President Bola Tinubu has urged the re-elected Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, to embrace reconciliation, unite the people of the state and govern with a commitment to promoting peace, unity and stability.
President Tinubu gave the charge when Governor Adeleke presented his Certificate of Return to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, following his re-election.
The President advised the governor to reach out beyond his political base and avoid stigmatising his opponents, emphasising that the outcome of the election should be used to strengthen democracy and bring the people together.
“All for the reconciliation, expand your coast. That is the only way you can give thanks to our people. Not the way you sang it or celebrated it. It’s the way you act it. Use me as an example. And I got here.
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“God put me here. Where you are today, God put you there. Not the smartness of any of these people,” he stated.
President Tinubu told the governor that his re-election offered him a unique opportunity to make history by promoting unity, peace and stability in Osun State.
The President noted that political victory should not be interpreted as the conquest of opponents but as an expression of the will of the electorate.
“It’s just their support, not their smartness. It’s the wish of God that prevailed and the wish of the people for you. And you are in a very, very unique position to make history, promote unity, peace, and stability.
“Use it. It started as a progressive. All you are doing now is progressive instinct. And you did a very good mobilisation with your team. Very good job. You saw fear. You screamed. Promote democracy. Promote stability,” the President noted.
The President commended Adeleke and his team for their mobilisation during the election, saying free and fair elections strengthen democracy, stability and the rule of law.
“Don’t stigmatise any of your opponents. You did not conquer anybody. You won the election. That is the essence of democracy,” he said.
He added that any political leader operating within a democratic political environment should be prepared to accept and celebrate the outcome of a free and fair election.
“Anybody in the political environment who cannot celebrate the joy of free and fair election does not deserve the laughter and the happiness of democracy,” President Tinubu said.
President Tinubu also reminded the governor of the responsibilities that come with the mandate given to him by the people, including infrastructure development, road construction, housing, rehabilitation of schools, healthcare delivery and the training of teachers and health workers to protect vulnerable families.
“The people of Osun State pronounced their judgment on you, that they love you. They want you to govern. So you’re going back to govern,” he said.
Speaking on the economy, President Tinubu criticised proposals for a return to petrol subsidy, describing such a position as demonstrating “serious ignorance on governance and economy.”
He recalled that before his administration came into office, 27 states were unable to pay salaries, let alone meet pension obligations, adding that improved resources available to states and local governments had strengthened their capacity to discharge responsibilities to the people.
President Tinubu urged Governor Adeleke to make effective use of the resources available to his administration to improve the lives of families and communities across Osun State, while consolidating his electoral victory through inclusive governance, peace and development.
