Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday, received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following the Governor’s victory at the August 9 governorship polls.
INEC Supervising National Commissioner, Ambassador Mohammad Wali, presented the Certificate of Return to Governor Aregbesola at the INEC office, along Gbogan Road, Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Speaking at the event, the Governor thanked the people for re-electing him, calling their action a victory over military intimidation.
While commending INEC for conducting a free and fair election, he gave some advice; “I want to advise INEC to take seriously the security of election materials; they should be extra vigilant with the materials they use in election. We appeal to you to be alert and more determined to secure materials to avoid compromised staff to tamper with the materials.
“I also want to commend other contestants who enriched the country’s democratic process; they must all come to us on how we can move forward our state. For those who are embittered, we are in no way inducing them not to chart the legal way to redress. We must add that while they are seeking redress in court, they can still join us on how we can give meaningful life to our people”, he said.
Governor Aregbesola also commented on the alleged militarization of the election. Although he commended the security agencies for keeping the state safe during the election, he noted that there were excesses that should be curbed.
“I must commend the security agencies for their commitment to making the election a huge success and violence-free.
“However, one must not fail to mention the over-zealousness of few of the security agents, who in the name of obeying orders, ran riot and clamped down on innocent chieftains, members and supporters of our party.
“As security personnel, your constitutional role is to maintain law and order, as well as protect the people of Nigeria. It is therefore criminal of any law enforcement agent to molest, harass or intimidate innocent people, let alone killing a Nigerian.
“You must, from now on, develop the attitude of resisting wrong orders, which is antithetical to what the constitution permits,” he said.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, admitted that the election indeed had its challenges but expressed satisfaction that the exercise was successful, as the Commission remained focused on its mission despite the tense atmosphere leading to the election.
While reiterating the electoral body’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections in the country, he advised politicians to guard their utterances as unguarded words were capable of causing crisis.