From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.
Thousands of members of Senator Abiola Re-election Movement (SAREM) in Oyo town are still celebrating the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the Oyo State Election Petitions Tribunal.
The carnival-like solidarity in motorcade moved round major streets of Owode, Akesan, Saabo, Basorun, Okeebo and Agunpopo, amid pomp.
They also thanked God for the victory of Honourable Waliu Alagbon who was declared as authentic winner of the April 11 State House of Assembly election by the National and State Assemblies Election Petitions Tribunal.
Alagbon of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who represents Atiba State Constituency, scored 9,485 to defeat his opponent, who had formally been declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Gbenga Oyekola, of the Labour Party who polled 4,199.
Addressing journalists shortly after the rally, Chairman of SAREM, Akinrogun Segun Taiwo, described the tribunal’s victory of Ajimobi as “a true reflection of the people’s mandate for a visionary leader whose moral courage and resilience had brought landmark transformation to the state in the last four years of his first tenure’’.
Taiwo said he was particularly delighted and grateful to God that truth and justice eventually prevailed in the state assembly election, in spite of all odds.
He recalled how he was attacked and escaped being assassinated by some members of the opposition, the Labour Party, for his resistance to rigging at the collation centre, Saabo area.
He said: “As a result of the deadly attack, I was on hospital bed for over three months due to serious injuries sustained in my left leg. I was also hit with charms which no one can survive after twenty-four hours. It was this impression the opposition members took to the facebook to announce my obituary. But I thank the Almighty God and the support
of the Alaafin who resuscitated my life.’’
While asserting that the power of the Alaafin is incontestable and beyond being ridiculed by anyone or group opposed to his unflinching support for the present administration, Taiwo enjoined Ajimobi to remain focused, committed and “not to be distracted by nauseating rantings of confused and frustrated minds’’.
