ENGINEER Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Saturday took over as governor of Osun State with a directive freezing all the accounts of the State government.

The Chief Judge of the State, Justice Gabriel Olaniyi Ojo, performed the swearing-in ceremony and oath taking for Governor Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, at the Play ground of the Technical College, Osogbo.

The ceremony, which commenced at 3.pm was witnessed by a large crowd of dignitaries and party supporters and members of the public, who had started trooping into the venue as early as 7 am. They patiently waited till Aregbesola arrived in company with Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Dr Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo),and Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

Aregbesola in his address promised to channel all the resources of the state towards its social, economic and infrastructural development.

“I thank God, the long night of vote robbery and resultant oppression of innocent citizens is over. Now is the time to repair our land and empower our people. Our programme for the redemption of our state is the same popular programmes that won your hearts during the campaigns, for which you gave us a resounding victory,” Aregbesola said.

The new governor paid glowing tributes to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of ACN, Chief Bisi Akande and other notable leaders of the party. He specifically requested that the anthem of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), led by the late Awolowo in the Second Republic, be played. The anthem was played in its original form with Awolowo’s voice over.

The governor also saluted the efforts of the past leaders in Osun including the late Chief Bola Ige and Chief Bisi Akande who was governor of the state between 1999 and 2003.

Aregebsola also saluted the courage and fairness of the judiciary for restoring the stolen mandate. He also thanked the people of the state for standing by him throughout the period of the struggle to recover the stolen mandate.

The mammoth crowd at the venue of the ceremony responded with thunderous applause to every pronouncement by the new governor. The entire venue wore a carnival look, with many singing and drumming groups trying to outdo one another.

A banner with portraits of Awolowo, the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, the late Senator Abraham Adesanya and Ige was strategically displayed at the event.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Akande, prayed that the people of the state would never again witness bad governance associated with the ousted administration of Prince Olagunsoye Olagunsoye Oyinlola sacked by the ruling of the Court of Appeal, sitting in Ibadan last Friday.

Tinubu described Aregbesola as a dogged fighter and called on the people of the state to continue to support the new administration in order for him to restore the lost glory of the state.

Governor Fashola of Lagos State also expressed joy over the victory at the Appeal Court which brought Aregbesola on board in Osun State, assuring that Oyo and Ogun would soon join the progressives as did Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States.

Fashola said his peers at the Governors’ Forum have now increased in number having started as the only ACN governor in 2007. “I am particularly happy because I was the only one when we started three and a half years ago. All around me I saw usurpers, those who could not provide electricity, water and good education. But our leaders used to encourage me that the future would be better. Please support your governor – he needs the cooperation of all,” an elated Fashola said.

Governor Mimiko, hailed the new administration and congratulated the people of Osun on the new dawn.

Other dignitaries at the ceremony included former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Oyo State governor, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, and former Ekiti State governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

Others include Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Lagos State deputy governor, Mrs. Sarah Sosan, Ekiti State deputy governor, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, Mr. Femi Falana, Alhaji Yerima Shetima, Evangelist Bamidele Olomilua, Chief Michael Koleoso, Mr Dele Alake and Mr Opeyemi Bamidele.

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Alhaji Asari Dokubo