His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan (right) going for the commissioning of over 100 buses purchased by Anambra State Gov. for Schools in Anambra State and over 50 patrol vehicles for security agencies while in the state on official visit yesterday. On his left Gov. Peter Obi aad Prof. Dora Akunyili

By Daniel Idonor, Simon Ebegbulem, and By Dayo Johnson
PRESIDENT Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday congratulated Ekit State Governor-elect Dr. Kayode Fayemi and assured him of presidential support.

In a statement by Mr Ima Niboro, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, President Jonathan saluted  Fayemi on the declaration by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin that he was the winner of the Governorship re_run elections held in Ekiti State last year.

‘As Mr. Fayemi prepares to assume the Office of  Governor of Ekiti State, President Jonathan assures him of the full support and cooperation of the Federal Government,” he said.

Ondo jubilates  *Mimiko hails

IT was jubilation galore in Ondo State following the victory Dr Kayode Fayemi, the new governor of Ekiti State at the Court of Appeal Ilorin.

This came just as the governor of Ondo State Dr Olusegun Mimiko described Dr Feyemi’s victory as the dawn of a new day for Nigeria, victory for the masses and a boost to democracy.

Immediately the news filtered to the state the entire state erupted in jubilation for the victory.

Also, Governor  Mimiko  minutes after Dr Fayemi’s victory played host to the new governor at the State House, Alagbaka in Akure in commendation of his victory.

At the occasion which was hallmarked by prayers for the new Governor who was accompanied by his Wife, Bisi, and Deputy, Mrs Funmi Olayinka, Dr Mimiko Stated: “We are happy that today after three-and-a-half years in the trenches, the truth has prevailed. What happened today is beyond Ekiti;“It is indeed, a new beginning for all Nigerians and I have sympathy for god fathers in Nigerian politics.

“To us, this victory is a plus for democracy and we are glad in the Lord. What God proposes in His Heart, nobody, no power can stop it. What this tells us is that righteousness exalts a nation than election rigging.

Our position has always been that we will never get it right in this country if we don’t get our electoral process right. Our election must be credible. It is unfortunate that this is coming three and a half years after the victory but then we just have to thank God.

This will rekindle the hope of Nigerians as our people will still rely on the adjudication of the court rather than resorting to self help which will result into violence. Moving forward to 2011, there is hope for this nation.

I want to congratulate Nigerian; I want to congratulate the peoplef Ekiti State and the Nigerian Judiciary,’
In his brief remarks, Fayemi thanked the eople of the state for their resilience.

He also thanked Nigerians for their support and was also full of praises for Dr Mimiko and the people of Ondo State for.

It’s victory for progressives — Oshiomhole

Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has described the Appeal Court victory of Dr Kayode Fayemi of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as “a victory for progressive and democratic forces” in Nigeria.

In a statement in Benin City, the Governor said “This victory has definitely opened a new vista not only in the annals of the Ekiti people, but the democratic and progressive forces in the country”.

Oshiomhole saluted the resilience of Dr Fayemi and the people of Ekiti State in their quest to recover a mandate that has now been formally affirmed by the Judiciary to have been stolen by the People’s Democratic Party.

The Edo State Governor saluted the five_man Court of Appeal Panel sitting in Ilorin, noting that their unanimous verdict was a vindication of truth. He said this ruling has once again established the role of the Nigerian Judiciary as a major factor in our democratic stability.

He said the Ilorin Panel has “lived up to the image of the Judiciary as the last hope of the cheated and the persecuted”.

Oshiomhole further said that the Ekiti victory should now reinforce the determination of the progressive movement in Nigeria to make a fundamental difference at all levels in the 2011 elections.