Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has said he has forgiven everyone who offended him during the governorship election campaign.
Adeleke spoke on Wednesday when he received his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the commission’s state office in Osogbo.
The governor, who secured victory in the August 15 governorship election, said he was ready to move beyond the political contest and work for the progress of the state.
“All the people that offended me, I have forgiven them. The good Lord has fought my battle and I have overcome,” Adeleke said.
He also appealed to his fellow contestants to put the election behind them and join hands with his administration to move Osun State forward.
Adeleke further promised to provide scholarships for the children of people who lost their lives during the electoral process.
The governor thanked INEC for conducting the election and reaffirmed his commitment to serving as governor for all residents of the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, described the presentation of the Certificate of Return as a significant constitutional milestone in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Babalola said elections remained one of the most visible expressions of democratic governance, adding that the Osun governorship election was a successful exercise in which various stakeholders played important roles.
She commended security agencies for their coordination and efforts in creating what she described as a conducive environment for citizens to exercise their franchise.
The REC also praised the media for helping to counter fake news, misinformation and disinformation during the electoral process, while acknowledging the contributions of traditional rulers, community leaders and residents.
Babalola commended INEC officials for their professionalism and resilience throughout the exercise and disclosed that the election recorded a 43.2 per cent voter turnout.
She described the turnout as evidence of the people’s participation in the democratic process.
“The presentation of the Certificate of Return means that democracy has come to stay in our country,” she said.
Babalola congratulated Adeleke and his deputy and urged them to remain committed to serving the people of Osun State.
Also speaking, INEC National Commissioner for the South-West, Professor Kunle Ajayi, described the occasion as a significant moment for democracy in Osun State and Nigeria.
Ajayi congratulated Adeleke on his victory, saying the people of Osun had refused to surrender their democratic rights to fear or intimidation.
He reiterated INEC’s commitment to conducting free, fair and conclusive elections and urged political parties to invest more in educating their agents on electoral procedures.
