Barely 72 hours to the House of Assembly election in the State, the immediate past Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has implored electorate to vote massively for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday, 18 March, 2023 polls.
Oyetola urged his party’s members to remain resolute and mobilise the electorate to vote massively for the party’s candidates.
This is even as residents of Ifedayo, Ila, Odo-Otin, Ifelodun, Boripe Local Government Areas trooped out en masse to welcome Oyetola and his entourage in their respective domains.
Speaking at different venues of the meetings, Oyetola expressed delight at the magnitude of the turnout of residents and members of the party to receive him, saying it was a signal to the popularity and wide acceptance that the party enjoys in the State.
Oyetola enjoined the people of the state, particularly the electorate, to see the upcoming House of Assembly election as a child of necessity in view of its importance and attachment to the governorship position.
He tasked the electorate to monitor their votes and resist every temptation from any quarters aimed to scuttle or manipulate the process as such resistance would go a long way to entrench healthy, free, fair, credible and acceptable electoral exercise.
Oyetola who urged the party’s leadership and members to begin a house-to-house, door-to-door and community-to-community campaigns for the success of the party’s flag-bearers said necessary support within the ambit of the law would be given.
The erstwhile Governor bemoaned the spate of sponsored-incessant attacks on the members of the APC as well as, the ubiquitous violence being unleashed on the innocent residents of the state in the last three months.
He assured the people of a new dawn and better days ahead before, during and after the election.
Oyetola further called on the people, particularly members of his party, not to panic or be intimidated by the heinous antics of members of the opposition parties as adequate security will be put in place to ensure a hitch-free electoral process in the state
He reaffirmed his belief in God to emerge victorious in the ongoing governorship election litigation, saying the efficacy of prayers had been his guiding principles all along.
“I am happy to be here. By the grace of God, I will construct your road as soon as I am returned. It will be easy for us because God has given us the central government. Don’t panic, put your mind at rest, there will be adequate security before, during and after election.
“By the grace of God, I will return to government soon. I am just on a short break to rest. God is wonderful and He is a promise-keeper. He will make it a reality for me and by His grace, I will actualise my dream of returning to government.
“I want you to see the Saturday House of Assembly election as yours. See it as important as governorship election that we had. Vote massively for our candidates, because they are the ones that will work with me when I return to government. There is no need of opposition in the House of Assembly.
“And for the aggrieved members, I want to plead with you to forgive and forget. Let’s put aside our grievances, create room for reconciliation and settle our differences in the interest of unity and togetherness. We are one united family and we must all hold on strongly to the pillar of the party. Whoever that has offended us in one way or the other, please, let us forgive ourselves. We should avoid anti party. It is dangerous and it doesn’t befit us.
“Even if I am the one, kindly forgive me and vote for our candidates. Don’t be induced by anything whatsoever. Allowing this can only mortgage the future. Don’t sell your votes. We are the people that can do better for Osun. We have done it before and by the grace of God when we return; we shall replicate same.
“We are all aware of what we experienced in the last presidential and national assembly elections. But I want you to know that what they did last time can’t replicate itself. Nobody has touched them, they have started crying foul. If you look at the numbers of those that were killed by political hoodlums, it is a sign that they mean nothing for us other than violence.
“Over 20 people have been murdered. Are they not human beings? It is unfortunate that Osun that used to be the most peaceful state before has become a war zone. But I can assure you that such will not happen this time around. There will be adequate security in the next election.
“I am imploring you to come out en masse on the day of election, pray to God for our success and ensure that you monitor your vote. We should all be watchful and vigilant on the election day. Ensure that you shout against over- voting at the polling units. Make sure that it is everybody that comes to vote that is accredited before voting. That is the area they want to hide and they are already exposed.
“I am happy to see large number of our party’s members here and there. By the grace of God, we will be returned for another four years and I can assure you that every member of our party will not labour in vain.
“We thank God that we were able to fulfill our electoral promises in our first four years, and I promise that, by the grace of God, and as soon as we return, we will do more than what we have done before and ensure that everyone benefits in one way or the other”, Oyetola added.
