PRESS RELEASE
The European Union Election Monitoring on Sunday tasked the Governor
of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, to use all legal instruments available
to challenge the alleged arbitrariness by the security agencies drafted
to the state by the Federal Government.
The EU Election Monitoring Group Coordinator, Paul Edwards, gave this
advice when his team paid a courtesy visit to the Governor at his
residence after the announcement of the election results.
In his congratulatory remark to Mr. Aregbesola, Mr. Edwards said the
most dependable way to deepen democracy in Nigerian is by strict
adherence to the rule of law.
Mr. Aregbesola had complained about the recklessness and arbitrary
use of force, arrest without charges and total clampdown on party
chieftains by the security agencies to the EU.
The EU envoy observed that the most acceptable and preferred way to
challenge arbitrariness of opposition is to seek legal remedy.
“We are here to congratulate Your Excellency on your victory in the
Saturday governorship election. Besides, our mission here is to also
find out from you about the conduct of the election.
“We have observed the election all over the state and have our reports.
“In any election like this, there are bounds to be issues. But it is
our opinion that whatever the complaint you have, you should choose the
legal option to seek remedy.
“Let us rely on the instrumentality of law to purse whatever anomaly or violation of rights we have suffered.
“Let us always use the legal method to stop the impunity used by one unit of government against the other.
“It is through this option that we can deepen democratic institutions wherever it is practised in the world.
“If you send your complaints to the EU, we shall take note of it and
act accordingly within the framework of law”, the EU coordinator said.
In his remark, Mr. Aregbesola commended the EU Monitoring Group for
the organisation’s interest and commitment to development of democracy
in Nigeria.
He, however, lamented the show of brute force by the forces of occupation drafted to the state by the Federal Government.
The Governor observed that voting is a minute aspect of a democracy
but as tiny as it is, it should not be backed by force so that people
can freely choose the candidate of their choice.
He also condemned the commando-like manners the hooded security men
operated on the streets in the state and the gale of arrests of members,
chieftains and supporters of All Progressive Congress (APC).
He said: “Our victory did not come because the federal authority
designed it so but because we were favoured by the people as the best
party that can serve them better.
“Or how do you rationalise the presence of strangers (security
personnel), people I cannot control, who took over the administration of
security of my state with impunity, which adversely affected life in
the state?
“It is humiliating, worse sort of what a unit of government like ours
should suffer. There was a deliberate attempt at muzzling the people’s
voice through votes.
“By now we should know that voting is just a routine aspect of
democracy and even at that, the people must not be denied their freedom
to choose their leader freely.
“We must prevent the Federal Government from the recurring culture of
arbitrarily invading the territory of a unit within the federal
structure. This is an abuse of power”, Mr. Aregbesola said.
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