Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, has received his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following his victory at the August 15 governorship election held across the state.
Adeleke received the certificate on Wednesday at the INEC office in Osogbo, where he pledged to move the state forward by building on his first-term achievements.
On Saturday, the governor defeated Bola Oyebamiji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate; Najeem Salaam, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flagbearer; and 13 other candidates in the keenly contested election.
The incumbent governor and candidate of Accord polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest rival, Oyebamiji of the APC, who secured 444,815 votes, while Salaam of the ADC garnered 17,180 votes.
Adeleke won 19 LGAs, while Oyebamiji, the APC candidate, won the remaining 11.
‘NO MORE DARKNESS IN OSUN’
Adeleke, who was sang and danced to express his delight after receiving the certificate of return, said he has forgiven all those who wronged him in the build-up to the poll.
“I am the governor of all. Whatever has happened in the past, let it be bygone, because I have the fear of God. All the people that offended me, I forgive them,” he said.
“You know, what else do I want? The good Lord has fought my battle, and we have overcome. Osun State has overcome. I brought the light to Osun State, and I drove darkness out of Osun State.
“Osun State will never see darkness again. We will keep moving forward. Nobody will turn us around again.”
The governor called on his fellow contestants to join hands with him to move the state forward, noting that the state is bigger than any individual aspiration.
“I seize this opportunity that all my other contestants, they should please come over, let’s join hands together, and let’s move Osun State forward. Why I’m saying that, Osun State is bigger than anybody,” he said.
He also condoled with the families of those who lost their lives during the pre-election violence that rocked the state.
The governor said the children of the victims will be given scholarships at the Adeleke High School and Adeleke University in Ede.
“And I’d like to see this opportunity for those who lost their life during the election, may their soul rest in peace,” he said.
“I’m going to bless all those who have lost their lives, their children will be given scholarships to Adeleke High School and Adeleke University.”
