Clement Adeyi, Osogbo

Osun State governor,  Gboyega Oyetola, has insisted that he remains the governor of the state with the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the ruling party.

He stated this in Osogbo, the state capital, while addressing party members and supporters led by the chairman, Gboyega Famodun, who came to pay him a solidarity visit.

The visit was against the backdrop of the Friday’s verdict by the election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja which nullified his election and declared the PDP candidate, Ademola Adeleke, as the winner of the poll.

Oyetola who expressed satisfaction with the visit, told the people never to panic over the judgement because he would appeal it at the Appeal Court and would emerge victorious.

He described the verdict as a “split judgment of two to one.”

“I want to appeal to our people to remain calm, despite the judgement by the tribunal,” he said.

“I want to appreciate you for identifying with me over yesterday’s verdict. Well, it was a split judgement of two to one and it’s not unanimous.

“There is a dissenting judgment. The chairman of the tribunal disagreed on the issues on noncompliance and the nullification of the rerun.

“We urge our people to remain calm and be steadfast in prayers. By the grace of God, the verdict of the Appeal Court will vindicate us.

“Our people should have faith in God, and believe that nothing has actually changed. We are appealing against the tribunal judgement and by the grace of God; we will come out victorious. I want you to believe that God has actually ordained this government.

“God has ordained this government, to the service of our people and nothing will actually change that.  You have to go about your normal business. The governor remains the governor and nothing has changed that. We are in government, and we will continue to go on.

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“You should start enlightening people who are ignorant of the judgment that, there is nothing to worry about; I remain the governor of the State of Osun.

“I thank you all for solidarising with me.

“Your party’s government will remain the best, and I am urging the security agencies to be at alert and maintain peace and order.

“I am energised, nothing has changed. I remain the governor of the State of Osun, and I am promising you I will do my best.”

The governor reiterated his commitment to the development of the state, insisting that nothing would deter him from guaranteeing the people the dividends of democracy.

In a state-wide broadcast on Saturday, Oyetola said: “My dear people of the State of Osun, I address you this day to inform you that, in response to the judgment of the Osun Governorship Election Tribunal, sitting at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Friday, the 22nd day of March 2019, we have gone on appeal to challenge the split decision of the tribunal.

“This split decision notwithstanding, our confidence in the judiciary remains unshaken, which is why we are going back to it for necessary review through the Appellate Court.

“In accordance with the dictates of the Law, our government remains intact pending the decision of the higher courts. The status quo remains, and the business of governance continues under my watch.

“I have directed all the law-enforcement agencies as a matter of duty to continue to maintain the law and order across the state.

“I would, therefore, appeal to you all to remain calm and go about your legitimate businesses, while we explore the instruments of the law to reaffirm the mandate that you freely gave to us.

“I thank you for your support all the way and urge you to remain faithful to the kernels that have made our state the land of virtue.”