Supreme court verdict: Akeredolu receives tumultuous welcome in Ondo

The Ondo State capital, Akure, was thrown into wild jubilation yesterday over the verdict of the Supreme Court, which upheld the victory of the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) at the October 10, 2020 governorship election.

Akeredolu, who was out of the state for official engagements shortly after the judgment on Wednesday, was received with pomp and pageantry at the Akure Airport, Oba-Ile.

There was a long motorcade of leaders, members and supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state who sang various thanksgiving songs to welcome the governor at the airport.

The crowd drove with the governor round Akure, from the airport to Oba-Ile, through Alagbaka to Oyemekun and Arakale road down to the Government House, Alabama.

Akeredolu was flanked by his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; the Acting Chairman of the APC in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin; members of the National Assembly and members of the state House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun.

Others among the entourage included the Chief of Staff, Chief Gbenga Ale, members of the State Executive Council (SEC) and local government chairmen.

Addressing the crowd, the governor said he was committed to serving the people of the state, stressing that delivering dividends of good governance remains his top priority.

While noting that the Supreme Court judgment was a call to more service, he added that it was another opportunity to recalibrate and ensure that the yearnings of the people were given front burner attention.

He explained that the APC did not only defeat the PDP at the poll by winning 15 out of the 18 local government areas in the state, but also defeated the opposition party in the court with 12 judges ruling in favour of the APC and only three for the PDP.

“At the Tribunal, the three judges ruled in our favour. It was a unanimous judgement. At the Court of Appeal, all five judges ruled in our favour. At the Supreme Court, four judges ruled in our favour and three in favour of the PDP. We floored the PDP again even in the court,” he said.

The governor called on his major challenger, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, to come and join hands with him to work for the development of the state.

He added: “I want to say that I feel really good myself personally but I think in everything, we just have to give glory and honour to the Almighty.

“God has made it possible and I know that everybody feels happy, rejoicing in whatever the Lord has done. So, we have no other option; all of us are rejoicing in what God has done and I thank the people of Ondo State.

“This matter as you said is being put to rest and there’s no other thing to do other than for us to come together and work for this state.

“Well, as I said before, the stage we are now is for us to recalibrate and at the end of the day, find a way to ensure that the yearnings of our people are satisfied. I know that a lot of our people expect so many things from us. We will give everything it takes.”