Akeredolu (left); and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, during the tumultuous welcome to celebrate his Supreme Court victory in Akure…yesterday
Wild jubilation erupted yesterday in Akure the Ondo State capital over the verdict of the Supreme Court, which upheld the victory of the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) at the October 10, 2020 governorship election.
The governor, who was out of the state for official engagements shortly after the judgment on Wednesday, was received with pomp and pageantry at the Akure Airport, Oba-Ile.
There was a long motorcade of leaders, members and supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state who sang various thanksgiving songs to welcome the governor at the airport.
Akeredolu was driven round Akure, from the airport to Oba-Ile, through Alagbaka to Oyemekun and Arakale road down to the Government House, Alabagbaka.
He was flanked by his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; the Acting Chairman of the APC in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin; members of the National Assembly and members of the state House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun.
Others among the entourage included the Chief of Staff, Chief Gbenga Ale, members of the State Executive Council (SEC) and local government chairmen.
Addressing the crowd, the governor said he was committed to serving the people of the state, stressing that delivering dividends of good governance remains his top priority.
Noting that the Supreme Court judgment was a call to more service, he added that it was another opportunity to recalibrate and ensure that the yearnings of the people were given front burner attention.
He explained that the APC did not only defeat the PDP at the poll by winning 15 out of the 18 local government areas in the state, but also defeated the opposition party in the court with 12 judges ruling in favour of the APC and only three for the PDP.
His words: “At the Tribunal, the three judges ruled in our favour. It was a unanimous judgement. At the Court of Appeal, all five judges ruled in our favour. At the Supreme Court, four judges ruled in our favour and three in favour of the PDP. We floored the PDP again even in the court.”
The governor called on his major challenger, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, to come and join hands with him to work for the development of the state.
He said: “I want to say that I feel really good myself personally but I think in everything, we just have to give glory and honour to the Almighty.
“God has made it possible and I know that everybody feels happy, rejoicing in whatever the Lord has done. So, we have no other option; all of us are rejoicing in what God has done and I thank the people of Ondo State.
“This matter as you said is being put to rest and there’s no other thing to do other than for us to come together and work for this state.
“Well, as I said before, the stage we are now is for us to recalibrate and at the end of the day, find a way to ensure that the yearnings of our people are satisfied. I know that a lot of our people expect so many things from us. We will give everything it takes.”
The crowd also included members of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in the state were also not left out as they celebrated the victory.
The jubilation rally which paralysed all economic activities in the metropolis witnessed hundreds of placards carrying members of the union with congratulatory messages .
The Apex Court, in a majority judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, four of the seven-member panel dismissed the appeal by Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the ground that it was incompetent.
The rally, which began from the Sunshine Park at Oyemekun road terminated at the Alagbaka Governor’s Office.
Speaking during the rally, Comrade Toyin Bosede aka Eba National, expressed happiness that the votes they cast for the APC were eventually upheld against the wish of some detractors.
He said the Governor’s victory at the Apex Court called for celebration, noting: “The governor won at the tribunal and the appeal, the Peoples Democratic Party refused to accept the victory, they proceeded to the Supreme Court but God gave our Governor total victory at last.
He later appealed to the governor to lift the ban on the NURTW.
Also speaking, NURTW Youth Leader, Omoniyi Enibalomo said the governor’s victory is the source of their joy because the enemies did not rejoice over them.
He said: ”We are here to celebrate with our governor. The governor was victorious because of his good heart towards the good people of Ondo state. We will continue celebrating him. He has transformed the State. He touched all the 18 local government areas of Ondo state. It is obvious that his work has surpassed the efforts of his predecessor.”
Responding on behalf of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, Lucky Ayiedatiwa, expressed his gratitude that their votes were not upturned and that their victory would be permanent.
Meanwhile, reactions and congratulatory messages have continued to pour in for the Governor as the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said the Supreme Court’s verdict is an affirmation of the overwhelming victory Governor Akeredolu recorded on October 10, 2020.
In a congratulatory message signed by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu said the mandate given Akeredolu by the people of Ondo State has never been in question.
“I congratulate the Justices of the apex court for helping to bring the Ondo governorship election to a closure.
“I heartily rejoice with Governor Akeredolu. I also rejoice with the people of Ondo State.
With the confirmation of his victory, the ultimate winners are the people of the state and the teeming APC members in the state.”
Member representing Ileoluji/Oke-Igbo & Odigbo Federal Constituency, Mr Mayowa Akinfolarin, said that Akeredolu has fought a good fight and the tribunal race is over.
The lawmaker while congratulating the governor and his deputy urged the duo to continue with programmes aimed at bringing developments and growth to the state.
He noted that every political challenge faced during and after the election gave room for proper democratic settings and for rule of law to take charge and examine every stage of the electoral processes.
An Abuja based lawyer, Tolu Babaleye described the Supreme Court ruling as ordained by God.
The Akoko born legal icon and APC chieftain posited that although the victory is a split decision of four against three, the most important thing is that it is a sweet victory.
Your victory is double barrel for APC accomplishments and hope for the APC family in Nigeria”.
According to him, the ruling brought to an end, the technical justice the challenger, Eyitayo Jegede was leveraging on.
Chairman, Irele Local Government, Mr Olusegun Ajimotokin while congratulating the Governor said It was a testament to the will of the people of Ondo state expressed through the plurality of votes of the people in the October 10 gubernatorial election.
In the same vein, the Chairman of Owo Local Government, Chief Samuel Adegbegi while congratulating the governor said the Supreme Court victory has put to rest all disputes and controversy surrounding the state’s governorship election.
The Guardian/The Hope
