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span class="inline inline-left">Bibit Waluyo: (JP/Suherdjoko)Outgoing Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo bid a farewell on Wednesday to the provincial councilors as his term ends in August.

'€œI am grateful to and highly appreciate all the support that the respectable council speakers and councilors have given for the development of Central Java,'€ Bibit said as he was delivering his accountability speech at the provincial legislative council.

Bibit claimed that the development under his leadership had been very positive in all sectors. Yet, he also admitted that there were a number of things that needed to be improved including poverty eradication, reducing unemployment and decreasing infant and expectant mother mortality rates.

'€œI hope under the leadership of the new governor all sectors will be accelerated and that the wealth of the people will improve,'€ Bibit said.

Bibit was known for his frank speaking, which some might have taken as offensive. He said that with his style of speaking he felt close to the people. With his slogan of '€œreturn to the village, develop the village'€, Bibit and vice governor Rustriningsih signified their closeness to farmers.

'€œSixty five percent of Central Java population are farmers,'€ Bibit said.

Bibit and his running mate Sudijono Sastroatmodjo were beaten by Ganjar Pranowo'€“Heru Sudjatmoko of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) who garnered 49 percent of votes in Sunday'€™s election, according to quick counts.

Bibit only won 30 percent of the vote while the other ticket, Hadi Prabowo and Don Murdono, 21 percent.

Political observer Joko Prihatmoko of Wahid Hasyim University, Semarang, saw Bibit as a humble
figure who always abided by the laws and regulations.

'€œHe wanted to return to and develop the village and he really achieved it,'€ Joko said, adding that Bibit had succeeded in improving the wealth of the farmers in the province.