Osun governor says elections are over and calls on opposition leaders to join hands in advancing good governance.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in last Saturday’s election, Bola Oyebamiji, for calling for peace in the state.
Governor Adeleke described Oyebamiji’s appeal as a positive development after weeks of heated campaigns and political tensions ahead of the election.
In a statement issued on Friday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the governor said Osun residents had experienced fear, trauma and violence during the election period and urged all political parties and their supporters to embrace restraint.
Governor Adeleke said his administration had never supported violence as a political strategy, noting that he had worked to restrain his supporters from retaliating against alleged attacks during the campaign.
“I am forever a man of peace. It is heartwarming that my brother, Oyebamiji, is also preaching peace. I assure him that my supporters have not and will not attack APC members,” Governor Adeleke said.
He said the election had ended and called on political leaders across party lines to focus on delivering good governance and democratic dividends to the people.
“Elections have come and gone and we are all winners. The common task for us all is to sustain delivery of democratic dividends and good governance to the good people of Osun State,” he added.
The governor also invited former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Oyebamiji and other opposition leaders to work with his administration to advance the state.
“We are all important stakeholders in this Osun project,” Adeleke said.
Adeleke was declared winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after polling 511,067 votes, defeating Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes.