A VICTORY FOR THE GOOD PEOPLE OF OGUN STATE
BEING SHORT REMARKS DELIVERED BY THE GOVERNOR-ELECT OF OGUN STATE, PRINCE (DR) DAPO ABIODUN MFR, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE OF RETURN BY THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), HELD AT INEC OFFICE, ABEOKUTA, ON THURSDAY, 28TH MARCH, 2019.
Protocols,
Today’s event of the presentation of Certificate of Return to me and the Deputy Governor-Elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) signals the formal and conclusive end of the 2019 gubernatorial election in our dear Ogun State, having been declared winners and returned elected at the March 9, 2019 poll, following the clear mandate freely bestowed on us by the overwhelming majority of the good people of Ogun State.
2. The victory at the poll is neither that of our great party, All Progressives Party (APC) nor mine alone, it is indeed the victory for all the good people of Ogun State who, despite the challenges that could have dampened their spirit and prevented them from exercising their civic duties, defied the odds and came out in their large numbers and laid the foundation for this ceremony. You are the real heroes and heroines of this success and democracy. You are the ultimate winners!
3. Elections are the bedrock of democracy with people having inalienable rights to periodically choose those they want to entrust their affairs to. These rights must not be abridged in any way and when people have clearly expressed their preferences, as they have done in the instant case, all of us must respect the will of the people, put electioneering and the bickering behind and rally round to address the challenges confronting our State and our people, if indeed our motivation is to serve. It is gratifying to note that almost all my major co-contestants have demonstrated sprit of sportsmanship, congratulated us and even responded to our hands of fellowship. I salute your character which confirms that your motivation is beyond aspiration for office or personal interests. Our hands of fellowship remain wide open to all.
4. In the course of the campaign, we travelled the vast length and breadth of over 16,000 square kilometres of land of our State canvassing for support and votes on the basis of our Building Our Future Together Agenda. Whilst the manifesto and its focal points carefully developed to address the challenges confronting our state and issues constraining the potentials of our people for individual fulfilments were well received, we received clear feedbacks from our people that they want much more. First, they want a government they can trust, a government that has character and works for their best interests at all times. Second, our people across the state desire a government that is fair, just and equitable to all parts of the State. Third, the people of Ogun State yearn for projects and programmes that meet their needs, not just the fancies of those in government. Let me reiterate once again: I solemnly pledge that our Administration will be fair, just, equitable and inclusive, a government that truly earns and deserves confidence and trust of the citizenry through transparent and accountable leadership, focused and qualitative governance that creates the enabling environment for an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of the people of Ogun State. Indeed, a government for all, not a few.
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5. Good governance is not just a legitimate expectation of our people which we are committed to, it is also our little way of showing gratitude to God Almighty for His benevolence that made our success at the poll and today’s event a reality. Many of you are fully aware of my odyssey to warrant any recap here, suffice to say that left to man, I would not be standing here today. God manifested His awesomeness and clearly communicated: man is man, God is God. God has been faithful to me in this journey and I’m obliged to remain faithful to Him by keeping faith with campaign promises I made to the people and make their welfare priority at all times.
6. My appreciation goes to President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for leading the country with integrity and for staying the course of justice. Our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC), is blessed with disciplined and courageous leaders to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for being steadfast in ensuring compliance with party’s constitution and democratic ethos in managing the affairs of the party. Top of the list are the national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and our own father who leads from the front, Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba. Your leadership is worthy of emulation. The caretaker committee of our party in Ogun State has been exemplary. I thank the chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, and other members. My campaign was manned by what I have termed the most successful 2019 gubernatorial campaign council in Nigeria, ably led by the Director-General, who is a former Governor of our State, Prince Segun Adesegun. To you and the rest of your team, party leaders across the state (many of whom are here), numerous supporters, canvassers, and party workers who make tremendous sacrifices at great risks to take our message to the electorate, I say a big thank you. I appreciate you all and your efforts will not be in vain.
7. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the umpire, deserves commendation for working tirelessly to ensure the election was free, fair and credible and the result reflected the wishes of the vast majority of our people. Without security, the electoral process would be undermined. I therefore thank our security agencies for providing a conducive environment for the will of the people to triumph. Ogun State is the cradle of journalism in Nigeria and this was clearly demonstrated with the reportage of the events leading to and during the elections. A large section of the media observed the best ethics of the profession, despite the prevalent inclement environment. I salute your courage and thank you all without exception. Our clergy – Christians and Muslims alike – played significant role in praying for peace and urging citizens to shun any acts that could threaten the peace and solidarity in the state. Your prayers have been answered and I request you to continue to pray for peace and development of our common heritage. The fulcrum of any Administration that hopes to succeed is the public service. I thank our public servants most sincerely for your efforts over the years in the development of our state and look forward with excitement to working with you. The list of those deserving of mention is endless. But God will thank you all on our behalf.
8. In closing, I am not unaware that the tasks ahead are daunting, the resources constrained, and expectations very high, but I am enamoured in the assurances of the goodwill of our people, which I will never take for granted, and their can do spirit. I strongly believe that, together, we can and indeed we will build the future of our dear state through collaboration and partnership between government, private sector and the people. Ogun State is blessed with uncommon talents and skills, our citizens occupy premier positions in the professions, polity, and all sectors. We will tap into these resources to build on the legacies of our forebears, learning appropriate lessons and avoiding missteps. In this regard, the encouraging words of the late sage, one of the greatest contributions of our State to humanity and finest minds of all times, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, readily come to mind:
“Those of us placed in a position of leadership must be prepared to grasp the nettle If we unite in doing so, and if, in addition, we set a worthy example and a marat on pace in probity, unselfishness, and self-sacrifice, the people will follow, all too readily, in our footsteps.”
9. Once again, I thank you all most sincerely for your support and attention. God bless you all. God bless Nigeria. God bless Ogun State.
Igbega Ipinle Ogun, ajose gbogbo wa ni
Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun MFR
Governor-Elect of Ogun State, Nigeria
Thursday, 28th March, 2019.
