OVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has criticised those who champion mainstream politics for the South-West, saying the 12 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration had brought nothing to the people in the region, except poverty and starvation.

He said the coming of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) into the centre-stage was a divine intervention to restore dignity to people in the area, whom he observed were impoverished by the alleged misrule of the PDP.

Responding yesterday to the claim by some PDP chieftains that the loss of political power to the ACN in the zone might have serious consequences on the development of the area, the governor debunked the thinking, insisting that the South-West had dumped the PDP for good.

He noted that the outcome of the National Assembly and the presidential elections in the state was a true reflection that people were fed up with the PDP administration.

Aregbesola observed that the PDP leadership was preaching mainstream politics to deceive the citizens after they had allegedly discovered they could not win in an atmosphere of free, fair and peaceful polls.

Stressing that the outcome of the two elections held so far had vindicated his claim that he and his party were rigged out in the April 14, 2007 election, he said there was no longer a hidden place for vote robbers.

The governor, who thanked the citizens for heeding his call to troop out and vote massively for the ACN, explained that the party had proven its seriousness to enhance the living conditions of all citizens.

Meanwhile, the State Acting Chairman of the ACN, Adelowo Adebiyi, has attributed the success recorded by the party in the Saturday presidential election to the acceptance of Aregbesola’s administration in the state.

Reacting to the overwhelming thrashing of the opposition by the party in the presidential election, he said the electorate had come to recognise the ability of the governor to turn things around after many years of alleged mismanagement.

The ACN chairman said: “The results of the presidential election where people voted for the ACN candidate was an indication of the massive support Aregbesola enjoyed among the people of Osun State.

“Having demonstrated within such a very short-time that governance can be made much more meaningful for the improvement of the lives of the ordinary people, voters in Osun have come to recognise Aregbesola as the man with the magic wand, hence their readiness to vote for his party in whatever situation.”
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45176:why-swest-shuns-mainstream-politics-by-aregbesola&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

[size=18pt]PDP CHAIRMAN[/size]

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Mr. Setonji Koshoedo, on Sunday described the victory of the party’s candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, in the South-West as an indication that the electorate had always preferred that he remained at the helms of the affairs of the country.


Reacting to the outcome of the election in a telephone interview with our correspondent, the Lagos PDP leader said the outcome of the poll, especially in Lagos State, which is a stronghold of the Action Congress of Nigeria, showed that people voted for Jonathan on the basis of his personality and not party loyalty.


He said, “Judging by the results that have reached us so far, it is clear that the President’s victory in the South-West and in other parts of the country is a reflection of the will of the electorate.


“The voters, not the political parties, have the final say in the elections. I think that in the end, President Jonathan will emerge on top.”


Koshoedo dismissed the notion being held in some quarters that Jonathan’s victory in the South-West was due to the collapse of the proposed alliance between the ACN and the Congress for Progressive Change.


He also waved away insinuations by opponents of the PDP that the President’s victory was partly as a result of a secret deal between the ruling party and the ACN.


He said, “All I know is that the people themselves have decided through their votes whom they want to be the next President of Nigeria.


“Regarding the rumour that the ACN made a deal with the President, I believe the party’s leadership has denied it. They have said there was no such deal.”


Koshoedo expressed the opinion that the PDP would repeat its performance in the presidential election, during the governorship election on Apirl 26.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201104185525950

Now, I think it's time for moi to sit back, cross my legs and watch.

ACN in the SW is the best news I've heard all week.

GOOD

The SW will not be conjoined into this mainstream politics the whole country is playing, all we need are good governors and we are fine. Maybe every 20 years or so we can contest to be the president for bragging rights but that about it.
SW people especially the youths should try and make the SW region the best in the country. That's all

You think its good?