29th April, 2011
Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and Senator Rasheed Ladoja, defeated Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Accord Party governorship candidates respectively in the just concluded election in Oyo State have congratulated Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi for his success as the governor-elect in the state.
In a letter written and personally signed and sent to the governor-elect on the Oyo State Governor letter head by Governor Akala and made available to P.M.NEWS, the outgoing governor said though, bickering and tough words were used in the weeks leading up to the election, he was convinced that they were able to grapple with the differences between personal foes and political oppositions.
“To my mind, we both desire to serve our people, therefore the exchanges of hot words were a reflection of our individual views on the burning issues concerning the development of our state rather than anything personal. The statement by me is necessary to stem tension in our state so that our people can get on with their lives. Without any iota of doubt, we have engineered a profound legacy that should make it easier to make the incoming administration to build on,†Akala said.
He stated further, “We did this by putting the state first in our decision and is reflected in the unassailable achievements we have laid in the past four years. From the bottom of my heart, I wish the governor-elect a successful tenure and more importantly God’s guidance in the next four years,†he concluded.
In another press statement signed by Ladoja’s spokesperson, Lanre Lantin, Senator Ladoja prayed that God should give Senator Ajimobi the wisdom, patience and strength to face the challenges in transforming Oyo State into a true pacesetting state
Ladoja thanked his numerous supporters and all Accord Party members for their support and hard work in the past four months when the party was formed in Oyo state.
He assured the people of the state that all elected Accord Party members of parliament will not betray the cause of oneness and progress for the state.
The former governor also thanked the people of the state for their support and for voting for him in the April 26 governorship election and assured them that the goals and ideas of the party will be sustained in the state by the elected legislators.
He further stated that with Accord Party members in parliament, the incoming government will not have any alternative but to do what is right.
According to him, the task ahead is not for one person but that of everybody resident in the state. He urged Senator Ajimobi to see all as one people with one goal.
He also implored him to reconcile all parties with a view to bringing peace, progress and development to the state.
Senator Ladoja also thanked all the security services that maintained peace in the state during the elections and pointed out that whatever success recorded during the elections, their contributions stand out as relative peace and prompt arrest of possible situations that could snowball into big crisis were nipped in the bud.
—Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan