Aregbesola: Guard Your Democracy Jealously for Nigeria’s Development

Yinka Kolawole Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has called on Nigerians to guard democracy jealously for the development of the country.

The governor made this appeal during a broadcast in the state titled: ‘Watering the tree of democracy with love and determination’ yesterday.

He commended the people of the state for their conduct before, during and after the elections, saying Osun State is among states in the country that recorded few incidents during the period of elections.

The governor also noted that the people of the state, in no small measure, contributed to the emergence of the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, “The pattern, shape and the result are indications of your diligent planting and nurture of the tree of democracy in the past 16 years and the buds of its early fruits.

“Election is now assuming its true definition as political empowerment for the people. With your voter’s card, you can determine those who lead you and make laws for the government of the country and your state.

“This is the most critical first test of democracy since 1999, a free and fair, in which the people choose their leaders. Now, you have passed it in flying colours.

“I congratulate you for this historic achievement. What we need to do now is to guard it jealously and build on this solid foundation the super structure of productivity, development, security and life more abundantly for all,” the governor emphasised.

Aregbesola stated that for other state to be aligning with other progressives’ states to vote for a progressive president, the state has helped to realise the dream of Chief Obafemi Awolowo by setting the country on an unstoppable path of greatness.

He reiterated that his government will be a peoplecentred government that will provide security, jobs and good life for the people.

The governor assured the people of the state that the president-elect would put the wealth of the nation to use and develop Nigeria to an enviable height among the committee of nations.

He said: “Let me congratulate the winners for their deserved victory and the losers for keen sportsmanship and belief in the democratic system.

“In a free and fair contest, a winner must emerge. The winners therefore should regard the mandate given to them as sacred and serve their people with honour and integrity, knowing that in four years’ time, they will be required to give account of their stewardship.

“The losers too should be gallant and take seriously the reasons why they were not preferred by the voters and use the next four years to do their homework in the hope that they will have a better outing at the next round of elections.”

The governor expressed regrets that some candidates, in the bid to gain unfair advantage or manipulate the outcome, had to unleash violence on the people.

Aregbesola noted that the reports of violence and malpractices before, during and after the election, no matter how small, shall be revisited, saying those who have breached the laws of the land will be brought to justice.