Rauf Aregbesola
| Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola | |
|---|---|
| 8th Governor of The State of Osun | |
|
Assumed office 27 November 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Olagunsoye Oyinlola |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 May 1957 |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress |
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (born 25 May 1957[1]) is a Nigerian politician who ran for governor of The State of Osun ( The government of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola changed the name from OSUN STATE to THE STATE OF OSUN) in the 2007 elections. Although the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Olagunsoye Oyinlola was declared the winner, Aregbesola appealed the decision and on 26 November 2010 was declared the winner.[2]
Aregbesola was formerly an activist.[3] He was Lagos Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure when he ran for election in April 2007 on the Action Congress platform.[4] In May 2008, Aregbesola called over 100 witnesses and tendered 168 exhibits in his petition before the Election Petitions Tribunal, alleging violence and ballot boxes stuffing in the election.[5] In an October 2008 interview, he described Oyinlola as "a bully who came from a reactionary military arm", stating that Oyinlola had done nothing for the people of Osun state. He also claimed that 12 people had died in the election violence.[6]
In August 2009 the police arrested Aregbesola, apparently for involvement in the alleged forgery of a police report on the conduct of the elections.[7] Later that month he sought bail so that he could perform the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.[8] In August 2010 the police summoned him to make a statement about a 14 June 2007 bomb explosion near the ministry of water resources. Aregbesola denied any involvement, stating that he was in Abuja at the time.[9]
Justices of the Federal Appeal Court, Ibadan finally declared Aregbesola the winner of the 2007 election, ordering that he be sworn in as governor by noon on 27 November 2010.[10] The Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, offered his congratulations for the belated recognition of his election victory.[11] Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, was on Saturday 12th of April 2014 endorsed as the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the states gubernatorial election slated for the 9th of August 2014. The emergence of Aregbesola was preceded by congresses held before the governor who had no contestants was endorsed as the flag bearer in the governorship election. The Nasir el-Rufai-led committee supervised the primary election in which Aregbesola was endorsed. While giving the governor the certificate of return, he said 269,631 members of the party voted Aregbesola for a second term out 355,390 members who registered in 332 wards across the state.[12] He was to seek reelection for a second term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on the 9th of August,2014, contesting against Sen. Iyiola Omisore of the People's Democratic Party and Akinbade of the Labour Party. Having satisfied the requirement of the Law and scored the highest number of votes. He was declared the winner of the August 9th,2014 election and returned elected for another term of 4 years.
References
- ↑ Hon. Engr. Constance Iloh (May 25, 2009). "Igando-Ikotun LCDA Congratulates Engr. Rauf Aregbesola On His 52nd Birthday". Igando-Ikotun LCDA. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ "Aregbesola is Osun governor". Next. November 26, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ RAZAQ BAMIDELE (March 8, 2007). "AC will sweep Oyinlola out of power – Aregbesola". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ Abiodun Felix (16 March 2007). "Countdown - Osun - Can Aregbesola, Olaitan Upstage Oyinlola?". Daily Champion. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ "Osun Guber Poll: Oyinlola should defend himself". Oranmiyan Group. 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ Adewale Adeoye and Eni Akinsola (Oct 30, 2008). "Osun Has Lost Fortunes Under Oyinlola – Rauf Aregbesola". Osun Defender. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ "Police arrest Action Congress chieftain, Rauf Aregbesola". The Punch. 7 Aug 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ Bunmi Awolusi (August 28, 2009). "Aregbesola seeks release of travel documents – Daily Trust". Nigerian Bulletin. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ Olatunbosun Oyintiloye (Aug 13, 2010). "Osun Bomb Blast: Aregbesola is innocent, stands by 2008 statement to police". Newsdiaryonline. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ "Rauf Aregbesola wins, to take over Osun Govt House". Vanguard. Nov 26, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ Peter Okhiria (26 November 2010). "Oshiomhole Congratulates New Gov. Aregbesola". Osun Defender. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
- ↑ http://sunnewsonline.net/news/aregbesola-kayode-fayemi-get-secondterm-tickets-for-upcoming-elections
