AFTERMATH EKITI ELECTION: AREGBESOLA, OYEGUN, TINUBU VISIT OYINLOLA

SOME national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday,
visited former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at
his Okuku residence, apparently in connection with the August 9
governorship election in the state.
The team was led by the new
national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the
national leader of the party and former governor of Lagos State, Senator
Bola Tinubu, with Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, also in the
team.
The visit is coming a day after the APC candidate in Ekiti
governorship election, Dr Kayode Fayemi lost to the PDP candidate, Mr
Ayodele Fayose.
Sources at the meeting told the Nigerian Tribune
that the APC team that visited former Osun State governor was led by the
new national chairman of the party, John Oyegun.
Our source said that Oyegun intimated Oyinlola of their visit and urged him to be part of the new movement.
According to Oyegun, “the APC team still recognises the fact that you
are the de-facto national secretary of the PDP but we are here because
of your wide experience and connection across the country, that is why
we have come to urge you to be part of this new movement,” the source
said.
Responding, Prince Oyinlola, who thanked the APC team for
their visit and for recognising him as the de-facto national secretary
of the PDP, reminded them of a court case at the Supreme Court, which he
promised to pursue to a logical conclusion.
He told them that as a leader, he could not take a unilateral decision, but do whatever his people told him to do.
Despite Fayose’s victory, I’ll win Osun poll —Aregbesola
Regardless of the electoral victory of Ekiti State governor-elect, Mr
Ayo Fayose, at the Saturday governorship poll, the All Progressives
Congress (APC) would still win the forthcoming gubernatorial election in
Osun, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said.
Reacting to the outcome of
the Ekiti poll won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday,
Aregbesola contended that “the beauty of democracy is that the will of
the people prevails,” just as he assured the people of his party’s
confidence to win the August 9, 2014 election, saying “the support base
of my party and government remained unflinching.”
In a press
statement signed by his Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy,
Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the governor, who is the candidate of the APC said
the “beauty of democracy is that the will of the people must prevail at
all times.”
Aregbesola affirmed that “if the result of the Ekiti
election which declared the candidate of the PDP, Ayo Fayose the winner
is the true reflection of the peoples’ decision and desires, his party
would have no option but to abide by the outcome.”
According to him,
“a true democrat must be ready to embrace defeat just as he will be
quick to embrace victory in all genuine democratic contests”, cautioning
that “while recognising the will of the people in the attempt to
institute real democracy in Nigeria, all institutions of state must be
deployed in manners that promote and edify democratic tenets.”
I will win, Omisore says
Following last Saturday’s victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
in Ekiti State, the party’s candidate in August 9 governorship election
in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has declared that he is sure of
taking over the rein of governance in the state.
Senator Omisore
made this declaration on Sunday, when speaking with journalists at the
Bashorun residence of late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji
AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao.
Omisore said the victory of Ayo Fayose
during the election connotes total rejection of the All progressive
Congress (APC) in the South West.
According to him, “we’re taking
over the government of Osun State within the next 49 days I can assure
you that by God’s grace, on the 10th of August, we’ll have cause to
celebrate.
“Obviously, you can go and see what is happening in that
state now. There is total rejection of APC in my state. Today, APC has
only been able to touch about five per cent of peoples’ lives.
“All
you see on papers and televisions are not on the ground. Bad roads
everywhere, no water, no facility, nothing to show for it. Workers are
not being paid, schools are closed, teachers and pensioners are not
paid, retirees are not paid. So, there is a general consensus of exit of
APC in Ekiti and Osun states for now and probably, in South West in the
next few months more.”
On the victory of his party in Ekiti at the
weekend, Omisore noted that the success of that election was made
possible by the consciousness of security agents, which was in control
arrested some suspected hoodlums.
He said both local and foreign
observers adjudged the election as freest and fairest so far in recent
elections in Nigeria, but noted it was made possible because “about
1,500 APC thugs were arrested at different locations. That made it
possible for us to have a very good election. Had it been the security
was not provided, there would have been confusion everywhere.”
On
Arisekola’s death, Omisore said “he led and lived a good life. He meant
so much to so many people. God loveth you more than we do.”
Ondo
State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, said the late philanthropist was a
good man, adding that Nigeria would miss him. He lived his life for the
masses and imparted positively on the Nigeria’s economy,” he said.

“Aare was a goodman and a philanthropist who will be greatly missed. His
life impacted positively on the generality of Nigerians and our
economy. May his soul rest in peace.”
In his own tribute, the
President CAC worldwide Prophet Dr S.K. Abiara said Aare was a “man of
God, a man of hospitality, very generous and very accommodating.”
Source: Tribune