By Banji Ayoola
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy has come for the people of Osun.”
This is the philosophic reaction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate in the February 23, 2019 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to the judgement of the state’s governorship election petition tribunal which, on Friday restored the victory of the party at the 2018 September 22 election.
In fact, he said that: “The judgment has rekindled hope and confidence that those whose mandate had been tampered with or denied can look forward to justice being done to them.”
Atiku applauded the judiciary as truly, the defender of Nigeria’s democracy.
The tribunal in aland mark judgement upheld the election of the PDP candidate in last year’s governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
In a statement on Friday by his media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, the former Vice President noted that the restoration of the stolen mandate of Senator Adeleke showed that indeed the judiciary is the last refuge of the common man and that in truth, those who were aggrieved and resolved to maintain the peace, have been vindicated.
Atiku congratulated Adeleke, the PDP and men and women of goodwill in Osun State, who he said, did not waiver in their commitment to retrieve the stolen mandate.
The PDP presidential candidate commended the courage of the judiciary and its resilience even in the face of alleged strenuous effort by the All Progressives Congress (APC) -led government to undermine and intimidate it.
According to him, the decision of the judiciary in the Osun governorship election was phenomenal in view of the culture of inconclusive elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in this season.
He urged the judiciary to remain steadfast as the eyes of all Nigerians and indeed the whole world are on them to help ensure that democracy in Nigeria is put on a solid foundation.
Earlier, Atiku, on his verified Twitter handle @Atiku, had praised the judiciary for coming to the rescue of the common man.
He wrote: “Truly, the judiciary is the last hope of the common man and the defender of our democracy. Congratulations Sen Demola Adeleke, @IsiakaAdeleke1.”
Also Atiku’s running mate, Mr Peter Obi, on his twitter handle @PeterObi, wrote: “Congratulations Senator Ademola Adeleke @IsiakaAdeleke1. Power to the People!”
In his own reaction, former chairman of PDP Governors Forum and immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, said that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC would also lose the presidency.
Reacting in a post on Twitter, Fayose wrote: “Congratulations, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, Governor-Elect of Osun State.
“Ultimately, Nigeria and its people will be victorious over this tyranny.
“They took Ekiti and Osun States by any which way just to avoid the bandwagon effect on the Presidential election.
“Now Osun has slipped off their hands.
“By the power of God, Ekiti too will slip and they will ultimately lose the Presidency.”
