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Aregbesola’s acceptance speech

DEMOCRATIC VICTORY OVER THE TYRANNY OF
POWER
After an unnecessarily tense, tortuous and even
traumatic process, the Independent National
Electoral Commission this morning declared me as
the winner of the Osun state governorship election
on the platform of the All Progressive Congress
(APC). On behalf of my party, we are delighted to
claim victory for our hard work, focus and dedication
in this election. I thank the Almighty God for our
triumph at the polls, against all odds.
To the good people of Osun State goes our
unflinching gratitude. We salute your steadfastness,
courage, loyalty, commitment and fierce
determination to defend your sovereign rights. You
have demonstrated in this election that in a
democracy, power truly belongs to the people. I am
humbled and honoured by your trust and abiding
faith in me and my party. I pledge that your
confidence in us shall never be betrayed or taken for
granted.
Ordinarily, this should be a moment of joy and
celebration consequent upon the hard earned
triumph of the people’s will. However, this election
shows that democracy is still gravely endangered in
Nigeria. We witnessed gross abuse of power and, of
due process before, during, and even after the actual
voting process. It is so sad and unfortunate that what
should be a normal, routine process was maliciously
allowed to snowball in to a needless virtual war by
the Federal Government and the PDP.
Osun state was unduly militarized in an
unprecedented manner through criminal intimidation
and psychological assault on our people. This election
witnessed an abuse of our security agencies and
amounted to a corruption of their professional ethics
and integrity.
The security agencies were unprofessionally utilized
in Osun state to harass, intimidate and oppress the
people whose taxes are used to pay their salaries and
provide their arms. Hundreds of leaders, supporters,
sympathizers and agents of our party were arrested
and detained. Also, hundreds of other innocent
citizens including women and the aged were
harassed, brutalized and traumatized. In spite of this
condemnable repression and abuse of human rights,
the unflagging spirit of our people triumphed.
Our victory is due to the steadfastness and resolute
determination of our people to assert and defend
their rights. The PDP obviously did all it could in a
most desperate manner to steal the people’s
mandate. A critical analysis of the elections shows a
trend of general low voter turnout largely because of
the atmosphere of deliberate tyranny and fear
caused by the excessive militarization of the state.
Despite our victory, it is pertinent to condemn and
also point out the fact that the number of accredited
voters in most local governments was less than half
of registered voters. Against this trend, it is curious
that the bulk of Senator the PDP votes came from
only four Local Governments- namely Ife Central, Ife
East, Ife North and Ife South. This suggests an
inexplicable large turnout in his stronghold which is a
curious departure from the general trend of voting
across the state.
The outcome of this election, once again, shows the
unswerving determination of our people to ensure
that democracy triumphs in Nigeria. We have sent a
strong signal to all and sundry that no might is
powerful enough to thwart the will of the people. This
should always strengthen our resolve to ensure that
as from now on, every vote must not only be counted
but must count in this country. Nobody or party must
ever exercise power unreasonably at any level except
in accordance with the will of the people to whom
sovereignty belongs.
Let me assure the good people of Osun state that I
appreciate that this victory is a reward for our hard
work and commitment to the welfare of our people. I
promise that we shall not rest on our oars but shall
be spurred to work even harder with all well meaning
people of the State of Osun and the generality of
Nigerians to continue to enjoy your trust and
support. You can be assured that we will leave no
stone unturned in our continued effort to transform
Osun into a land of progress, prosperity and peace for
all with renewed fervour. I realize that this victory
and the challenges we went through is a call to
greater service and sustained commitment to our
people. I pledge a rededication of myself to the
service of our people and the strengthening of
democratic values in Osun and Nigeria generally. Our
country remains in political bondage and we must
set her free.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. www.thenationonlineng.net

APC will always have something to say,I wonder what ogbeni and his APC cohort whould have said had they lost the election!congrat ogbeni it was a victory well deserved.