Ajimobi, Oyo APC congratulate Makinde over victory

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has congratulated Mr Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for emerging the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

Gov. Ajumobi, in a statement signed by Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr Bolaji Tunji Ibadan on Monday, congratulated Makinde for emerging victorious.

Recall that the returning officer, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, on Sunday declared Makinde as the winner of the poll.

Makinde polled 515, 621 to defeat his closest rival, Adebayo Adelabu of All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 357, 982.

Ajimobi urged Makinde to ensure all stakeholders were carried along in his administration.

He called on Makinde to start getting prepared for the onerous task of governance by putting behind him all the electioneering acrimonies.

Ajimobi also called on the governor-elect to prevail on his followers and supporters to guard against acts and utterances capable of igniting crisis in the state.

“In the last eight years, we have ensured adherence to the rule of law. We have done a lot to ensure the growth and development of our dear state.

“These we have done through our visible unprecedented achievements, as acclaimed by the masses of Oyo State and the outside world. I congratulate you and wish you a successful tenure.

“I enjoin you to focus on the sustained development of our state in the areas of peace, security, as well as safety of lives and property enjoyed in the last eight years,’’ he said.

The governor said he would extend his hand of fellowship to the governor-elect towards the development and growth of the state.

“The duty of every government is to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive and for citizens to go about their lawful duties under a peaceful and secure environment,” Ajimobi said.

Similarly, the APC in the state has also congratulated Makinde on his victory.

The party, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, also congratulated Adelabu for a good race and a well fought battle at the polls.

“The elections have come and gone, won and lost and the people of Oyo State have spoken. We respect the INEC declaration of Mr Seyi Makinde as the governor-elect and wish to congratulate him.

“Similarly, we commend the gallantry of Chief Adebayo Adelabu who gave a good account of not only himself, but the APC in Oyo State. Our commendation also goes to all the victorious candidates in our party,’’ Olatunde said.

APC, however, called on its members and supporters to be calm and conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.

“The unprecedented eight year tenure of the APC-led government of Gov. Ajimobi has been a season of peace, safety and security which yielded monumental developments in various sectors of the state’s economy,’’ he said.

The party condemned the recent spate of violence witnessed in the last 48 hours in the state, emphasising that it would be unfortunate if the state returns to the era of violence, brigandage and chaos with the turn of the PDP being in charge.

It reminded the perpetrators of violence that the APC government was still in charge of the state and no one should seize the opportunity of victory at the polls to take laws into their hands.