The celebration by Action Congress’ supporters and many other residents of Benin, the Edo State capital, was symbolic.

Jubilant crowd following Edo State judgemennt at the Appeal Court, Benin.
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Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor

They had waited for over three hours for the judgment by the appeal court. And seconds after Justice Umaru Abdullahi affirmed the victory of Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, in the April 14, 2007 poll, they took to major streets with their brooms, sweeping off, in mock way, what some of them called the “illegal administration” of Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor.

“We are sweeping off the illegal administration of Prof. Osunbor in the state. They were in the Government House for 18 months illegally and today, the court has said they should leave,” an AC member, who simply gave his name as Irabor, said.

As Irabor bent down for a mock sweeping with his broom, the insignia of the AC, other party members pulled him, singing “bye, bye Osunbor” at Ikpoba Hill.

Other areas where the AC and the governor-elect’s supporters celebrated were the ever-busy Ring Road, Sapele Road, Sakpoba Road, Ekenwa Road, Akpakpava Road, and Missions Road.

Our correspondents, however, observed that one person was feared dead and some others injured while celebrating the victory.

An elated Oshiomhole, attributed his victory to the support, prayers, efforts and monetary contribution of the Nigerian people in the pursuit of a just cause.

Oshiomhole, who spoke with journalists shortly after the verdict, added that the judgment had further intensified his belief and conviction that Nigeria was a country worth dying for.

He said that his victory was a screaming testimony to the fact that he had benefited immensely from the judiciary which, according to him, had offered him the opportunity to serve a people that had demonstrated an “incredible level of support, commitment and dedication to his emergence as governor-elect.”

The new governor also thanked the media for their sustained coverage of the governorship tussle in the state.

Oshiomhole said that, with his emergence, the days of imposition of a governor on a state, irrespective of the will of the people, had come to an end.

He said, “I don’t know how to portray the depth of my gratitude, but today I want to proclaim that I will continue to give my all to my country because this country is worth dying for.

“Today, I have benefited from a courageous judiciary that has the duty to ensure that the good people of Edo State who have stood by us over the past year and who have suffered all kinds of intimidation now, have the opportunity. We will repay them through good governance and ensure that, in all that we shall do, only the people and the people alone shall matter.

“Today, the truth has prevailed and I am happy that I have been able to fulfill one of the very first promises we made to the Edo State people, that we will defend the votes. Today, the votes have counted and for the first time in the life of the Edo State people, they can beat their chests to say this government was as a result of our ballot papers and we give thanks to God for that.

“Edo State people should go and celebrate because we told them it was possible to achieve what we have achieved now. We told them that we want God to use us for the first time so that the people of Edo State could claim responsibility for who governed them. The days of imposition are over. We made it a campaign issue and today, that has prevailed.”

On his part, the ousted governor said through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Dan Aigbavboa, that the judgment came to him with mixed feelings.

Osunbor, whose prepared statement was dictated to our correspondent on the telephone, congratulated Oshiomhole and urged him to put in his best to the development of the state and its people during his tenure as governor.

Describing the verdict as a victory for the rule of law, he said that as a believer of democratic governance and a lawyer, he was left with no other option but to accept the pronouncements of the court.

He added that he exploited the opportunity offered by the 18 months he stayed in office to embark on massive developmental projects in the state,

Osunbor said, “I received the judgment with mixed feelings. Although many must have been disappointed by the judgment, we should see it as a victory for the rule of law. As a believer in the rule of law and a lawyer, I accept the verdict in good faith, more so since there is no further right of appeal.

“During my 18 months as governor, I left no one in doubt that my main purpose for seeking to serve was to deliver Edo State from the shackles of underdevelopment and infrastructural decay.

“My actions and developmental stride bear eloquent testimony to this. While congratulating Oshiomhole on his victory, I urge him to do his utmost to promote the interest of the people and the development of our state.

“I thank the organised labour, students, the people of Edo State, the Oba of Benin for his fatherly advice and support, the PDP, and God Almighty. I believe everything happens for good to those who trust in the Lord.”

Our correspondents gathered on good authority that Osunbor had packed his things out of the Government House as early as 3am on Tuesday, even before the judgment was read.

He was said to have been escorted by riot policemen to his country home in Iruekpen, Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.
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