A national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has denied directing Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State to dethrone the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.
Tinubu said the rumour over the alleged involvement of the monarch in the build-up to the just concluded Osun State governorship election won by Aregbesola was the handiwork of “political desperadoes.”
Tinubu, who said he held the monarch in high esteem, in a message on the Facebook of his media aide, Sunday Dare, described the insinuation as “fake and unfounded.”
The former Lagos State Governor, explained that he had no business directing such an action against the Ooni or any other traditional ruler in the state.
“A fake and unfounded message has been circulating that Asiwaju has directed Governor Aregbesola to remove the Ooni of Ife and two other Obas. It is a brainless lie. Wicked rumour circulated by political desperadoes. If you fall for this disingenuous propaganda, then you will fall for anything.
“For the records, it is a total fallacy. He holds the Yoruba traditional institutions and rulers in high esteem and the Ooni is an icon of that institution. As one who has been the recipient of many chieftaincy titles, he will seek to protect and promote that institution rather than harm it,” Dare stated.
Congratulating Aregbesola on his victory at the poll, the APC leader said the people of the state had shamed the “brute force” unleashed on them by the authorities.
“Tinubu congratulates the people and Governor of Osun State. The people have spoken. No brute force can suppress the people’s power,” Dare quoted Tinubu as saying on his Twitter page.
Other Nigerians that have congratulated Aregbesola on his victory include a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar; a former Governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, and the lawmaker representing Lagos East in the Senate, Gbenga Ashafa.
Atiku, in a message on his Twitter page, wrote, “My in-laws (in Osun), I am proud that you voted Aregbesola and made your votes count. Governor Aregbesola, your people have given you a mandate to continue your great work. Congratulations!”
Ashafa, on Facebook, stated that Aregbesola’s re-election was “a hard fought battle and victory”
“It is commendable that the people have asserted their will once again. The forces of intimidation and harassment did not prevail against the All Progressives Congress. I congratulate the governor on a well-deserved victory. Democracy is here to stay,” Ashafa added.
Meanwhile, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, who played active role in the governorship election, have begun counting their losses.
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who stated that he campaigned for the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, described the experience as “gruelling.”
Fani-Kayode, however, claimed, there was no rigging and commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for conducting a free and fair election.
Writing on his Facebook page, Fani-Kayode thanked his friends and colleagues in the PDP for putting up a good fight.
“For the last two weeks, I have been in the field in Osun State campaigning for my friend, brother and kinsman and my party’s candidate in the governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore. It has been a gruelling yet wonderful experience and I am very proud to have been part of the team and so deeply involved.
“I thank my kinsmen and the good people of my district, zone and hometown in Ile-Ife, particularly for standing by the PDP in this election and delivering virtually all the votes in their four local government areas to our son and candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
“It is clear from the foregoing that Aregbesola has not only won but he has also won convincingly. I hereby congratulate him and his party on their victory. This is democracy and we must respect the will of the people. You win some and you lose some yet the struggle continues,” Fani-Kayode stated.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who had earlier predicted victory for Omisore, described Aregbesola’s re-election as an act of God.
Okupe added that the INEC officials led by Prof. Atthairu Jega were “true heroes of our democracy,” noting that they have done the Federal Government and Nigerians proud.
“All that happened is ordained and meant for a purpose. We bow to the will of the all-knowing and all-wise God as shown by the verdict of Osun voters. The Lord is sovereign.
“May He grant Aregbesola the wisdom to fulfill His purpose for the people of Osun. Aregbesola’s victory is God’s decision. Who am I to question God,” Okupe wrote in a series of messages on his Twitter page.
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