Obanikoro Congratulates Osun GovernorThe honourable Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro has congratulated Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent governor of Osun State over his victory in the just concluded Saturday’s governorship election. Premium Times reports that the minister of defence who is a chieftain of the defeated Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a statement confirmed that the All Progressive Congress flag bearer Aregbesola deserved the victory. Related: Osun Election: Aregbesola Winning In Osogbo, While Omisore Leading In Ife “His re-election is a confirmation of the goodwill he enjoys among the people of Osun State,” Obanikoro said. The minister, however, commended the role of the military and other security agencies during the just concluded election. Below is the full statement: I congratulate the good people of Osun State for once again re-affirming the will of democracy by their exceptional conduct during the just concluded gubernatorial elections. The people of Osun State have consolidated our hope in a democracy where violence-free elections are allowed to thrive. I enjoin all other citizens of our great country to emulate them as we prepare for another round of general elections early next year. I also wish to congratulate the winner, His Excellency Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his victory at the polls. His re-election is a confirmation of the goodwill he enjoys among the people of Osun State. My brother Senator Iyiola Omisore deserves great commendation for fighting a good fight. His rare display of maturity and sportsmanship throughout the period of the campaign and the election is worthy of emulation. History will be kind to him. Related: Election Observers Speak On Osun Governorship Polls I salute the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and particularly, our Military and other security forces for their professional conduct which ensured a peaceful, free and fair election in Osun State. But for the efforts of our Military in Osun State, the elections could have been marred by violence. The tireless effort of INEC officials and our security forces in ensuring a credible outcome of the Osun election pays glowing tributes to President Goodluck Jonathan’s strong and consistent commitment to free, fair, and peaceful elections. It would be recalled that Obanikoro was highly criticised by the APC for allegedly using the military as a tool of coercion in the build up to the election, after which Governor Rauf Aregbesola accused him (Obanikoro) and the Police Affairs Minister, Jelil Adesiyan, of planning to assassinate two members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Osun state. Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Saturday's poll scored 394,684 votes to defeat Senator Omisore, the flag bearer of the PDP who scored a total of 292,750 votes. Source: Legit.ng The honourable Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro has congratulated Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent governor of Osun State over his victory in the just concluded Saturday’s governorship election. Related Osun Election: Aregbesola Winning In Osogbo, While Omisore Leading In Ife Related: Election Observers Speak On Osun Governorship Polls