Presidential Election Peaceful In Oyo

The Presidential election held today in Oyo State was characterised by low turn out compared with the National Assembly Election held last Saturday, 9 April  2011.
It was however,  very peaceful. The security was relaxed in almost all parts of the state maybe as a result of the fact that no one expected any crisis.
Just like the previous election, most of the areas where our correspondent monitored the election, like Akobo- Ojurin  down to Bashorun Area of Ibadan, Ashi Area of Ibadan down to Bodija Area, there was no presence of security men.
Even at strategic areas where soldiers previously mounted road blocks, they were not seen today except in Mokola and Molete Area of Ibadan.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2nd Division was seen patrolling Ibadan.
Accreditation in most areas started at 8am as scheduled. Also, at some polling units which witnessed very low turn out, voting and counting were concluded before 1pm.
While the Minister of Sport, Professor Taoheed Adedoja voted around 12:20pm at Ward 4, Unit 15, Popoyemoja, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Taofeek Arapaja voted 12:10pm, at Ward 2, Unit 14, Lakos Compound three.
Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina voted at 1pm at Ward 12, Unit 22, Felele and ACN governorship candidate, Senator Abiola Ajimobi voted around 2:30pm at Ward 11, Unit 20, Oluyole, Ibadan.
Both  Adedoja and Arapaja confidently told  journalists that President Goodluck Jonathan would definitely win the presidential election.
Adedoja attributed the low turnout of people to the fact that voters loyal to political parties who did not field presidential candidates did not see any reason to come out and vote while Arapaja was of the opinion that President Jonathan would win the presidential election because he is the best candidate among all the candidates vying for the presidency this time around.
Commenting on the low turnout of people, Lam Adesina stated that people did not turn out because they were not interested in Abuja but interested in their environment, adding that there will be massive turn out during the governorship election.
He chided the former President of the nation, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for taking the South West to  mainstream politics where they did not benefit much ever since they have been in mainstream politics.
“What has Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala done? Nothing. He did not perform and he failed woefully. This is the reason people want a change and they will vote for  change. Akala cannot come back. He is an inexperienced  person. Akala is not popular in Oyo State.
“His party, PDP, during the last election lost in Oyo town and Ibadan completely,” Lam stated.
Senator Ajimobi said voting out PDP at all levels is voting out stagnation from Nigeria, stressing that the nation has experienced enough hardship in the hands of PDP and it is time to enjoy the best in the hands of ACN.
He described the government of PDP in Oyo State as the government of mediocrity which has failed to serve its people as promised, stressing that it was a shame that for eight years that PDP ruled in Oyo State, there are no basic things of life.
“They have dragged everyone into poverty. They are enjoying and forgot those that gave them the mandate to the government house. PDP government is a government of deception and this time around, we will sweep them off,” he said.Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan