* Re-open Ogun Assembly now, ACN tells FG,* Alao-Akala greets gov-elect *Finnih, Ogunlewe, Akerele Bucknor, others decide fate of Lagos PDP,  I will probe Alao-Akala – Ajimobi

BY LEKE ADESERI, S-West Regional Editor,  OLA AJAYI & KOLADE  LANREWAJU
PRACTICAL governance has started in earnest in the South West hours after Tuesday’s clean sweep of the region by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

The governor-elect in Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has vowed to scrutinize all financial activities of the out-going governor who sent a personally signed letter of congratulations to the man that will take over from him on May 29.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday reviewed the governorship and House of Assembly Elections in Ogun State and urged party members not to despair, saying the people of the State had spoken with their votes in the election held Tuesday

Even the major losers at the polls, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, through its elders forum, gathered to chart a way forward for the party in Lagos

Ajimobi vows to probe Alao-Akala

GOVERNOR-elect in Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has said he would scrutinize all financial activities of the out-going Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala to ensure things are in  order.

Ajimobi who extended an olive branch to Akala and the governorship candidate of Accord Party, Senator Rashidi Ladoja thanked the governor for giving him a good fight which actually strengthened his faith in God.

This came as Governor Akala  and Ladoja congratulated Senator Ajimobi who won the governorship seat on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) for his hard-earned victory.

Akala said though bickering and tough words were exchanged in weeks leading to the election, he understood that both of them were able to differentiate between foes and political opposition.

In a statement he personally signed, the out-going governor said the two of them desired to serve the people of the state, therefore hot exchanges of words were a reflection of their individual views on burning issues concerning development of the state rather than anything personal.

But, Ajimobi said the review of the past activities of the governor was necessary so as to move the state forward.

While addressing newsmen in his Oluyole residence yesterday, he said, “for me, when you take over any organisation, there may be need to review the past. When I take over the governance of the state, I will like to examine the past activities of Chief Akala. You know, there is always the need to review where we were, where we are and where we are going for us to move forward.

“If the state must move forward, there is need to look into the past activities of the past or the outgoing governor. If we must move forward, there is need for a review of his activities. If you call it probe, so be it and if you call it audit, so be it. I won’t like to use the word probe, I will call it stock-taking”, he said.

Ajimobi said, “I will try to examine and establish that we would look into it. Probing is also auditing. The wish of the people brought us and I have promised them many things. I will implement all those things that I promised”.

On whether his government would embrace others, he said he would run a rainbow government so that the state which had been highly impoverished would heave a sigh of relief.

“The whole state is rainbow. Even, God who created the world did not put only good people there. He also created bad people. I will run a rainbow government,” he said.

Akala said in his statement that he was out to stem further tension in the state so that people could get on with their lives.

According to him, without any iota of doubt, his administration had engineered a profound legacy that should make it easier for the in-coming administration to build on.

Meanwhile, many admirers and supporters of the governor elect thronged his residence chanting victory songs. Security men guarding his residence had hectic time controlling the surging crowd who were eating and drinking.

In the city, they were wielding brooms chanting anti-Akala songs. The police vehicles were seen going round the city to ensure that there was no violence.

ACN asks Jonathan to re-open Ogun Assembly

Still basking in its euphoria of its routing of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in Ogun State, the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to order the immediate re-opening of the Ogun State House of Assembly which has been shut down since September 9, last year.

The ACN in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary in Ogun State, Mr. Sola Lawal the party said that the cause of democracy cannot be served in an atmosphere where an important arm of government such as the parliament is emasculated.

While urging the president to also effect the installation of the authentic leadership of the house headed by the Speaker, Mr. Tunji Egbetokun, the party said the continued closure of the house would  be a disservice to the people of the state as they have been illegitimately denied the privileges of democratic representation. The House was closed down about six months ago following the crisis which ensued after a group of nine legislators announced the impeachment of Egbetokun and the suspension of 15 of their colleagues.

ACN said “it is not only legally and constitutionally wrong for the state to be run without the legislative arm of government but also morally wrong for the Federal Government to be indifferent to a national embarrassment which the shameful crisis instigated by the outgoing Ogun State government represents.

“The shenanigan in Ogun State has been left to go on for long to the detriment of the wellbeing of the people as well as the advancement of the state and we believe that the president owes the people who gave him an overwhelming support in the presidential election a duty to rescue them from the bestial action of the Gbenga Daniel government.

“By calling for the immediate re-opening of the Ogun State House of Assembly and the installation of the Tunji Egbetokun leadership, President Jonathan will demonstrate that he truly has respect for justice and rule of law and also repose the confidence they people have in him as the father of all.

“As a leader and statesman, the president should ignore political sentiments and once and for all resolve this issue which has made Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations. As the saying goes, it is better late than never.

“The Daniel administration by May 29 will have been become history either for good or for bad, but President Jonathan who has been given another mandate to lead the people will have to answer the moral questions which the illegal closure of the house will one day throw up. A stitch in time saves nine”.

Voters have spoken — Obasanjo

Controversial politician and former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday reviewed the governorship and House of Assembly Elections in Ogun State and urged party members not to despair, saying the people of the State had spoken with their votes in the election held Tuesday.

“I strongly urge members of PDP not to lose hope or resort to blaming one another for the loss of the elections to another party, Rather they should correct some obvious mistakes made during this exercise.” Obasanjo, however, described the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, Chief Adetunji Olurin as the best material and product that is presentable not only in the state, but anywhere in the country, expressed delight that in spite off Daniel’s campaign’s deceitful campaign, he was rejected by the people.

Lagos PDP Elders’ Council strategise for future

Following the outcome of the governorship election in Lagos State, prominent members of the party’s elders’ council reacted yesterday with a promise of hope for a better outing in future election.

The council also said that measures to reposition the party were in the offing.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Elders Council, Dr. Yomi Finnih, the PDP Elders thanked members of the party for their steadfastness and for standing by the party in the face of all the challenges facing the party.

The statement read in parts: “We noted that the performance of our party at this last governorship election is not a true reflection of the capability of our teeming members. This is regrettable but we are sure there will be a new beginning.

We are looking incisively into how our party performed so badly at the election and something concrete has to be done to resuscitate our standing in future elections. In this regard, a committee has been set up to carry out indepth study of this unfortunate situation.”

The statement which was issued on behalf of other leaders including Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Otunba Olatokunboh Kamson, Alhaji Muritala Ashorobi, Chief Tunde Shitta, Chief R. B. Tinubu, Chief (Mrs.) Modupe Sasore, Chief (Mrs.) Kofoworola Akerele Bucknor, Chief Jide Damazio and Chief Tunde Daramola, among others, also noted that the findings of the study will assist in moving the party forward.

“We appeal to all the members of the party to remain loyal to the party as we believe that there is going to be light at the end of the tunnel,” the statement said.