Abuja (WorldStage Newsonline)-- The Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomole has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for providing the political leadership necessary for the growth of democracy in the country, saying one man one vote has restored power back to voters.
Oshiomhole was at the Presidential Villa on Monday about the time the swearing in ceremony of the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Maryam Aloma Mukhtar was just ending.
It was when he was approaching to the entrance of the Council Chambers when dignitaries emerged from inside of the venue of the epoch event and he became the focus and attention of all thereby punctuating the flow of activities of those who had thronged the Villa to rejoice with the first female CJN.
Senators, members of House of Representatives, ministers took turn to hug and congratulate him for his victory at the poll. Some government functionaries also engaged him in a long talk.
Oshiomhole who later spoke to State House Correspondents said that the Edo election had confirmed that when the President and Commander in Chief put the country first and conduct himself as a statesman, not just a party leader, credible elections are possible.
He also commended the President for the directives for the deployment of the military, police as well as men of the State Security Service who monitored the election at every stage to ensure that every vote counts and to forestall against manipulation, rigging and ballot box snatching.
Oshiomhole also called on Nigerians to appreciate and encourage the President to sustain this principle of truly reminding those in political offices that they are at the mercy of the masses and not at the mercy of the Presidency.
According to him, "During election, it was one man one vote, you want to do any funny thing, people will shout one man one vote. That for me is something that we started and has been bought over. For me, what the Edo election has confirmed is that when the President and Commander-in-Chief puts the country first and he conducts himself as a statesman, not just as a party leader, credible elections are possible because people were apprehensive that the Nigerian Army could be misused. But of course I told them I didn't think they were right, but the President's clear directive was that the vote must count. He warned that there will be no rigging; no manipulation, no ballot snatching and orders were given to the army to ensure none of those things happen and the army carried out the order.
"The Police IG was similarly instructed, he deployed his men probably much more than we probably needed and they delivered the President's orders. The SSS were fantastic because they were always at the collating centres where some of the manipulations can take place. If you are familiar with the architecture of rigging, you will know that at various levels of manipulation, I have been victim of it and so you will understand why I am familiar with it. And the SSS did a fantastic job, two plus two was four not five not 15 and a lot of that made a lot of difference.
"So, we need to appreciate the President and encourage him to sustain this principle of truly reminding all of us who hold political office that we are at the mercy of the electorate, not of the presidency. I think the President has done that. And that these happen in Edo State and you know why Edo is thick, why it’s different is not just because it’s the heart beat, but for many reasons that you will probably know better, that the President has demonstrated that statesmanship, I think there is hope for Nigeria. If nothing else, that the people can choose who they want, that is the beginning of sustainable economic and social development."
