The Osun Masterminds has urged the governor-elect in Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, to immediate hit the ground running to deliver on his electoral promises to the people of the state after his victory in the July 16 governorship election in the state, AMILOADED reports.
The group also urged Adeleke to ensure to put his government on its toes, saying it would ensure that the people of the state are not shortchanged.
The Osun Masterminds also warned the Osun State Government to ensure a proper inclusive planning for the conduct of local government in the state.
The group said this in a press conference addressed by its Executive Director, Dr. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, on Monday.
The group, however, commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring that it delivered a more efficiently managed electoral process with improved planning, effective personnel and reliable equipment during the just concluded Osun State gubernatorial election.
Oyedokun-Alli said, “Across all the centres that we visited, it was crystal clear that INEC had made marked improvements in its approach to election management and is now showing greater capacity to deliver a world class electoral system.
“While the electoral umpire has made great improvements in its management of the election, the people of the State seem to sadly be showing greater signs of electoral decadence. We observed with great concern, the widespread vote buying that characterized the election process, almost turning the whole exercise into a market of sorts.
“We also found it discomforting, that while vote buying and selling went down recklessly across the polling centres on July 16, men of the various security agencies present, were indifferent to the act, in most cases. We observed that while the security agents did well with securing the elections, most of them looked on as agents recklessly purchases votes in centres across the State. In terms of vote buying, July 16 was a new low for Osun people and we condemn the act in its entirety.
“We should also use the opportunity to call on INEC to make stricter arrangements to its election day guidelines such that vote buying can be made inefficient, thereby becoming unattractive to political gladiators.
“We must not fail to commend the citizens of the State for trooping out to vote, more than they did in 2018. We are delighted that the voter turnout in the July 16 Governorship election showed that Osun people are getting more politically aware and willing to participate in the process.
“TOM wishes to seize this opportunity to congratulate the Governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, for his victory in the Governorship election and we wish him well for the future, as he takes on the onerous task of managing the affairs of our dear State.
“We must emphasize that his victory, as decided by the people of the State, sends a signal to him, that citizens are increasingly impatient with government and he must therefore hit the ground running to deliver on his electoral promises to the people of the State. We will ensure that we remain on the fringes as we have done in the past months, to put his government on its toes, as we ensure that the people of the State are not shortchanged.”
He continued, “TOM observes with keen interest, the post-election brickbats ongoing between the ruling APC and the PDP. We first condemn in its entirety, the first incidence of unruly celebration that followed the declaration of the election result on July 17. We believe that thuggery is not in the character of an Osun Omoluabi and we urge our people to henceforth celebrate with moderation.
“We are also aware of the accusations and counter accusations between the APC and the PDP over the rumoured intention of the Oyetola-led government to conduct Local Government elections before he leaves office in November and we wish to state unequivocally that if the current government deems it fit to conduct a Local Government election, it must only do so if all stakeholders, including the PDP, are carried along and all relevant laws are obeyed. We are a people governed by laws and must ensure that we do not at any point in time, fail to obey the laws of our land.
“The Local Government election is long overdue, but if the present government thinks it necessary to conduct, it must be about leaving a proper legacy of inclusive governance and not setting landmines for his successor. While there is a really narrow line between these two, we believe that with inclusive planning, the fears will be addressed and the State will be the ultimate winner.
“We also must acknowledge the setting up of a Transition Committee by the Governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke. The step, we believe, should facilitate smooth handover of power to him in November.
“However, we counsel that the committee ensures that it only carries out the duty of liaising with the Oyetola government to ensure a smooth transition, not become a clog in the wheel of governance.
“The present government has a mandate until the 27th November and must be allowed to discharge its duties until the last day in office. As there cannot be two governments in a State, the transition committee cannot in good faith, constitute itself into a government that will issue edicts and orders at will.”
Oyedokun-Alli, however, urged all the leaders in the state to “at this critical time, act in the best interest of our dear state, as we all face the future together, with hope.
“The Osun Masterminds will continue to discharge our patriotic duties to the state and her people,” he said.
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