Former deputy Governor and PDP Chieftain in Oyo State, His Excellency Barrister Hazeem Gbolarumi has called on Oyo State eligible voters to come out on Saturday to perform their civic responsibility in the Local Government election, without let or hindrances.
This was just as the state government, His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde declared Friday half day for the workers in the state, to enable residents to prepare and participate in the election scheduled to hold on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
Gbolarumi said this in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Olaniyi Stephen, and made available to journalists at Bodija, Ibadan this morning.
According to Gbolarumi, the election must reflect the people’s determination and hope to elect good, credible and trustworthy leaders and representatives with the mandate to steer the affairs at the grassroots.
He urged residents to conduct themselves in an orderly and lawful manner that will project the best behavior at the polls.
The former deputy governor said: “Against all odds, this election would be conducted into 352 wards in the State of Oyo State. I am therefore calling on all eligible voters in the state to enthusiastically come out to perform their civic duties without let or hindrance in electing credible and trustworthy representatives.
“The local government system is a critical level of administration that brings the government closest to the people. The election holding on Saturday is a springboard for advancing the cause of broad-based, all-inclusive governance at the grassroots that will politically empower the people and provide the platform for accelerated development.
“Our focus should be on entrenching democracy at its best-known tradition through the election of those who have well represented the people in the past and have discharged themselves creditably and honourably.”
Gbolarumi also added that “The participating political parties and their candidates are expected to abide by the rules and guidelines instituted by the electoral umpire.
“It is hoped that the parliamentary system of government which the election will usher in will bring greater political representation and development in all areas of life to our local governments. Let the winners be magnanimous in victory and let the losers be gallant in defeat, in the true spirit of sportsmanship”, he said.