President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday assured the people of Osun State that the August 9 governorship election would be peaceful.
He dared political thugs to attempt to disrupt the election and risk being dealt with by security operatives, who would be deployed in the state for the election.
The President, who said this at the Peoples Democratic Party mega rally in Osogbo City Stadium, added that despite protests by some parties, he would make sure that Osun State was well-policed during the election.
Jonathan, who walked round the pitch, alongside other PDP leaders, waving at the thousands of party supporter who had filled the about 30, 000-capacity stadium before his arrival, also restated his commitment to making sure that the votes of Nigerians count.
He said, “Some parties are even going to court saying that on the election day all the security operatives should be removed. We will recall that during the 2011 election, 10 youth corps members were killed. We will not allow that to happen again. So anybody to think that government would fold its hands and allow miscreants to take over the streets of Osun State, and cause havoc, that person is deceiving himself. We will make sure that Osun State is properly policed.
“Anybody who calls himself a thug or militant whatever name you call yourself, if you find himself in Osun State that day, be rest assured that the security operatives will deal with you according to law. Because we must show the world that we are capable of governing ourselves and that we are able to elect who will rule us.
“Our votes must count. One man one vote; one woman on vote; one youth one vote.”
The President added that the Federal Government needed maximum cooperation from the Osun State Government to bring development to every part of the state and boasted that the PDP was the only party in Nigeria that had the credentials of a democratic party.
“Omisore and the government at the centre will work together to develop Osun State. All we need from you is your votes. We need you to elect Omisore on August 9. Bring Omisore to us as your governor and leave the rest for us,” he said.
The President had earlier congratulated Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who turned 60 on Saturday, and asked the people of Osun State to ensure that PDP wins the governorship poll as Sambo’s birthday gift.
To further express his assurance that the PDP would win the election, Jonathan referred to Omisore and his running mate, Adejare Bello, as governor and deputy governor-in-waiting respectively.
Sambo had said the mammoth crowd that received them in Osogbo was a sign that “the people of Osun State are ready to take back their mandate.”
Also speaking at the rally, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, said the PDP had patiently waited for the Osun election, saying it’s an opportunity for the party to take back its mandate that was taken away through the court.
Source: Punch
