and deliver democratic dividends to the people of Osun State.
“Our ambition was altruistic. We wish Governor Oyetola the best in governance of the state,” Adeleke said.
Also reacting, Mr Tunde Olatunji, the Chief Whip of Osun House of Assembly, described the judgement as a reaffirmation of the choice of the majority of the people of the state.
Olatunji, in a statement in Osogbo, said the high expectation of all parties that patiently waited for the verdict was proof that Nigerians believe in peaceful resolutions of conflicts rather than resorting to self help.
According to him, Nigeria’s democracy is sincerely on the path of sustainable growth given the reactions of the people to the outcome of the entire litigation process.
Olatunji called on all stakeholders to join hands with the governor, saying the task of developing the state is a joint civic responsibility of all.
Reacting to the court verdict, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Friday described it as ”a victory for democracy”.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed in Lokoja, Bello congratulated Oyetola and the good people of Osun for the affirmation of the election victory at the apex court.
He stressed that the verdict would go a long way in restoring the confidence and hope of Nigerians in the sanctity of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Bello urged the governor to extend hands of fellowship to his opponents and ensure that the state get purposeful leadership.
“I have been at election tribunal down to the Supreme Court and can attest to the level of distraction a governor and his administration face on account of some needless litigation.
”But a calm disposition, open-mindedness and inclusiveness towards everybody; including those who instituted litigation against you, is what defines a true leader,’’ Bello said.
He urged Oyetola to build on the policies that had defined him as a good ambassador of the All Progressives Congress (APC), sustain the programmes and developmental agenda of his state in line with the party’s manifesto.
“After all the legal tussles, the lesson is to ensure that the citizens are repaid with good governance, which is a proof that their confidence in their leader is not misplaced,” he said.
He commended the apex court for standing strong in defense of the law and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He thanked the people of Osun for standing behind their governor and for their patience all through legal tussle, while urging them to set aside political differences in the interest of the development of the state.
Also the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan while congratulating Governor Oyetola on the victory urged him to be magnanimous in victory.
Lawan, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mohammed Isa described the judgement as victory to democracy, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of Osun.
He urged Oyetola to put behind him past events during the electioneering and its aftermath litigation, and concentrate on tackling the challenges facing the state.
He urged him to run an all-inclusive government where everybody in the state would be carried along.
Lawan said: “Your victory is a great joy and achievement for our party.
“We are delighted that after a long legal battle, Osun state can finally settle down for good governance.
“My advice to you as you champion the course of governance in the state is to see every indigene of the state as equal partner and stakeholder in driving the wheel of progress.
“Let your reign be exceptional by being magnanimous and focused.”
Lawan also called on the people to give maximum support and cooperation to the governor for the interest and progress of the state.
“Now that the legal battle is over, let us come together and embrace one another in the general interest of the State,” he said.
In a related development, Mr Ade Omole,a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola to ensure an all-inclusive government and to extend hands of fellowship to his political opponents.
Omole who is also the leader of the United Kingdom Chapter of the APC gave the advice while reacting to the Friday’s affirmation of Oyetola’s electoral victory by the Supreme Court.
While speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, he noted that by the judgment, the court had stood firm in defence of the law and constitution of the country.
He congratulated Oyetola for the victory, adding that an all-inclusive government in the state was critical to enthrone purposeful leadership.
Omole said the Supreme Court judgment, was not just a victory for the party, but for the people of Osun and the country’s democracy.
He expressed optimism that now that litigation was over, the governor could settle down to governance without further distraction.
He added that the jugment would go a long way in restoring the confidence and hope of Nigerians on the sanctity of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Omole urged Oyetola to remain a good ambassador of the APC by ensuring good governance to the people of the state, while sustaining the programmes and developmental agenda of the party.
He said it was now the responsibility of the governor to ensure that the people of the state were repaid with good governance.
NAN reports that the apex court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal which nullified the March 22 judgment of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal.
The tribunal had declared Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the September 2018 governorship election.
The Supreme Court in a split judgement on Friday (today) agreed substantially with the Court of Appeal which ruled that a majority judgment delivered at the tribunal was a nullity.
