Osun APC primary: Oyetola accepts party nomination, vows to protect Aregbesola’s legacies

The winner of the Osun All Progressives Congress governorship primary, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, said he has accepted to be party’s flag bearer for the September 22 election.

Recall that Oyetola who is Chief of Staff to incumbent governor, Rauf Aregbesola polled 127,017 votes as against his closest rival and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun who scored 21,000. Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly Nojeem Salaam came third in the direct primary which held on Friday.
While reading his acceptance to newsmen on Friday night, shortly after he was declared winner of the primary, the Chief of Staff said that he was humbled by the victory.

Oyetola, also doubles as cousin to the national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu called on his co-contestants to join him in the task of winning the governorship election.

He thanked all the party’s member for ensuring his victory, adding that his emergence as the party’s flag bearer was made possible by them.

He also thanked Gov. Aregbesola, saying he would work assiduously to ensure continuity and consolidation of his efforts.

Read full speech below:

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OF GBOYEGA OYETOLA ON HIS EMERGENCE AS THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE OF THE APC IN THE SEPTEMBER 22ND ELECTION

Protocols,

Today, you the esteemed members of our party, the All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun made history.

Your state was chosen as the ground for the litmus test of participatory democracy applied through the Direct primaries for elections. You did not fail or faulter.

In your large numbers you trooped out to exercise your civic rights as enshrined in the APC constitution nay Nigeria. Osun demonstrated what was possible today by voting peacefully and exercising their democratic rights. The success of the direct primaries in Osun has placed our party, the APC on a path of democratic rejuvenation and a rebirth of membership faith in the party. So let me begin by thanking all the card carrying members of the APC in the state of Osun who voted and contributed to making the exercise a success. How can I forget the excitement I saw on the faces of thousands who queued up with their cards to vote.

From Iwo to Ede, from Ede to Ejigbo. From Osogbo to ijebu jesha, from Ada to Iragbiji, the story is the same – proud APC members happy to exercise their rights. I am humbled by the fact that I have emerged the winner of the contest. It was made possible by you the party members and your votes.

With deep humility and a sense of duty I accept your verdict that I should carry forward the torch of our party in the next elections. I assure you that your choice will not be wasted. You have settled for a man steady in his ways, firm in his convictions about the purpose of government, which is to promote the welfare of the people, protect their rights and provide good governance.

Let me recognize all that came on this journey with me. They ran a keen contest and in the spirit of our party shunned violence. I salute them and stretch out my hands of fellowship and brotherhood to each and every co-contestant for this ticket. The victory is for all of us and as we continue our party’s bid to win the election and keep on the good works of moving our State up the global development level, I invite all my co-contestants to join me in the task of winning the election of September 22 and running a people oriented government.

We have only won the battle. The war lies ahead of us. Our opponents from other parties increase their arsenal to fight with us. But we are ready. We are tested. Like the broom sweeping away the rot, we are set and ready. The 60 days plus ahead will not be easy but i am confident in our ability to protect what we have.

To our quintessential governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, how can I begin to extol and thank you. Working with you has been like constantly jugging and through you serving the people has had a different meaning. I can assure you that all you have laboured to achieve for the goodness and well being of the people will not be in vain. We shall work assiduously to ensure continuity and consolidation of your efforts.

I thank Gov. Abdul Azeez Yari who lead the team from the APC headquarters to conduct the primaries. Under your watch the people of Osun and our great party witnessed the opening of a new chapter and the needed filip for a rebound of participatory democracy.

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, thank you for standing by the people of Osun. You have strengthened the Omoluabi bond that we share.

Thank you and God bless!

Gboyega Oyetola
APC Governorship Candidate
State of Osun,
20th July, 2018.