President Bola Tinubu has urged Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to see his victory in Saturday’s governorship election as an opportunity to promote unity, reconciliation and stability in the state.

Tinubu spoke on Thursday when Adeleke paid a thank-you visit to the State House in Abuja and presented his certificate of return to the President.

Recall that Adeleke defeated 14 other candidates in the keenly contested election, including Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Adeleke polled 511,067 votes, while Oyebamiji came second with 444,815 votes. Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes.

The governor won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11 LGAs.

During the visit, Adeleke thanked Tinubu for allowing what he described as a “free and fair election” to take place in the state.

In his remarks, Tinubu said Adeleke had a historic opportunity to demonstrate the virtues of democracy by reaching out to those who opposed him and avoiding any form of victimisation.

The President stressed that Adeleke’s victory should not be seen as a conquest over his opponents but as a mandate entrusted to him by the people.

“You did not conquer anybody. You won the election. That is the essence of democracy,” Tinubu said.

He urged the governor to make reconciliation the cornerstone of his administration, noting that the best way to appreciate the confidence reposed in him by the electorate was through his actions in office.

“All for the reconciliation, expand your coast. That is the only way you can give thanks to our people. Not the way you sang it or celebrated it. It’s the way you act it,” the President said.