Fielding questions from State House correspondents after the meeting, the governor said it was necessary for him to give the President the true picture of what transpired during the election.
He accused the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state of painting the picture of a state in crisis as a result of the local government election, saying the people were wise enough not to have
voted for “rogues.”
The governor however expressed delight that the Action Congress of Nigeria that won the local election has been able to dismantle the PDP rigging machine in the state. He also accused the police of partisanship, alleging that they looked the other way even when the PDP members were perpetrating criminal acts during the election. He said: “Edo people are not fools. “How will they vote for rogues?
“People whose philosophy is share the money.
“Those days are gone.
“All they have tried to do in this election is clear and that is what I went to tell the President.
“The word rigging is synonymous with PDP, which is why they predicted they will rig for the next 60 years.
“Although Nigerians are waiting to see how that is going to happen.
“So, I ask you the media to recognize that what the PDP leaders have done here is to give the impression that rigging is inevitable, preparing for the future.
“But they will be shocked that Nigerians are not in the mood for any rigging to take place.
“So, let me assure you I remain committed to the principle of one-man-one-vote because that is irreducible minimum.
“They tried to create the impression of a state that was out of control.
“They tried to use some criminals, some armed gangs to create trouble here and there and the police was looking the other way.
“But I don’t need to be best friend of police.
“What I need is to be loved and to be appreciated by the Edo people.
“And when Edo people are on.
“No force external to Edo can rig election there and that is what has happened.” Speaking further on the election, Oshiomhole said only the PDP members were complaining.
He added: “The first question to ask is who is complaining?
“If an armed robber is complaining of being robbed, it is your choice as to how much weight to place on his complaints.
“The history of rigging election in Nigeria is as old as PDP.
“They have lived on it, they have perpetuated it, they have deepened
it, they have feast on it and they have even celebrated it.
“I Thank God, He has used me and all other patriotic people to dismantle PDP rigging machine in Edo State.
“And do recall that last July 16, 2012, I contested election in Edo State and I won in all the 18 local government areas, including Chief
Tony Anenih’s local government.
“I defeated him in his local government.
“I defeated him in his ward.
“Mike Onolomemen, the Minister of Works, I defeated him in is polling booth.
“I defeated him in his ward.
“The Hon. Itulah, a member of the House of Reps, former Speaker of Edo State, I defeated him in his ward.
“I defeated him in his unit.
“Where are the PDP guys?
“This is the height of the PDP godfather.
“So, God has used us to dismantle.
“If it is evil, it can’t stand.
“Now, this was July 14.
“So in that election, and your colleagues were there, and everybody said that was the best election ever conducted in the whole of Edo South.
“We won in all the wards in Edo South.
“It account for 53 per cent of voting population of Edo State.
“In the entire Edo North, accounting for about 33 per cent, I won in all the wards.
“In Edo Central, which accounts for about 17 per cent to 18 per cent, I won in all with the exception of three.
“So where is the PDP?
“Now, we conducted local government election, which have followed this pattern.”
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