The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, has expressed optimism that the Ademola Adeleke-led administration will be shortlived as he would return back to the state’s seat of power through court processes.
Adeleke, who is the governor-elect, would be inaugurated on Sunday (today) at the Osogbo City Stadium. Adeleke is a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain.
Those expected at the inauguration include the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the national chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, and about 10 PDP governors.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had on June 17, 2022, declared Adeleke as the winner of the Osun governorship election.
The Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, announced that Adeleke got a total of 403,371 votes beating the incumbent, Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, who got 375,027 votes in a keenly contested race.
“I declare Adeleke Ademola Jackson Nurudeen, on behalf of the chairman of INEC, of the PDP, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and he is returned elected,” he said.
The PDP won 17 of the 30 Local Government Areas of the state, while the APC won the remaining 13. The PDP won in Ede North, Ede South, Ifelodun, Boluwaduro, Egbedore, Odo Otin, Osogbo, Ila, Atakumosa West, Olorunda, Ilesa West, Obokun, Oriade, Orolu, Ife North, Irepodun, and Ejigbo LGAs.
The APC, on the other hand, won in Boripe, Ilesa East, Ayedire, Ifedayo, Ife Central, Ayedaade, Iwo, Olaoluwa, Isokan, Atakumosa East, Irewole, Ife South, and Ife East LGAs.
But in his handover note sighted by our correspondents on Sunday, the outgoing governor maintained that he was only stepping aside to allow the law to take its course.
He said, “As I step aside today following the conclusion of the four-year tenure you freely gave me, I thank God and I thank you for your support, cooperation, and prayers over the years.
“I recall how the journey began four years ago; how by your belief in me and your conviction in the plans and programmes of our Party, you exercised your right to vote for me.
“Motivated by God’s promise, my conviction, we promised to serve you with steady heart and hands. We promised that we would hit the ground running once we assume office. We gave our words that we would put you first and run a people-centred government. We pledged to uphold the best ideals befitting of an Omoluabi.
“As we draw the curtain on this first tenure, We are convinced that we neither reneged on our promises nor disappointed you. We kept faith in you and maintained fidelity to our electoral promises. It was our wish to continue to serve you but we are constrained by the outcome of the July 16 Governorship election which we are already challenging in court.
“As law-abiding citizens and government, we are stepping aside to allow the law to take its course.
“However, we look forward to continuing to serve you in no distant future. We have absolute trust in God that we shall be back soon, as we have implicit trust and confidence in the judiciary to do justice in the case before it.
“We are confident that this period of temporary political eclipse shall pass. The sun shall shine again, brighter and warmer and the sustainable development and participatory governance that we enthroned, which have been applauded by local and international organisations, shall be restored and put on a surer and better footing.
“There can be no substitute for people-oriented and development-savvy governance in a democracy. The tap roots of the unprecedented good governance, inclusive and participatory governance that we introduced, which delivered massive equitable projects and programmes are too strong to be uprooted.
“My Dear Good People of Osun, I cannot thank you enough for not only supporting us throughout our tenure but for also standing by us even after the outcome of the July 16 election. Your goodwill encouraged us to continue with all our projects till the last day.”
