Osun guber: Our loss painful – Presidency

By Lawrence Olaoye

The Presidency yesterday described gone recent loss of Osun state governorship election by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tongue opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) as painful.

PDP ‘s candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore had last Saturday lost the contest to the incumbent governor of the state Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a keenly contested election.

Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Professor Rufai Alkali, while on inspection tour of President Goodluck Jonathan’s support group named Goodluck2Goodluck in Abuja said “Today (yesterday) is a painful day for us, we did all our homework, we worked together with our candidate, Iyiola Omisore, but now this is what we are hearing.

“Since the All Progressive Congress (APC) is always complaining, I hope they will reject this election now. Today is supposed to be a liberation day for the people of Osun, but we commend INEC, the security agencies and the electorates for the peaceful conduct of the poll on saturday” he said

Alkali acknowledged the existence of over 3000 support groups across the country working for the reelection of the President. He explained that in a bid to harmonize the various groups that have identified with the president to seek for re-election in 2015, his office will provide template for all the groups before the general election in 2015.

He maintained that a committee which was assigned for the harmonization of the different groups had since completed its assignment and is now touring the six geopolitical zones to identify officials behind the groups.

Alkali noted that inspite of the defeat suffered by the party in Osun state, the Goodluck2Goodluck 2015 group, according to him has provided something to celebrate after the Osun result was declared.

The Presidential aide said “What we are trying to do is to identify all these groups, the committee have completed its assignment and have gone to all the geopolitical zones with a view to identify people behind the groups”

He however enjoined the Goodluck2Goodluck 2015 group to spread its tentacles to the states, local and ward levels stressing, that they should move very fast.

Alkali also told the group to mobilize Nigerian youths at the grass roots declaring, that they are critical stake holders.

Earlier in an address, the National Coordinator of the group, Major General Charles Airhavebere (rtd) stated that the target of the group was to recruit 50million volunteers of PDP and none PDP to deliver Jonathan.