Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan, with agency report
Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has advised losers in the last general election to seek redress in the tribunal, instead of venting their anger against innocent citizens of the state.
The governor gave the advice during an interactive session with journalists, in his office, on Monday.
He said anybody caught fomenting trouble or resorting to self help, as a result of electoral loss, would be brought to justice, irrespective of his or her political affiliation.
Suing for calm among political gladiators and their supporters, the governor said the state government will not condone any act capable of threatening the peace and security of the state.
The governor harped on the need for stakeholders not to allow the state to slip back to the inglorious days of bloodletting and thuggery.
Ajimobi said: “We must ensure we encourage sustainability of peace and security, which is the major precursor for development. We must not allow the state to go back to the days of brigandage. It is antithetical to development.
“I advise all those who lost in the last election to accept the outcome in good faith. But, if they have any strong reason or reasons to contest their loss, or they believe there were manipulations, they should take the legal option.
“But, if you believe there is nothing like that, then, leave it and go and prepare for the next time. They should congratulate the winners and support them. Nobody should attack anybody for losing election.”
The governor congratulated the winner of the governorship election in the state, Seyi Makinde, once again, advising him to sustain the good legacies he would be leaving behind. Among the legacies the governor listed as dear to his heart were security of life and property, urban renewal and education reform, especially the school governing board system.
The governor said electoral loss should not make leaders abandon their expected roles in building the society, disclosing that he would still be active in office until May 28, 2019, when his tenure will end.
“While congratulating Makinde for his victory at the last election, I want to use this opportunity to advise him to toe the line of peace just like we have done. We could not have done it all, but, we have done many good things that will outlast many coming administrations.
“In many things in life, you have pros and cons, but, once our plus is more than our minus, the plus should be sustained. The fact that our party (All Progressives Congress) lost does not mean we should throw away the baby with the bath water,” he said.
Meanwhile, former acting chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state, Lamidi Mukaila, yesterday, washed hands off the crisis rocking motor parks in the state.
He spoke against the backdrop of speculations that he ordered his followers to take over the motor parks from the current operators.
Mukaila, fondly called ‘Auxilliary,’ however, called on the Commissioner of Police in the state, Director of State Security Services (DSS) and other law enforcement agencies not to hesitate to arrest anybody found wanting and disturbing the peace of the state.
He said: “Why would I order anybody to go and take over motor parks in Oyo State? I’ve not and will not order anybody to take over motor parks. We have a way we do our things, and not by forcefully taking over anywhere.”
Let me set the record straight that I was the deputy state chairman of NURTW to my late boss, Lateef Salako and was serving as acting chairman of the union in the state for about two months before the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi came on May 29, 2011.
“When Governor Ajimobi took over, Taofeeq Oyerinde (Fele), Abideen Olajide (Ejiogbe), Musa Alubankudi and Tiri Olowoposi came to Iwo Road to take over. We did not resist their take over and they took charge. We are all witnesses to the scenario that installed this current administration, the situation is the same now. They have had their time, it is our time. I am sure they won’t contest it.
“There is a protocol in NURTW, which we have all been operating with. You assume leadership of the union when a party you have relationship with wins. I was in my office when Ajimobi became the governor and the late Taofeeq Oyerinde, also known as Fele, Bideen Ejiogbe, Musa Alubankudi and Tiri Olowoposi invaded our office and sent us packing. We never resisted them because we knew that it’s the tradition.
“NURTW profession is different now. The current chairman knows the rule. During our own time, we abided by it. It is their time, they should abide by the current situation. It is God that crowns and God has spoken.”