Osun 2018: American Govt Envoy Pledges Support For Credible Polls

 

By Solomon Odeniyi

The United States government has lauded the government of Osun for creating an enabling environment and peaceful atmosphere for the citizens of the state.

The USA government extolled Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s leadership quality which has helped to maintain peace and security in the state.

The American Consular-General in Nigeria, Mr. John Bray, stated this on Wednesday while paying a courtesy/working visit to Governor Aregbesola, at the Government House, Osogbo.

The American government also pledged to provide support for the conduct of free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful governorship election coming up in the state on September 22.

Mr Bray was accompanied by notable officials of the American Embassy in Nigeria in the likes of the Embassy’s Political and Economic Chief, Mr Osma Tat; Political Officer, Mr Benjamin Williams; Political Specialist, Mr Arnold Abuline among others.

The American diplomat reiterated the US commitment to mobilise the required strength to ensure the success of the gubernatorial election in the state.

He said his government is keenly interested in the successful conduct of the Osun gubernatorial election as part of the efforts to strengthen the democratic culture in the state and Nigeria as a whole.

According to him, “as a member of the International Election Observers, we have been in the state of Osun in the last two days as part of our pre-election visit to notable institutions and relevant agencies in a bid to ensure the success of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

In his remarks, the Governor commended the American government for being the global vanguard of democratic culture and ethics.

He hailed the US government for always demonstrating high sense of commitment towards peace and political stability and the conduct of free, credible and transparent elections in the world.

Aregbesola appealed to the American government to support Nigeria on off-season elections which he said are always susceptible to manipulation.

He said his administration has institutionalized Omoluabi ethos in the minds of Osun residents, a trait he said has been consciously displayed by residents in the previous elections held in the state since his assumption of office.

Aregbesola however assured the envoy of his administration’s commitment to maintaining peace, law and order before, during and after the governorship poll.