From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos
President Goodluck Jonathan has warned miscreants to stay away from the 9th August Osun governorship election or face the wrath of the law.
The President at the weekend gave the warning at the campaign grand finale of Senator Iyiola Omisore, the state’s governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osogbo.
Jonathan, who presented Omisore with the party’s flag, restated the determination of his administration to deploy massive security personnel to the state during the election in order to ensure that the exercise was properly policed.
“We will ensure that the election is violence-free. There must be one man one vote, one woman one vote and one youth one vote. You should all say no to violence and ensure that the votes count,” he said.
Jonathan explained that the Federal Government would deploy enough security personnel to ensure the safety of lives and property, as well as a credible, transparent, free and fair election.
The President, therefore, urged the people to vote the PDP candidate to further facilitate Federal Government’s presence in the state.
In attendance at the rally were Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, PDP Board of Trustee Chairman Tony Anenih and Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose.
Earlier, the President had visited the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade at his palace in Ile-Ife to pay homage.
Sijuwade had called for a minute silence in memory of the souls of departed heroes.
The traditional ruler named such heroes as the late Obafemi Awolowo, Bola Ige, Alhaji Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano and Igwe Okagwe, the Obi of Onitsha among others.
Sijuwade described Omisore as a humble person, recalling that he “stepped aside” for former Governors Bisi Akande and Olagunsoye Oyinlola when he prevailed on him.
According to him, it is only God who has the power to appoint the president, governors, and traditional rulers.
On the unity of the country, Sijuwade said:”Without unity the country’s progress will remain very slow.”
He appealed to traditional rulers to join hands with the government to rid the country of insurgency.
“With their support, Boko Haram insurgency and other activities militating against national growth will become a thing of the past.”
He said the Southwest zone and particularly Osun needed more federal presence in line with the president’s transformation agenda.
Sijuwade also called on the government to continue to give critical sectors – agriculture and aviation a boost.
He solicited the support of the President for the revival of cocoa, completion Ile-Ife water dam and the expansion of Ife-Ibadan expressway.
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