Former Minister of Interior and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election in the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Aregbesola described the election outcome as a reflection of the sovereign will of the electorate.
Aregbesola, in a statement on Monday, said the outcome of an election represents the choice of citizens and should therefore be respected by all political actors.
He urged Adeleke to regard his victory as a renewed mandate and an opportunity to unite the people of the state while consolidating on its development.
The former Osun governor also commended the electorate for their participation and what he described as their political sophistication throughout the electoral process.
He appealed to political parties, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders to accept the outcome and allow the state to move forward in an atmosphere of peace, unity and stability.
Aregbesola charged Adeleke to use his second term to govern with fairness, humility and a strong sense of responsibility to all residents, regardless of their political affiliations.
The former minister, however, reserved special commendation for members of the ADC and the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Najeem Folasayo Salaam, popularly known as Iwaloye, for their conduct during the electioneering period.
He said he was proud of the party’s members for remaining steadfast and committed to their candidate and the ideals that brought them together, despite what he described as enormous political pressure and a highly competitive electoral environment.
According to him, ADC members demonstrated courage and resilience through months of mobilisation, sacrifice and peaceful political participation.
Aregbesola also praised Salaam for conducting his campaign with dignity, saying it reflected the conviction that politics should be driven by ideas, competence, character and service to the people.
He further commended the ADC candidate for accepting the election outcome with maturity and for placing the peace and unity of Osun above personal ambition.
“Although the result was not what the ADC hoped for, the party’s commitment to the future of the state must not end with an election,” he said.
Aregbesola urged ADC members, supporters and volunteers to remain proud of their efforts, preserve the relationships forged during the campaign and continue to engage constructively in the affairs of the state.
He charged them to remain the voice of the people and hold the government accountable through legitimate and democratic means.
The former governor also called on Adeleke to extend a hand of fellowship to all political tendencies in the state, urging him to make his second term an era of greater inclusion, reconciliation and unity.
“To the ADC family, let us remain united, disciplined and hopeful. Political journeys are often longer than individual electoral contests. Power is responsibility,” Aregbesola said.