Patience Leonard, PBA Journalism Mentee
Former Governor of Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has congratulated Senator Ademola Adeleke on his victory in the Osun State governorship election.
Adeleke, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the election with a total vote score of 403,371, defeating the incumbent governor, Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 375,027 votes.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIheidioha who is a former deputy speaker of Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives remarked that the victory of Adeleke in the 2022 poll, was clear evidence that he was robbed of victory in the 2018 gubernatorial election in the state.
Joining the league of concerned Nigerians to felicitate with the governor-elect of Osun state, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Ihedioha described his feat as due to being “a man of victory and destiny”.
He said, “Your remarkable victory which culminated in the defeat of an incumbent, bears eloquent testimony to the open secret that you were robbed of victory four years ago when you first contested the governorship election.”
He further said “ Your emergence as the governor-elect is, no doubt, confirmation of the people’s confidence in your leadership capabilities and a proof of the unbreakable bond of friendship and solidarity between you and them. That is the hallmark of leadership.”
Ihedioha stated that bad governance has persisted in Osun State, therefore, Adeleke should grab the opportunity to run a government that will satisfy the expectations of the people in his state.
The former Governor also attributed Adeleke’s victory to hard work, political understanding, perseverance, and tenacity. He argued that possessing these traits and being humble makes him a leader of the people.
Ihedioha said that the hallmark of leadership is people’s confidence and an unbreakable bond of friendship and solidarity between the two factors.
Addressing this to the governor-elect, he stated “Your emergence as the Governor-elect is, no doubt, confirmation of the people’s confidence in your leadership capabilities and a proof of the unbreakable bond of friendship and solidarity between you and them. That is the hallmark of leadership.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also congratulated him and stated that the steadfastness, courage, and vigilance of the Osun people made the victory possible.
The former Governor also commended the effort of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stating that “Its quest to reinvent itself to ensure that the sanctity of the will of the people is expressed through the ballot box is commendable”.
Recall that Ihedioha was removed from office after serving for about eight months as governor following the order of the Supreme Court on January 14th, 2020.
