Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has congratulated Chief Rotimi Akeredolu on his victory in the Ondo State governorship election, at the weekend.
In a congratulatory statement issued in Abuja, by his Media Office, yesterday, Atiku urged the governor-elect to use the opportunity of his victory in the election to usher in good governance and development in Ondo State.
In the same vein, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase maintained that Akeredolu’s victory was well-deserved “as it has further confirmed the confidence Nigerians have in the current APC administration which is anchored on transparency and accountability. Governor Ortom described the governor-elect as a determined and courageous man whose conviction that the people of the state deserved better leadership has yielded the ultimate result.
On his part, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, said Akeredolu’s victory at the poll cannot be questioned. Ajimobi, who is also the chairman, South-West Governors’ Forum, also felicitated with President Muhammadu Buhari, the leadership and APC members for their respective contributions to the victory of the party’s candidate.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, said the governor expressed great joy and deep satisfaction at the relatively peaceful conduct and successful conclusion of the election.
Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura said APC’s victory in the just concluded governorship election in Ondo “is an indication that President Buhari’s Change mantra has come to stay.” The governor described the election as “the most credible in the anals of Nigeria’s democratic experiment.
Meanwhile, former Ekiti State governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo called on Ondo people to pray fervently for the success of Akeredolu’s administration.
Adebayo, who ruled Ekiti between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), said the victory had again confirmed the APC’s supremacy over other parties in the country. The APC chieftain said Akeredolu’s election showed “the people’s quest for genuine development and better future for the people of Ondo,” and urged Akeredolu “not to disappoint the populace when he comes on board.
“Akeredolu is well-equipped for the job and I call on the good people of Ondo State to continue to support him. I want to advise him to hit the ground running by ensuring that his administration focuses on people-oriented policies, programmes and projects that can turn around Ondo’s economy.
“I also want to congratulate President Buhari, APC’s campaign team, INEC and security agencies for ensuring free, fair and peaceful poll that had helped in raising the standard of electioneering in the country.”
Also, a chieftain of the APC in Ogun State, Chief Tolu Odebiyi, in a statement by his Media Office, yesterday, said said “Akeredolu’s emergence is a reflection of the abiding faith of Nigerians in the party.
He said Nigerians believe that “the party is capable of rescuing the country from the past rot.”
Odebiyi equally said it was also “a show of belief in the capacity of Akeredolu to take Ondo to the Promised Land after several years in the hands of the opposition.”
Odebiyi lauded the leadership of the APC at the national level to sell the programmes of the party to Nigerians, adding: “It is equally pertinent to congratulate the governors elected on the platform of the APC in the South-West, especially the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, because their dedication to service and delivery of democratic dividends as seen by the people must have spurred the need for change as demanded for by the people of Ondo State with the election of Akeredolu.”
Anambra State’s chapter of the APC, in statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Okelo Madukaife said it was victory for democracy.
“We have always pictured that victory was a whiff away for Ondo, for salaries of workers and for discipline in governance, because our party chose the right candidate, had the right mission for governance, has the right attitude in governments already formed on its platform and was relying on the wisdom of the people in The Sunshine State to interpret the situation aright.
“Akeredolu’s victory is a vote for a prosperous Ondo, which has enough from nature to blossom into one of the leading state economies in our land, but waiting for the right moment which has now come.
“We urge Aketi, in the spirit of our party’s understanding of governance, to translate his campaign policies, particularly as they affect agriculture and other productive sectors that have been ignored before now,” the statement concluded.
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