Osogbo, Osun State capital was thrown into  a frenzy  on Friday following the declaration of Engr. Rauf Aregbesola of the Action Congress of Nigeria as the duly elected governor of Osun State by the Appeal court sitting in Ibadan.

It would be recalled that the protracted legal battle between ACN and PDP over the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election in Osun State started immediately the ACN candidate Engr. Rauf Aregbesola was denied his victory before it was laid to rest with the pronouncement of the appellate court in election matters yesterday.

Also, the Peoples’ Democratic Party members that were seen discussing the decision of the appellate court described it as a disaster for the party as they said  that their hope for 2011 elections has been dashed.

Consequently, the ACN supporters that were seen on the street jubilating noted that PDP in the state is dead completely as they used their brooms to sweep the major streets in the state capital as a symbol of sweeping Oyinlola and PDP away from the state.

The ACN supporters including stalwarts of the party stoutly demanded for immediate probe of Oyinlola government as they described the government as an unfriendly and illegal government imposed on the people of the state.

 However, heavy presence of armed policemen all over the state was recorded in order to avert political clash among the out-going  political party and the incoming Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The jubilant people of Osun State also expressed their hilarious noise as ACN supporters were seen jubilating with their various coloured brooms, the symbol of their party at different locations.

The ACN supporters, including school children came out in their thousands to express their feeling over the outcome of the judgment which they described as heavenly sent decision which will turn the political scene of the state to the peak of its glory.

 In his reaction, the former State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola said that “decision has come to us as a rude shock and we see it as a further test for this democracy. We note that the judgement went as predicted by the ACN which had in the last couple of days inundated the media with what was going to be”.

Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as a law abiding citizen and a stakeholder in the Nigerian Project, wishes the ACN and the judiciary the best of luck. 

Prince Oyinlola gives God the glory for all he achieved in office as governor while thanking members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their steadfastness and belief in what he stood for while in the saddle of governance of Osun State.

He equally expressed his appreciation to traditional rulers, workers, market men and women, other Nigerians home and abroad, his legal team, the media and all well-wishers who rallied round him and his administration.

''The future of Osun State is in the hands of God and He in His own way will continue to guide and guard our collective and individual destinies.

That decision has come to us as a rude shock and we see it as a further test for this democracy. We note that the judgement went as predicted by the ACN which had in the last couple of days inundated the media with what was going to be.

Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as a law abiding citizen and a stakeholder in the Nigerian Project, wishes the ACN and the judiciary the best of luck.'

Also the Action Congress of Nigeria State Secretary, Chief Gboyega Famoodun described the judgment as fantastic saying that if the person of Justice Clara Ogunbiyi should be bold to give such a jugement it means there are still Nigerians that are upright.

The ACN Secretary who commended the judiciary said apart from being the hope of the common man, judiciary still remain as an organ of democratic restructuring.

He therefore optimistic that the administration of Aregbesola will not disappoint the good people of Osun State for their support when the going was rough.

However in his own reaction today, a gubernatorial aspirant in the State who was Oyinlola’s former Chief of Staff to the former governor, Dr. Peter Babalola described the judgment as victory of God over man.

 While congratulating Engr. Aregbesola, he admonished the people of Osun State to cooperate with the new administration.

 In the same vein,the National President, Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People (CDRP), Comrade Amitolu Shittu has cautioned the new governor of Osun state, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola to beware of sycophant politicians as he took the mantle of leadership of the state of the living spring.

Comrade Shittu gave the advice through a press statement issued and signed in Osogbo after the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan declared its judgement yesterday that Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, the Action Congress (AC) now Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate as the winner of  April 14,2007 Governorship election, saying that Aregbesola should not allow sycophant politicians to mislead him.

He argued that politicians are selfish, wicked and destroyer which they always think about their own selfish interest, adding that politicians behaviour of politicians consume Oyinlola its government.

CDRP boss maintained that people of the state have been yearning for good governance which they believe Aregbesola administration would represent and future of the people should be very important to the new Governor.

He said that Aregbesola victory is the victory for democracy, rule of law and for those who sacrifice their lives in one way or the other for what Aregbesola would enjoying today.

Our Correspondent captures in the pictures below the jubilattion of  the  people in Osogbo after the court of appeal in Ibadan declared Aregbesola winner of
April 14,2007 Gubernatorial election

Meanwhile,the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has congratulated the Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Rauf Aregbosola on his victory at the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, the Governor said “I heartily rejoice with my brother, my friend and my Comrade, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola on his sweet victory at the Appeal Court more than three years after he was robbed of the mandate freely given to him by the good people of Osun State on April 14, 2007.

“The latest verdict  of the Appeal Court is another testament that the Judiciary is the last hope of the defenceless and the oppressed.

“However, while we continue to rely on the Judiciary to salvage the country from oppressors and election riggers, those who presided over the polls which have been faulted by the judiciary should not remain as electoral officers at INEC and should, as a matter of fact, be prosecuted to serve as a deterrence to other would-be polls manipulators.

“While Alhaji Aregbesola has reclaimed his mandate more than three years after the election, there is the need to ensure that all election petitions be dispensed with before swearing-in so that election riggers do not benefit from their fraudulent actions.

“With the triumph of Aregbesola as Governor of Osun State, the good people of the State can rest, assured that their own Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) led Government will deliver to them those dividends that the sacked illegal government failed to deliver.”

Also,the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has expressed its profound satisfaction in the Appeal Court Judgement on the election petition trial between Engineer Rauf Aregbesola and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola which was delivered at Ibadan on Friday 26^th November, 2010. 

Speaking through its executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran, the Coalition, described the judgment as yet another assurance by the judiciary to the citizens of Nigeria that the nation’s legal system can be relied upon when it come to resolving critical issues as stolen mandate.

Comrade Debo, on behalf of CACOL, implored the Judiciary to ensure that the hope and confidence the citizens of Nigeria reposed in our legal system is continually sustained.