Osogbo, Osun State capital was thrown into a frenzy yesterday following the declaration of Engr. Rauf Aregbesola of the Action Congress of Nigeria as the duly elected governor of Osun State by the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan.
It would be recalled that the protracted legal battle between the ACN and PDP over the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election in Osun State started immediately the ACN candidate, Aregbesola was denied his victory before it was laid to rest with the pronouncement of the appellate court in election matters yesterday.
Also PDP members were seen discussing the disaster for the party as they lamented that their hopes for the 2011 elections has been dashed.
Consequently, ACN supporters were seen on the streets jubilating. They noted that the PDP in the state is dead completely as they used their brooms to sweep the major streets in the state capital as a symbol of sweeping Oyinlola and PDP away from the state.
The ACN supporters including stalwarts of the party, stoutly demanded for the immediate probe of Oyinlola’s government as they described the government as an unfriendly and illegal government imposed on the people of the state.
However, heavy presence of armed policemen all over the state was recorded in order to avert political clashes among the out-gone political party and the incoming Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
The jubilant people of Osun State also expressed joy as ACN supporters were seen jubilating with their various coloured brooms, the symbol of their party at different locations.
The ACN supporters, including school children, came out in their thousands to express their feeling over the outcome of the judgment which they described as heaven- sent which will turn the political scene of the state to the peak of its glory.
In his reaction, the former State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola said that the “decision has come to us as a rude shock and we see it as a further test for this democracy. We note that the judgement went as predicted by the ACN which had in the last couple of days inundated the media with what was going to be”.
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as a law abiding citizen and a stakeholder in the Nigerian Project, wishes the ACN and the judiciary the best of luck.
In the last seven and a half years, the administration of Prince Oyinlola did its best to lift Osun State from the morass of despondency he met it to a level which today is the envy of all.
Prince Oyinlola gives God the glory for all he achieved in office as governor while thanking members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their steadfastness and belief in what he stood for while in the saddle of governance of Osun State.
He equally expresses his appreciation to traditional rulers, workers, market men and women, other Nigerians home and abroad, his legal team, the media and all well-wishers who rallied round him and his administration.
The future of Osun State is in the hands of God and He in His own way will continue to guide and guard our collective and individual destinies.
That decision has come to us as a rude shock and we see it as a further test for this democracy. We note that the judgement went as predicted by the ACN which had in the last couple of days inundated the media with what was going to be.”
•••and in Ibadan too
Ademola Babalola, Ibadan
AMID wide celebration, jubilant crowd of the supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Osun and Oyo States yesterday trooped to the streets of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, singing and dancing, following the Appelate Court’s declaration of Engr Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of the April 14, 2007 Governorship election in the State of the Living Spring.
With songs like “winner o o o, winner, winner o o o winner, Aregbeseola u don win o, winner, patapata u go win forever, winner”, the jubilant crowd of hundreds of ACN supporters and some residents of Ibadan and environs took to the streets yesterday expressing their happiness over the pronouncement of the Appeal Court that Aregbeseola and not Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, actually won the disputed 2007 poll.
Apparently overwhelmed by the sweet victory of their candidate, some of the ACN faithful were seen rolling on the ground while thanking God for making the victory possible after about four years of struggle to reclaim the mandate of the people alleged to have been stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party.
The jubilant crowd comprising market women, students, party men and women, defied the huge presence of security personnel and burst into the streets singing “ ose ose o , ose o , ose baba”.
Some major markets in Ibadan metropolis also burst into jubilation as the news of the victory spread to the town , sparking off excitement in different parts of the city .
The Oyo State Police Command lived up to its billings as it drafted about 100 policemen led by the Area Commander , Iyaganku Police Division , Mrs. Abiodun Ige to the Iyaganku Appeal Court premises to keep the peace, just as all the roads leading to the venue were closed to motorists .
The policemen who had gathered in the courts premises were seen frisking politicians, journalists and other people before they were allowed entry into the court room.
Many vehicles were barred from gaining entry into the court’s premises while policemen assisted by the men of the State Security Services (SSS) cordoned off the area to ward off any untoward insurgence of violence.
While the almost five hour judgment lasted, people of opposing political camps conducted themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner as there was no case of violence in and around the court.
Loyalists of the ousted Governor Oyinlola of the PDP who came to witness the judgment in government cars and hired commercial buses in hundreds quickly disappeared into the thin air immediately the five –man justices led by Justice Clara Binta -Ogunbiyi, gave their unanimous declaration of Aregbesola as the validly elected governor of Osun state .
Present on the side of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola -PDP group are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Niyi Owolade, the PDP Director of Publicity , Mr. Adeolu Adeyemo , and the Osun state PDP Deputy Chairman, Mr. Ojo Williams amongst others.
Gbonigi, others reactBabatope Okeowo, Akure
Several reactions yesterday trailed the declaration of Mr Rauf Aregbesola as the governor of Osun State by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan , Oyo State capital.
In his reaction, a retired Bishop of Anglican Communion of Akure Diocese, Rt. Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi, said just as it happened in Ekiti, Ondo and Edo states, God, the creator of the whole world has again proved that he is a God of justice.
His words, “God has many attributes; He is a God of justice. He has shown one of his attributes just as He did in Ondo, Ekiti and Edo State where he proved to Nigerians that justice can only be delayed.
“The election of 2007 was fraught with lots of manipulations and the judges through their judgments have allowed the truth to over come falsehood”.
While reacting to the judgment, the leader of the Pan Yoruba socio cultural group, “Afenifere”, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, said the judgment was a clear indication that the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.
According to him, the judgment given by the judges showed that the Action Congress candidate was able to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt with avalanche of evidence he presented before the judges.
His words “I want to congratulate Engineer Rauf Aregbesola on his victory, which shows that justice will always triumph if followed to a logical conclusion”.
In his reaction, a human rights activist and Ondo State ACN Chieftain, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, described the judgment of the court of Appeal as another victory for democracy.
Oshiomhole congratulates Aregbesola
Cajetan Mmuta, Benin
Governor Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday congratulated the new Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Rauf Aregbosola, on his victory at the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Oshiomhole described Aregbosola’s victory as another testament that the judiciary was the last hope of the defenseless and the oppressed.
“I heartily rejoice with my brother, my friend and my comrade, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola on his sweet victory at the Appeal Court more than three years after he was robbed of the mandate freely given to him by the good people of Osun State on April 14, 2007.”
According to the governor “His victory is even sweeter considering that just a few weeks ago, another Appeal Court had sacked the illegal government in Ekiti State and declared our Comrade, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the authentic Governor of that State.
He said “The latest verdict of the Appeal Court is another testament that the Judiciary is the last hope of the defenceless and the oppressed.
“However, while we continue to rely on the Judiciary to salvage the country from oppressors and election riggers, those who presided over the polls which have been faulted by the judiciary should not remain as electoral officers at INEC and should, as a matter of fact, be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other would-be poll manipulators.
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