Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Monday said the people are behind him in the forthcoming governorship election, urging the electorate in the state to be courageous and come out to participate in the poll.
Adeleke spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, shortly after an interactive session with the civil servants and pensioners at a programme tagged ‘A day with Mr. Governor’ organised by the Office of the Head of Service in collaboration with Labour leaders and pensioners.
Adeleke, who declared that he was not under pressure going into the final moment of the election, expressed doubt over police neutrality.
He, however, said that members of the National Peace Committee will engage with the leadership of the security agency, having briefed them on the security situation in the state during the signing of the Peace Accord by the candidates.
“I am not under pressure because I have God on my side and on the side of the people of Osun. We are very prepared, and I want you to tell them that they should not be afraid. This is democracy, and Nigeria has decided to practice democracy. They should not be afraid even against all the intimidation of the APC.
“I am telling them that democracy and the will of God will prevail. They should come out on August 15 en masse and should not be afraid to vote and let them go and perform their civic duty, and their votes will count.
“After signing the peace accord, the peace committee has promised me that they are talking to them. The police, I don’t trust them right now, but the peace committee are talking to them, and they promised to work on it. I pray by the special grace of God, God will touch their heart,” Adeleke said.
Speaking at the event, the Osun State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Christopher Arapasopo, highlighted various initiatives introduced by the Adeleke administration to improve workers’ welfare.
Arapasopo further said in Yoruba language, “We must not go back to dark days under the APC government. Enough of intimidation and harassment. Tell them that we cannot be intimidated. God gave them opportunities to be governor of Osun State.
“Before now, some of our pensioners were receiving N300, N1,500 and N3,000 as pension allowance. The story is now different as pensioners are now getting N25,000, N10,000 and better allowances.
“Workers of Osun State, it is time for election. All those causing problems for Governor Ademola Adeleke will evaporate like a fart.
We don’t have anybody, but we have Almighty God. We are the anointed, and let us tell God in prayer so that Adeleke’s enemies will meet their Waterloo.”
The electorate in Osun State will be going to the poll on Saturday, August 15, to elect a governor in an election where 14 candidates will be participating, including the incumbent governor, Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party.
