Mixed Reactions in Ondo over Buhari’s Victory

 

Mixed reactions on Wednesday greeted the announcement of last Saturday’s presidential poll in which President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner against his rival, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While the Pan Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, described the outcome of the presidential election as sad news to Nigerians, the Ondo State Government and the APC said the outcome of the election showed that Nigerians still want Buhari because of his performances.

The leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, in his reaction, said the outcome of the election as delivered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not pleasant to majority of Nigerians.

The Yoruba leader said from what they heard, the results of the election were manipulated especially in the North.

He said: “To that extent, the election and the outcome lack credibility and Nigerians should look at it like that."

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, alleged that there were irregularities in the area.

Akinmade, who spoke through his agent, Kola Akinboyejo, said the incidents of vote buying, violence in different parts of the constituency and electoral malpractices made the result unacceptable.

Akinboyejo alleged that there was no election in Omofunfun, Gbepo, Ala, Olofin and Ajebamidele units in Idanre Local Government Area of the state.

Sequel to these alleged irregularities, Akinmade said the election was supposed to be declared inconclusive if not for underhand dealings among some agents of the ruling party.

However, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Ade Adetimehin, has described the re-election of President Buhari as "a robust victory for economic and infrastructural development in Nigeria.

Adetimehin said the election of Buhari for a second term, against all odds, affirmed the acceptance of APC and acknowledgment of the performance of the president.

He viewed the combination of President Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo as divine arrangement for the emancipation of a country once invaded by political holocaust.

The politician commended Nigerians for “voting for integrity, sincerity and development rather than falling for orchestrated propaganda and massive deceit.

"I have no doubts that with the re-election, Nigeria would be taken to the next level of economic prosperity, infrastructural development, and political stability."

Similarly, the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has joined millions of Nigerians to congratulate President Buhari on his re-election.

Akeredolu said Buhari's victory in the keenly contested presidential election signified the acceptability of his leadership by the majority of Nigerian citizens.

The governor said the victory belongs to all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic and religious beliefs.

He is optimistic that the next level promised the Nigerian citizens by President Buhari would indeed take the country to unprecedented heights.

Akeredolu hailed stakeholders, including local and international observers, security agencies, social commentators and members of media organisations, who in one way or the other played a role in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the election.