Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has expressed sadness over pockets of violence and killings that characterised Saturday’s election in the state.
Concise News reports that this is contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Ibadan by Bolaji Tunji, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy.
Ajimobi, especially condemned acts of violence that followed Saturday’s elections, one of which led to the death of a member of the House of Representatives, Temitope Olatoye (ADP-Akinyele/Lagelu Constituency) and some others.
“I am saddened by the turn of events, which is antithetical to the pervading peace in the state. The violence and killings are highly depressing and regrettable.
“The desperation and do-or-die that attended the elections were uncalled for since the candidates in the governorship and assembly elections were in the race to serve the people and not themselves,” he says.
However, he assures that perpetrators would be brought to book, irrespective of their political affiliation and status.
The governor warns that the state government would not allow any individual or group to truncate the peace and security that the state had enjoyed in the last eight years.
“It is heartrending that Olatoye and others had to die because of election. Nobody’s ambition should be worth the blood or life of any citizen.
“I am, therefore, appalled that some unscrupulous politicians and their followers have turned this contest into a do-or-die affair, which is alien to democratic norms in saner climes.
“We struggled hard for this democracy, and for it to be entrenched, we must eschew every act of bitterness, desperation and foul play during elections.
“In life, you win some contests and you lose some. If we imbibe this philosophy, we will take every victory and defeat with an equal measure of equanimity.”