The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says the party’s victory in the Osun governorship election shows that democracy is at work in the country.
Tinubu said this after he received the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola; and the governor-elect, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday evening.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Oyetola was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission at the end of Thursday’s re-run election in seven polling centres.
He polled a total of 255,505 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, who polled 255,023 votes.
Tinubu said the people of the state exercised their rights and chose the best candidate to drive development in the state.
He said, ”The people of Osun demonstrated their strong determination. They have good judgment. They exercised their rights to choose the best candidate necessary for developmental programmes in the state.
“When you look at those who were running, you have the best, the most brilliant, the most qualified, competent, calm and a great candidate.
“That is what they have done to show that democracy is at work.
“Democracy is about the people, and the people have equally exercised their right to be tolerant, patient, persevere and do what is necessary to develop the economy of the state.
“In leadership, you need a thinker and a doer that must be present in the mind, body and soul; that person who will carry the responsibility of the state and I feel that Oyetola fits perfectly.”
Tinubu urged the people of the state to encourage and give their maximum support to Oyetola.
On the APC presidential primary, the party’s national leader said the huge support from party faithful in Lagos State was a signal that the party would emerge victorious in 2019.
The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; and a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, were also on the ground during the visit.