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  • WTD: Abiodun employs 3000 teachers, presents houses, cash to teachers, schools

    WTD: Abiodun employs 3000 teachers, presents houses, cash to teachers, schools

    Governor Dapo Abiodun has approved the immediate employment of 1,000 Ogun Teach Interns to mark this year’s World Teachers’ Day.

    The gesture was meant to improve the pupil-teacher ratio and to fill the existing vacancies in public schools.

    The governor also approved the engagement of 2,000 new OGUNTEACH applicants to the already engaged 2000 interns as well as a bungalow and cash prizes to teachers who did the state proud in the course of discharging their duties.

    Prince Abiodun disclosed this at the year 2023 World Teachers’ Day celebration with the theme: “The Teachers We Need for Education We Want; the Global Imperative to Reverse Teachers Shortage,” held at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

    The governor said the appointment of the new teachers takes immediate effect, adding that the administration is doing everything possible to improve the lots of teachers.

    He said: “It is my great joy to announce to you that Ogun State will be having an education summit soonest, for cross-fertilizing ideas by critical stakeholders in the sector, to proffer workable solutions to how to improve our education sector beyond this point and institutionalize the desired excellence in all our schools in line with the dreams of our founding fathers.

    “To complement this initiative, we will be inaugurating an education trust fund to fund education infrastructure across the various levels. Also, a special committee on the rehabilitation of public schools to complement SUBEB’s interventions will be inaugurated soon.”

    Read Also: 2023 WTD: You will get due reward under my watch, Tinubu assures teachers

    The governor reiterated his administration’s high premium on the welfare and well-being of teachers just as it continues to prioritise education to be in the first line charge in expenditure for the state and in all the local governments to bridge the gap of deficit in the sector.

    While reeling out some achievements in the education sector, Governor Abiodun said his administration has embarked on the training of 750 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers in a new teaching pedagogy called PSI-PMI to suppress the conventional approach of teaching, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

    To encourage teachers to perform optimally, the governor said he has directed the release of promotion letters for 2021-2022, two months of leave bonuses for public servants, and N10,000.00 payments to all public servants and pensioners in the state.

    He said: “Our government also procured and installed the Education Management Information System (EMIS) equipment and gadgets to aid data collection, collation, and analysis in the education sector across the 20 LGEAs, among many interventions to prepare our students to compete with their peers around the world and also provide an enabling and conducive working environment for our teachers to contribute their best.”

    The governor emphasized that as a responsive government, it is convinced of the need to better the lots of teachers to compensate for their selfless contributions to the upliftment of society, as the future of the children depends on the level and quality of their productivity.

    While stressing the need to address the shortage of teachers in Nigeria’s education sector and that of sub-Saharan Africa, the governor quoting data from the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said 69 million teachers are needed mostly from sub-Saharan Africa to reach universal basic education by 2030, while additional 24.4 million teachers in primary education and some 44.4 million teachers in secondary education are needed to achieve universal basic education by 2030.

    He added: “According to the data unveiled for 2022 World Teachers’ Day, 5.4 million teachers are needed at the primary level in sub-Saharan Africa and 11.1 million teachers at the secondary level if we are to achieve the targets set by the 2030 Agenda.”

    In his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu described teachers as great patriots who are in the business of moulding young minds, appreciating them for their efforts in maintaining the State’s standard of education.

    In his goodwill message, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Abiodun Akinola, lauded Governor Abiodun for keeping fate with the annual event and for sustaining the Excellency Awards for best teachers and school administrators in the state, calling on the government to employ more teaching staff to reduce the workload of the existing ones.

    The State Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUS), Comrade Felix Agbesanwa on his part stated that Nigeria and the world at large is facing the challenge of unprecedented shortage of teachers, adding that this year’s celebration was to stop the decline in the number teachers and to showcase practice that would attract, retain and motivate those in the teaching profession.

    Agbesanwa commended the Governor for implementing five years of promotion in four years for workers in the state, and for abolishing all levies in schools as well as initiating through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, various policies and interventions geared towards increasing students’ Higher Education Potential in the state.

    Highlights of the occasion were the presentation of keys to 2-bedroom bungalows to Mr Akeem Badru, the first African winner of the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher’s Award and the best overall Teacher in public primary school from Egba Division, Mr Togbe Ganiyu.

    Others were cash prizes of N2 million to Mr. Amosun Temitope Olaoluwa as best teacher in junior secondary school from Remo, N2 million for Mr. Ganiyu Wasiu, as the best teacher, in senior secondary school category from Egba Division.

    Ajayi Abosede emerged as the best primary school administrator from Egba division with a cash prize of N1 million, Samza Omolara from Ijebu Division emerged as the best school administrator in junior secondary school, while Kusimo Oluseyi was adjudged the best administrator in senior secondary school from Egba division with N1 million.

    Baptist High School (Junior), Saje, Abeokuta, emerged as the best public secondary school and took home N7.5 million, followed by Remo Secondary School (Senior), Sagamu, which also went home with N7.5 million.

    Angela Otabo from Egba Division went home with N500,000 having emerged the best teacher in the private school category.

  • Dapo Abiodun’s long walk to tribunal victory

    Dapo Abiodun’s long walk to tribunal victory

    • By Jacob Akpagbo 

    n Saturday, September 30, the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal gave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the March 18, 2023 governorship election a reality check, throwing out their frivolous, vexatious and error-laden petition against Governor Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC). In its unanimous judgment that lasted more than 11 hours , the tribunal struck out the petition for being “incompetent, defective, disjunctive and lacking merit.” The three members of the panel, headed by Justice Hamidu Kunaza, held that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations of non-compliance, overvoting, disenfranchisement of voters and corrupt practices during the polls. Said panel: “On the whole, the petitioners have not successfully proved the allegation of non-compliance with the Electoral Act and have not discharged the burden of proof”. The panel made it clear that there was no direct evidence to prove that voters were disenfranchised, that none of the witnesses established the allegation of corrupt practices against Governor Abiodun, and that the petitioners failed to show that the governor was tried, arraigned and convicted in the United States. Said Justice Kunaza said, “I uphold the election of Dapo Abiodun as the duly elected governor of Ogun State in the March 18 election.” And then the petitioners shed hypocritical tears, bowed by shame and mired in their own malfeasance.

    The judgment could not have gone the other way, because the petitioners turned the March 18 election, which they approached with desperation, into a joke in court, claiming that Governor Abiodun’s declaration as governor by INEC was merely purported. This, coming from a party whose vote buying antics were unmasked for all to see, and whose candidate is still on the run weeks after the Federal Government charged him with criminal conspiracy, vote buying and electoral subversion, was indeed strange. Details about the verve credit cards issued in the name of the candidate’s late mother, preloaded with N10,000 each and distributed to induce voters during the election, as well as the financial institutions that aided the crime, are all in the public domain, together with the testimonies of key witnesses and media reports of the arrests made during the election by security agencies. Vote buyers caught in their ignoble practice went to court to accuse Governor Abiodun of vote buying. They boasted to no end that the tribunal was going to ignore law and logic and award them undeserved victory, and came to court premises with song and dance, hoping to reap where they did not sow, a bunch of political marauders and pirates promoting the monetization of the electoral process as a grand tactic. They claimed that they scored the majority of lawful votes after APC’s unlawful votes are deducted and their own excluded votes added, but they never proved the unlawful votes credited to Abiodun or the source of their excluded votes, even as the figures in the petition (63,015 and 35,228) conflicted with the figures in their witness’ report (62,998 and 34,368). Never in the history of election petitioning in the country has a tribunal been beset with such a load of junk, puerile arguments and tortured logic.

    Read Also: Impeachment: Ondo Speaker drags Justice Nwite before NJC

    For Governor Abiodun, all of this is no surprise. Throughout his political career, he has faced adversity. Nigerians cannot have forgotten the political landmines put in his way when he ran for governor in 2019. His posters were torn and his supporters, identified by their yellow vests, harassed and hounded. Even when he won election, he received no hand over notes, and the open-roof vehicle he used during inauguration was borrowed from another state. The challenges he has faced since March 18 are eerily similar to those he faced in 2019 when the then political Establishment sought to change his destiny without success. The lesson, quite simply, is that anyone who wishes to triumph must face adversity. As they say, nothing good comes easy. If he had got a second term without adversity, many of those thanking God on his behalf now would not really have appreciated what God has done for him. Given what he faced before his first swearing in, many could be forgiven for believing that he would be allowed to govern in peace. But that was not the case. His predecessor, who declared him his arch enemy, started campaigns of calumny around the state, declaring that he (Abiodun) would not get a second term of office. Like he did in 2019, Ibikunle Amosun got a candidate installed in an opposition party, ADC, and kicked off frenetic campaigns across the state, vowing to unseat him (Abiodun) and calling him names.

    As Amosun rode his rebel train, his major challenger in the March 18 2023 polls, as the nation would later discover through the charges preferred against him by the Federal Government, was perfecting plans to buy votes. As if that was not enough, former Governor Gbenga Daniel, a man whom he (Abiodun) had helped to secure a senatorial seat and support with all necessary logistics, made a 360 degrees turn against him at the governorship polls, canvassing support for the opposition in all Ijebu/Remo axis. Many people believed that Abiodun was finished; some appointees clandestinely worked against him. But he triumphed. And then came the tribunal war when the adversaries, deploying their huge financial war chest in service of political propaganda, and using hack and hired writers heavily mobilized with bribes, dominated the airwaves, proclaiming their ‘impending victory’ over the governor and his party. But at the eleventh hour, just as the timeline for dispensing with electoral petitions was about to end, the Ogun Election Petitions Tribunal delivered a landmark judgment that exposed the shenanigans of his adversaries. Anyone backed by God will always triumph, no matter the opposition. 

    The people of Ogun State know that their governor means well; they know that he means to change the face of development in the state, building infrastructure and attracting investments. The future promises to be exciting.

    Akpagbo sent this piece through jacobakpagbo@aol.com

  • Tension in Ogun as tribunal determines Abiodun, Adebutu’s fate

    Tension in Ogun as tribunal determines Abiodun, Adebutu’s fate

    Anxiety and tension enveloped the premises of Isabo Magistrate Court, Abeokuta, the state capital as Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal is set to deliver judgement in the petition filed by Hon. Ladi Adebutu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

    The Nation reports that after three month – long sitting and conclusion of hearing, the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal reserved  judgement for today in the petition filed by PDP’s Adebutu against Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Adebutu is praying the tribunal headed by Hamidu Kunaza to nullify Governor Abiodun’s victory and declare him winner of March 18 Governorship election in Ogun State.

    Adebutu, among things, is also seeking an order of the Tribunal to upturn the election of Governor Abiodun, alleging that the election that brought him into office for the second time, was riddled with violence, irregularities and rigging.

    In the final oral and written address through his counsel, Mr Chris Uche, SAN, Hon Ladi Adebutu who is not in the country at the moment, prayed the tribunal to grant all the reliefs, including the disqualification of Abiodun as a candidate in the March 18 election.

    He also asked the tribunal to sack Abiodun and declare him as winner of the poll instead, declaring that heavens would not fall if the Governor was thrown out by the Tribunal.

    He alleged non-compliance by INEC with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices by the governor and his All Progressives Congress(APC) during the election even as ex – lawmaker claimed the process was sabotaged by thugs who allegedly deployed violence in over 99 polling units to disenfranchise over 40,000 voters.

    But countering in his written address through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Governor Dapo Abiodun urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by Adebutu and his party against his victory.

    Also, in their separate submissions counsels to the 1st respondent (INEC), Mr Remi Olatubora (SAN), and the APC, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), told the tribunal that the petitioners failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Read Also: Atiku on fishing expedition, Tinubu tells US court

    Counsel to INEC, Olatubora, specifically asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition for absolutely lacking in merit and being a waste of the tribunal’s precious time.

    He posited that the allegations of corrupt practices, non-compliance, multiple thumb printing of ballot papers, ballot stuffing, and forgery as alleged by Adebutu and his party were not proved beyond any reasonable doubt

    He also described the testimony of the witnesses brought by the petitioners as heresy, which is not admissible in law.

    Counsel for Abiodun, Chief Wole Olanipekun, (SAN) in his final address, described Adebutu’s petition as a mere academic exercise.

     Olanipekun submitted that the soul of the petition was not duly signed or stamped and, therefore, lacked merit to be adopted.

    He urged the Tribunal to strike it out.

    “The document is not signed, not dated, no heading, no title, no identity, no signature, no stamp. The CTC has no signature,” Olanipekun alleged.

    However, in his counter-argument, Counsel to Adebutu, Chris Uche, SAN, told the tribunal that all documents presented by the petitioners were obtained from INEC.

    He urged the tribunal to declare Adebutu the winner of the governorship election or, in the alternative, order a rerun of the election in 99 polling units where he alleged that there were disruptions.

    Counsel to APC, Tayo Oyetubo, who spoke to reporters at the time of trial, said the respondents have presented a good case, even as he expressed confidence that the verdict would be in their favour.

    However, The Nation’s bid to access the Court was prevented by a security operative who stated the newspaper was not listed to cover the court matters today.

    He also pulled a list, showing that the media organisation was not authorised to cover it.

    It is not yet clear how the list was generated.

  • ‘Adedayo’s false allegation against Abiodun is politically-motivated’

    ‘Adedayo’s false allegation against Abiodun is politically-motivated’

    The Chief Consultant on Media to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, yesterday said the allegation of diversion of local government allocations against the governor by Mr. Wale Adedayo was politically-motivated.

    He asserted that contrary to the false claim, the governor had augmented several shortfalls in allocations to local governments from the Federation Account to the tune of N17billion from the inception of his administration in 2019 to date.

    Speaking in an interview on Raypower FM programme, Facts File,  as well the Yoruba version on Faaji FM, Akinmade noted that Adedayo was out to tarnish the image of Governor Abiodun for parochial political motives.

    He said allocations to local governments remained practically inaccessible by any governor, going by the recent amendment to extant laws regarding allocations to the third tier of government.

    This, he said, followed agitation by some local government chairmen.

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    The media expert explained that a special committee, known as the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), which comprises the 20 local government chairmen across the state, members of NULGE, NUT and traditional institutions among others were statutorily saddled with the responsibility of deciding on the sharing formula without any interference of the governor.

    Akinmade, copiously reeled out the sequence of allocations to local governments since the inception of Prince Abiodun-led administration in 2019, indicating a series of interventions by the governor to augment several shortfalls, occasioned by shortfall in federal allocations, contrary to the claim of diversion by Adedayo.

    “The reduction in allocations to states is not peculiar to Ogun State and I can tell you with facts and figures that between 2019 till 2021 and 2022, Governor Abiodun had to augment the shortfall in all allocations to local government to the tune of N17 billion,” he said.

  • ‘Abiodun driving investment through OGFTZ’

    ‘Abiodun driving investment through OGFTZ’

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has put every necessary process in place to make the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ), an impetus for foreign and local investors, the Coordinator OGFTZ, Dr. Abbey Onas, has said.

     Addressing stakeholders in Abeokuta on his recent visit to Poland for an investment/economic forum, Onas said he was at the international forum in his capacity as the Coordinator of the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ).

    “My mission on that foreign land was clear: to woo global investors to Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. That meeting was the 32nd in the series of the Economic Forum that has become a tradition. It was a gathering of leading investors and economic giants that came with lots of opportunities,”

    The coordinator said the body language of the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu so far speaks to its readiness to tap economic opportunities from across the world and open up Nigeria for business and investment, pointing out that the President has assumed the role of the Chief Marketing Officer of Nigeria and Africa, telling the global audience at every avenue “that we’re ready for mutually-beneficial partnerships.”

    “Most recently at the United Nations General Assembly, President Tinubu argued that Africa is not a problem to be avoided, calling the rest of the world to work with the continent as the key to the world’s future. His presentation at the session has been applauded as masterful.

    “This body language of the Federal Government, in addition to the investment drive of Ogun State Governor Abiodun, is what I’ve seen and is motivating me to push for economic opportunities from across the world to the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone.”

    Abbey said Governor Abiodun has made huge investments  in critical sectors that attract and sustain investment in the state, especially in the area of road infrastructure, transportation, energy, security and others.

    “He has done creditably well in his first tenure, raising the hopes of the people that more will come in this second tenure.

    “In his determination to make Ogun State a major investment destination in Nigeria and by extension Africa, Governor Abiodun established the Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency. This government organ has the mandate to attract investors to the state; coordinate private sector investment activities and streamline processes and procedures to ease investors’ experience in setting up their businesses in the state. This is a brilliant initiative whose positive impact has begun to manifest, as Ogun is now a state of interest for many investors.

    “Governor Abiodun has also supported this with the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads and road networks in the state. Over 400km roads have been touched by the Dapo Abiodun-led administration in Ogun State. This, no doubt, has changed the face of the state and eased transportation within Ogun. Good road networks are a major catalyst for investment. It’s exciting that Governor Abiodun has his eyes fixated on renewing road networks in Ogun State.”

    Read Also: Ogun APC and Abiodun’s numerous olive branches

    Speaking about the measures being put in place to consolidate on protection of lives and property in the state, the coordinator said the state government was aware of the place of security in attracting investment.

    “Ogun people are generally peaceful and welcoming. They are always ready to extend the hands of fellowship to visitors. Governor Abiodun has also strengthened the security architecture of the state by keying into the ‘Amotekun’ initiative of Southwestern regional governments in Nigeria. This is in addition to restructuring the Security Trust Fund of the state, which has made it possible to mobilise resources for security personnel. The adoption of ultramodern security techniques such as drones and other sophisticated technology in surveillance and monitoring the state has prevented criminal gangs from gaining a foothold. The security of the state can always get better.

    “Indeed, I’ve seen the investment drive of Governor Abiodun over the years, and it is really propelling me to make moves on my own to attract investment to the state. We have a governor that has a growth and progressive mindset.

    “So, at the economic forum, I made a case for Africa, Nigeria and Ogun State. This was even long before the President’s address at UNGA 78. My message was similar to that of the President. I told the session which has a global audience that Africa should not be seen as a challenging investment terrain. On the contrary, we have the presence of highly educated Nigerians and Africans eager to collaborate with global partners in achieving great feats.

    “Some investors might want to wait to see how things pan out. However, this may be costly for them. It was my view at the economic forum that with the pace at which the present administration of President Tinubu is working on securing foreign investments, such category of investors might miss out on the available opportunities. The perfect time to invest in Nigeria is therefore now.”

    Speaking further on the direct advantage of his recent trip to Poland, Onas painted a glowing picture of what on the 23rd of September, when a select number of accomplished Polish investors and seasoned CEOs from reputable companies in Poland and Europe from diverse industries arrived Abuja to usher in new possibilities and collaborations between Nigeria and Poland.

    He stated that the visit was a follow-up on the fruitful discussions had at the economic summit and aimed at exploring investment opportunities and establishing fruitful partnerships within Nigeria. 

    In the final analysis, he called on investors to look inward and consider the opportunities in Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Nigeria, which he said serves as a powerful reminder of the untapped potential in Africa’s rapidly evolving economic landscape.

    “We are open for business and partnership. The Dapo Abiodun-led administration is making progressive policies and programmes that support investment and business in the state,” he added. 

  • Ogun APC and Abiodun’s numerous olive branches

    Ogun APC and Abiodun’s numerous olive branches

    • By ‘Poju Akintayo

    Even his naysayers admit that he would willingly exploit all avenues in search of peace. Love him or not, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State and the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the gateway state is the most significant playmaker in the politics of the state as we speak. Yet, he has not left anyone in doubt of his deftness as a team player. 

    In spite of having to battle intra party opposition and anti-party activities within the ruling party as far back as the first time he emerged as the flag-bearer of the APC in the build-up of the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state, up until his quest for a second term in office this year, the Iperu Remo-born businessman turned politician never encouraged segregation within the party at any point in time.

    Perhaps it is because of this firm believe in the beauty and strength of togetherness that he constantly sought ways of successfully extending the olive branch to real and imagined antagonists within and outside the ruling party across the state. To say the least, the APC has benefitted immensely from the large heartedness of Governor Abiodun as the party kept receiving more and more prominent politicians into its fold courtesy of the governor’s many olive branches. 

    Not a few people are surprised by the governor’s penchant to reconcile with members of the opposition across the state as some of these people worked hard to prevent him from ever ruling the state. Even when he was seeking a second term, these people doubled their effort to ensure Abiodun is stopped at all cost. 

    Thus, it didn’t come to some people, within and outside the APC, as a surprise last Friday when thousands of prominent leaders and members of the political camp of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, dumped the former Ogun State governor and declared their loyalty and support for Governor Abiodun going forward. Jubilant APC leaders and members were quick to declare the unexpected defections as the dividends of Abiodun’s unending olive branch.

    Read Also: ‘Abiodun displayed exemplary political maturity’

    The defectors came from the 20 local government areas of Ogun State with their supporters. They looked happy. They exuded the confidence of people who consciously took the decision to re-join the mainstream of the APC and be led by the governor. The arrowheads of the defection are prominent associates and allies of former Governor Amosun. 

    Leader of the returnees, Chief Derin Adebiyi, who led Amosun’s political camp until the fateful day, said they have all agreed to return to the mainstream to contribute to the development of the party and the state in general. The former chairman thanked the governor and the party members for receiving them back. Specifically, he also harped on Abiodun’s large heartedness, recalling the several efforts made by the governor ensure that ‘this day came to pass.”

    He confirmed that but for the willingness of the governor to encourage peace and cooperation within the party, he and others may not find the courage to retrace their steps. Adebiyi, while pledging the total loyalty of himself and all other defectors to the governor and the ruling party, applauded Abiodun for always being the ‘father of all’ even when it was obvious that he was not enjoying the support of all.’

    Receiving the returnees at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, Abiodun appreciated God for answering his supplications for peace in the party and in Ogun State and commended the returnees for acting according to what they believed in. He said he never quarrelled with them for one day in spite of all that happened. Rather, he daily prayed for their return to the mainstream of the ruling party so that they can contribute their quota to the development of our dear state.

    “I want to congratulate your sense of loyalty to leadership, which I will say is not only commendable, it is enviable. This is a culture that we must promote and entrench. It is a culture that is fast eroding; it is a culture that we are fast losing. Loyalty is 100 per cent”, the governor admonished the returnees.

    He further urged all members to put the past behind them and work towards repositioning the party to achieve its aims and work for the socio-economic development of the state.

    “To those who did not leave, please let us receive our brothers and sisters back. To those who are joining us, please let us display a sense of loyalty. I can assure you, you will be fully integrated,” he said to the admiration of both returnees and party members.

    Last Friday’s event, though novel, was not the first time Ogun APC would be benefitting from the olive branches being extended into the nooks and crannies of Ogun State by Governor Abiodun. Some months earlier, the opposition PDP’s Local Government party chairmen, secretaries and executive council members in Ijebu East, Ijebu North and Ogun Waterside local government areas of the state dumped political party and declared support for Abiodun and the APC.

    Giving reasons for their decision to leave their various parties, the decampees all said they decided to join the APC out of conviction that Abiodun is a good leader who is always seeking collaboration and cooperation even from his political opponents.

    “The governor knows what the people want, and he is meeting their needs. APC is the party of the people, and we will work for its success,” he noted.

    Similarly, some loyalists of the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the last governorship election in the state, Ladi Adebutu and late Senator Buruji Kashamu from Ikenne Local Government Area of the state, also joined the APC not long ago. Governor Abiodun personally received the defectors led by lfaneye Shittu, lsiaka Sonoiki, Mufutau Gbadamosi and Adeleke Adesanya, into the party at a political meeting. 

    Like others before and after them, the defectors cited the peaceful disposition and sterling performance of the state governor as the reason for their action. 

    APC state chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, said in every human relationship, there is bound to be disagreement, adding that even in time of war, there is always a place for peaceful settlement of conflict. While calling on the returnees to fully integrate themselves with other members of the party, he cited the governor’s magnanimity as the major factor that made the many reconciliations within the party possible.

    • Akintayo writes from Atan, Ijebu North East, Ogun State.
  • ‘Abiodun displayed exemplary political maturity’

    ‘Abiodun displayed exemplary political maturity’

    A youth group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), APC Progressive Front, has hailed Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for displaying an exemplary attribute of political maturity at the weekend.

    It would be recalled that hundreds of APC members loyal to ex-governor Ibikunle Amosun across the 20 local governments, led by the one-time chairman of the party, Chief Derin Adebiyi, were last Friday received back to the mainstream of the party by Governor Abiodun, alongside the Chairman of APC in the state, Chief Yemi Sanusi, and other party bigwigs.

    Read Also: Kogi guber: We’ll ensure overwhelming victory for APC Dapo Abiodun, others assure

    In a statement signed yesterday by its coordinator, Rasheed Sanusi, and made available to reporters in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the group praised the leadership capacity displayed by the governor, saying it was unprecedented in the political space of the state.

  • Abiodun: Sagamu landlords blocking demolition of houses harbouring cultists

    Abiodun: Sagamu landlords blocking demolition of houses harbouring cultists

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has revealed why his administration is yet to pull down any of the houses in Sagamu harbouring suspected cultists, despite the state government’s resolve to use the measure to rid the town and its environs of cultism. 

    Sagamu has remained the epicentre of cults’ war in the last three years, with the attendant loss of lives, maiming and destruction of belongings.

    On September 17, rival cults clashed in the town, Eight persons were killed. Four of them were hacked to death in a room at Ewu Iya area  when suspected cultists stormed the place, according to the Ogun State Police Command. 

    Abiodun said each time the government tried to demolish such houses, the landlords would rush to beg that their properties should be spared, pleading that they were not aware that any of their tenants was a cultist. 

    The governor, who made this known at a meeting with the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, and his chiefs at the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu, however, hinted that a law prescribing death penalty for anyone engaging in cultism would soon be promulgated. 

    He expressed shock at the wanton destruction of lives and disruption of peace in Sagamu and its environs, warning that the government would not fold its arms and watch unscrupulous persons disrupt peace in any part of the state. 

    The governor noted that the cultists are not spirits but humans who live in the midst of others in the communities, and appealed to the traditional rulers to support the state government with intelligence about the bad gangs in their domains. 

    “We will rely on our ‘kabiyesis’ because they are the closest to the grassroots for intelligence support. These people are not spirits. They live with us; they are tenants in our houses.

    “The last time I came here, I said any house where we arrest anybody that is connected to either cultism or kidnapping, we will find out where they live and demolish that house. And sadly, it has been very difficult for me to implement this because they rent an apartment and the unsuspecting landlords who don’t know what they do, give their houses to them and after we arrest them and are about to demolish the houses, the landlords will come and beg us that they did not know the suspects were into that business. 

    “I want to sympathise with the good and law-abiding citizens of Sagamu and of course, our revered paramount ruler and those who have lost loved ones.

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    “We will leave no stone unturned to ensure we bring any person directly, indirectly or remotely responsible for these occurrences to book. I have discussed with the Attorney General. Perhaps it is our disposition that allows for these occurrences of heinous crimes.

    “It is well within my power as the governor of this state to pronounce death penalty on people and we are going to ensure that we enact that because when people appreciate and understand the consequences of their behaviours, perhaps they will begin to have a rethink.

    “I have called on the Commissioner of Police, the Director of the State Service (DSS), the Commander of the Civil Defence, our ‘Amotekun Commander and all our security architecture to relocate to Sagamu for this purpose.”

    “I am now pronouncing that we will no longer refer to these people as cultists or any other name. We are pronouncing them as murderers and we will mete out punishments that are deserving to murderers,” he said. 

    Oba Ajayi decried the incessant destruction of lives and property in the town, saying development would not come to the town when people continued to wreak havoc through criminal activities.

    He requested mobile police and military formations in the area for proper maintenance of law and order.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Assistant Inspector General of Police Olusola Subair (rtd) and Consultant on Security, retired Commissioner for Police Awolowo Ajogun traced the genesis of the clash to a dispute on the sharing of proceeds from a land transaction, saying eight people were killed while nine suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

    He said the suspects are under investigation..

  • We’ll enact law prescribing death penalty on cultists, says Abiodun

    We’ll enact law prescribing death penalty on cultists, says Abiodun

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has said his administration will soon enact a law that will pronounce death penalty on anyone caught engaging in cult activities.

    He spoke yesterday at a meeting with the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, and his chiefs at the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu.

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    He expressed shock at the wanton destruction of lives and peace of Sagamu and its environs, even as he warned that the government would not fold its arms and watch unscrupulous persons run riots in any part of the state. 

  • Abiodun reads riots act, orders cack down on cultists in Sagamu

    Abiodun reads riots act, orders cack down on cultists in Sagamu

    Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun has directed security agencies in the State to rid Sagamu and its environs of the menace of cultists and cult-related activities in the State.

    The directive came in the wake of renewed clashes among rival cult gangs in the town at the weekend, raising tension and panic among residents of the town.

    Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, regretted the avoidable loss of innocent lives and wanton destruction of properties by the hoodlums.

    According to him, the police and sister security agencies have been given a matching order to deal ruthlessly and decisively with those disturbing the peace of the town.

    Reiterating the state government’s zero tolerance to acts of brigandage and lawlessness, Prince Abiodun warned that those responsible for this current crisis will find themselves to blame.

    He said: “As a responsible and responsive government, we are very sad with the resurgence of activities of criminal elements under different outlawed groups, raising unnecessary tension in the sleepy town of Sagamu and it’s environs.

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    “Let me categorically state that we are more than determined to put an end quickly to these nefarious activities of these hoodlums and enemies of our people; who are hellbent to truncate the peace of our land.

    “Let these urchins be rest assured that the State will be too hot for them to operate as we are reevaluating the security architecture for greater surveillance and tactical operation”.

    The Governor noted the new security approach would be implemented in collaboration with the traditional institution, community and religious leaders, youth groups as well as other critical stakeholders.

    Abiodun appealed to the people to provide adequate and useful information to security agents for prompt response to prevent future occurrences.