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Tag: Dapo Abiodun

  • Police uncover plot to scuttle Abiodun’s inauguration in Ogun

    The police in Ogun have uncovered a plot by some persons to scuttle the inauguration of Governor- elect Dapo Abiodun and his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, on May 29.

    This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi.

    The police said intelligence report at their disposal revealed that some “unscrupulous elements” were scheming to foment trouble across the state with a view to disrupting the inauguration of the new administration.

    “Rallies, processions and assemblies in public places are being orchestrated by these enemies of peace seemingly to resolve chieftaincy and land-related matters rather than approaching the court to seek justice. All of these are aimed at heating up the state before the inauguration,” Oyeyemi said.

    Oyeyemi said the command had emplaced robust security arrangement to checkmate such plans, including ban on public protests or processions in relation to land disputes and chieftaincy issues.

    Residents or groups seeking to hold public protests on other issues must seek clearance from the Police Commissioner, Oyeyemi said.

    The statement reads: “The command has put in place a robust security arrangement aimed at checkmating such troublemakers and other criminally-minded persons, including miscreants and disgruntled elements.

    “The special units of the command, namely SARS, PMF, STS, Anti-kidnapping, as well as DPOS and Area Commanders, have been placed on red alert with specific instruction to closely monitor these misguided elements and respond swiftly to any distress calls/disturbance of public peace.

    “The Commissioner of Police Bashir Makama has also ordered 24-hour surveillance patrols across the state.

    Read Also: Day-old baby dumped in Ogun river

    Members of public are advised, for the purpose of peace, law and order, to put on hold, for now, any form of public procession, rally or carnival related to chieftaincy and land matters.

    “They should rather seek Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods or approach the law court for redress. In furtherance to this, persons or group intending to hold public assemblies and rallies other than as stated above are advised to contact the office of the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, for necessary approval and security.

    “The command will not hesitate to deal decisively with anybody or group who attempts to disrupt the peace of the state no matter how highly placed such person(s) may be, as the law is no respecter of anybody. “

  • Amosun’s booby trap for Dapo Abiodun

    THE Ogun State governor-elect, Dapo Abiodun, will have a mountain to climb to succeed as governor after his inauguration on May 29. This is on account of the booby trap his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun is believed to be setting for him as he prepares to hand over the baton of governance.

    Like a bolt from the blue, the outgoing governor has suddenly become the friend of the state’s civil servants who for years had fought in vain for their promotion, pension and other basic entitlements under his administration. The recruitments and promotion he had bluntly refused to do for years are now being done with such haste and excitement that the people of the state are left to wonder the alchemy by which the state’s workers suddenly became the apple of Amosun’s eyes.

    One explanation is that the outgoing governor wants to balloon the wage bill of the state so that the incoming governor would have a heavy wage bill to contend with when he gets into office. Nobody knows what Dapo intends to do about the booby trap, as he has not complained, at least publicly, like other governors-elect.

  • Abiodun: New dawn, new challenges in Ogun

    On May 29, Prince Dapo Abiodun will take the baton from Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Correspondent ERNEST NWOKOLO examines the challenges that will confront the new administration in the Gateway State.

    ON May 29, the tenure of Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun will expire and Governor-elect Prince Adedapo Abiodun will step in as his successor.

    Amosun succeeded Governor Gbenga Daniel on May 29, 2011 on the ticket of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later fused into the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he was re-elected in 2015.

    Since the administration took off, the governor had carried on with his five cardinal programmes-education, health, agricultural development, youth empowerment (mass employment) and infrastructural development.

    The administration, many believe, has managed to move Ogun State further on the path of progress from where Daniel left it over seven years ago.

    However, since the conclusion of the 2019 governorship election and the emergence of Abiodun as the governor – elect APC, eyes  are now on the successful entrepreneur, oil magnate and real estate player, as he prepares to succeed Amosun.

    The shift of attention is not misplaced. The people of Ogun State have endured in the last seven years and 10 months,  an administration that has concetrated on the succession crisis than governance. It is not surprising that all hope rests on the in – coming governor as a possible messiah in the days ahead to end their years of perceived deprivation, divisive and sectional governance.

    Also, a ground swell of goodwill cutting across the three senatorial districts, the last minutes alliances and fence mending that resulted in the victory of Abiodun on March 9, despite Amosun’s undisguised opposition to his candidature amid repeated vaunting that Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) would succeed him, attested to the resolve of the people to end the alleged final transmutation of Amosun into an “Emperor” in a sophisticated state.

    Already, the governor-elect has constituted a 23 – member Economic Transition Committee (ETC)  to help him articulate his manifesto for the  state, ensure robust engagement with stakeholders and chart a roadmap to guide the implementation.

    The committee is chaired by Tunde Lemo, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria while Dapo Okubadejo serves  as its Secretary.

    Former Deputy Governor, Salimot Badru, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the last gubernatorial poll, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Reuben Abati and Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate, Prince Rotimi Paseda, are among members of the Economic Transition Committee (ETC).

    Other members of the Committee are Senator Gbenga Kaka, Foluso Phillips, Prof. Konyin Ajayi (SAN), Kunle Elebute, Mutiu Sunmonu, CON, Olajide Odewale, Chief Kayode Sofola (SAN), and Prof. Sidi Osho.

    Also listed as members are Prof. Semiu Musa Olomu, Engr. Bayo Adeola, FNSE, Mr. Tola Mobolurin, Mr. Lekan Asuni, Dr. Tunji Oredipe, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Arc. Dunni Opayemi, Mr. Bola Ogunsola and Chief Bode Mustapha.

    The membership composition reflected his avowed commitment to run an all-inclusive government and in recognition of the state’s abundance  human resources in all fields of endeavour.

    It is believed that this will go a long way in healing the wounds of the perceived divisive and sectional politics of the out – going administration.

    Abiodun revealed that these distinguished sons and daughters have volunteered their skills, rich and diverse experience and vast network to work on the important assignment of moving the state forward.

    The in – coming governor also has Work Groups, each of which focuses on its assigned thematic area such as Education, Youth and Sports, Health and Social Services, Government Processes, Agriculture and Food Security, Transformational Initiatives, to ensure an effective and efficient discharge of assignment while the Economic Transition Committee will focus on developing the roadmap.

    There is another committee to interface with the incumbent government to ensure a smooth and orderly change of administration.

    Abiodun appeared prepared to hit the ground running he had declared  that his government would give the state a focused and qualitative governance that would be  responsive, open and accountable to the people by pro actively creating and promoting on enabling environment for a public private sector partnership, which is required for rapid industrialisation and infrastructural development.

    It is expected that the next government should focus on development of agriculture and rural roads to increase food and cash crops, create wealth for farmers and ease the movement of farm produce to the markets within and outside the state while generating revenue.

    Again, the local government administration, which  is the closest to the people, ceased being relevant or functional in Ogun after the tenure of Daniel in 2011 and literally slipped into comatose with the advent of the Amosun’s government.

    The yearnings of the people is that Abiodun should rejuvenate and return relevance to this ‘third tier’ of government and create a beneficial synergy that will quicken the pace of development at the grassroots.

    The people also crave fairness and equity in the spread of infrastructural development.

    The general perception of the lopsided development in the state has remained so strong, particularly in Ogun East and Ogun West to the extent that the people came to define the politics of Ogun 2019 from the prism of sectionalism in such a way that each arrived at the conclusion that it is only when a governor comes from them, that the injustices of the Amosun’s skewed infrastructural distribution would be addressed.

    From the bitumen rich Ogun waterside to the oil rich Tongeji Island in Ipokia, Ogun is well blessed with natural resources deposited across the state and ready for harnessing in the overall interest of the people. The same goes for the Olokola Free Trade Zone and the Cargo Airport projects started in Ogun East by the immediate past administration, but were shoved aside.

    Coming to governance from a successful private sector life, Abiodun’s rich experience is expected to count for good. He has pledged to place high premium on human capital development, including workers and civil servants.

    In his reckoning, “the people shall be (placed) first in governance” having being convinced that this would also formed part of the fundamental process to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of Ogun people.”

    But as optimistic as Abiodun sounds, his adminstration may walk through mines – filled path and if not carefully navigated, could signpost the beginning of administrative and political turbulence.

    The first landmine that may rattle the new governor, is the burgeoning debt profile of the Gateway State, which the out – going administration will inevitably bequeath to him.

    Although the true profile the debt is shrouded in secrecy, as at April 2018, the governor put the debt burden at a little above N103bn, including the N49bn he inherited from Daniel administration.

    But, the people of the state put it at well over N350bn when what is allegedly owed  contractors, unremitted cooperative deductions, salary and pension arrears, allowances owed to civil servants and other workers in the state’s institutions are factored into it.

    The infrastructural needs of Ota, Agbara and Igbesa areas are gargantuan. Residents and business operators in these industrial hubs have had to contend daily  with deplorable roads, epileptic power supply and sometimes, security challenge without the present administration doing much to alleviate their plights and despite their tax payment to the state’s purse.

    Today, the organised private business sector and members of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) look up to Abiodun to end their years of neglect.

    Education is one huge social industry the state is also reputed for and it is not for fun that Ogun produced the likes of Professor Wole Soyinka, Dr Tai Solarin and other notable educationists.

    In the eight years of Amosun, he spent multi – billion naira to build 20 model Secondary Schools across the 20 Local Governments. Unfortunately, two or three of  them have been completed. Only one or two have been put to use while the rest – mainly the uncompleted ones, were abandoned to wild birds, reptiles, weeds, shrubs and misguided youths turned some of them into a safe haven for illicit sex and substance abuse.

    The in – coming administration may find it difficult to determine what use those uncompleted and  abandoned model schools in their fast depreciating state could be put to, after scarce tax payers money had been expended on them, and when time and circumstances appeared to have rendered the concept obsolete, wasteful and poorly thought out projects.

    An industrialist and philanthropist Chief Jackie Adunni Kassim, did declare that the multi-billion naira model schools were not the ideal ones the state and her pupils deserved.

    Kassim, who was the governorship candidate of the United Democratic Party(UDP) in the last governorship election, however, said “ideal model schools” could be achieved by upgrading the infrastructures in some existing state – owned secondary schools, stressing that given the opportunity to govern Ogun State, she would turn Amosun’s model schools into centres where Ogun youths could acquire skills in carpentry, welding, iron fabrications among others.

    Funding of education at the state’s  tertiary institutions is at its lowest ebb. At a time, the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago – Iwoye, was running for over two years without subventions from government, to detriment of teaching, research and infrastructural developments. Protests by the workers – academic and non – academic, forced the governor to respond with minimal monthly subvention to the institution about a year ago.

    The monthly wage bill of OOU is N300m while the monthly subvention being released had remained at  N70m in the last one year, a situation that had continued to compel the university management to put the burden of making up for the N230m shortfalls on the students by way of payment of prohibitive fees and levies.

    Amosun’s administration has never executed any capital project at OOU. Even his pledge to build an iconic Senate building for the varsity has not been fulfilled.

    The experience is not different at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun where monthly wage bill is about N200m while its subvention from the state government is about N25m per month, forcing many to wonder how the Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUSTECH) would be adequately funded in the light of the experiences of the existing ones.

    Many are also not happy that the five percent of all payments to the universities are said to be paid to a  consultant foisted on the universities. They lament that the policy only served to further impoverish the two state universities.

    The acceptance fees for fresh students in the two universities are more than what obtains as tuition fee per student at the Lagos State University, Ojo.

    Recently, the Academic and non – academic staff of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, broke its silence on their plights, alleging that the administration withheld their N170m unremitted pension deductions.

    The worker, led by the branch Chairmen of Non-Academic Staff Union(NASU),  Kola Sopade; the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Babatunde Osifalujo; and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) Kola Olawunmi, have been at a loggerheads with the state government over the conversion of MAPOLY to Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUSTECH) and the establishment of Ogun State Polytechnic in Ipokia, cautioning the governor against taking any action that could further pauperised them.

    The situation is particularly pathetic at the Tai Solarin College of Education where some of the staff  have not earned salaries for the past  eight years, with their salaries accumulating to the tune of over N4b (four billion naira).

    Some of the workers of Tai Solarin College of Education being owed by state government have died.

    These are some of the knotty issues that would confront Abiodun. How he tackles them, would shape the people’s perception of him and his administration.

    No doubt, these  are by no means  petty tasks, given the monthly wage bill of the Ogun state government which is put at N9bn, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) that oscillates between N6bn and N7bn monthly amid dwindling monthly federal allocations, according to Amosun.

    It is hope that, beyond the Economic Transition Committee and Work Groups already in place, Abiodun should assemble the best hands as cabinet members to help him navigate the labyrinth of more crushing liabilities than assets he would likely inherit without hurting the diverse interests that converged to bring about the March 9 victory in the state.

    The governor – elect seemed to have taken cognisance of this and  met with notable  traditional rulers – the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi) to show appreciation for their prayers and support.

    He has also visited the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and founder and chairman, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, Chief Subomi Balogun among others on a thank you mission.

  • Dapo Abiodun, Mr. Ibu and man’s vainglorious folly

    In life, some success stories deserve to be celebrated and recorded for posterity so that humanity can have deeper understanding of quotidian living, its pitfalls and the eventual triumphs of a resilient spirit. While acknowledging the shallowness in the triumphalism with which some characters celebrate dubious success stories in different areas of human endeavours, we cannot deny the existence of real and moving stories that should reinforce our faith that it is not finished as long as we do not give up on our dreams. Of course, the latest of such extraordinary stories is the Tiger Woods’ victory at the Augusta Masters Open where, against all odds, the rejected golfer became the pillar of strength to many who had given up the hope of ever bouncing back. In many ways, the story of the Governor-elect of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun and a testimonial rendered by Nollywood celebrity, Mr.Ibu, were only different shades of the Tiger Woods’ extraordinary feat – the triumph of the resilience of the human spirit – when you look at the obstacles placed before them by close friends and associates.

    A common thread was the loneliness of the long-distance runner; sometimes, it can be really lonely and depressing along some portions of the road. But personally, I find the testimonies of these men inspiring especially in this season of wonky legs where dogs conveniently eat dogs with unusual relish. For Ibu, his rags to fame and fortune tale can be paraphrased thus (and as relieved by him in one of the churches in a video that went viral some weeks past): One fateful morning, a friend that has accommodated him in a face-me-I-face-you apartment in a Lagos suburb, called him aside and informed him of his decision to lock him out as he planned to travel to the village for Christmas. Ibu had assumed it was all a rude joke until the guy started flinging his belonging through the door. With tears welling in his eyes and N20 life savings dancing in his pocket, Ibu had opted to take the easiest way out of his mystery by jumping into the open well in the compound. They say cowards die many times before their death, right? Somehow, mother luck had other plans for Ibu. The suicide attempt failed and an emotional song serenading from a neighbours room, Michael Bolton’s “When I’m Back on My Feet Again” somehow gave him a reason to pick up the broken pieces and trudge on. He abandoned the suicide mission as another friend asked him to escort him to somewhere in Surulere where an audition was taking place and where he, fortuitously, met a friend who insisted that he must move to his house that day. Long story short, he moved his scattered property to the friend’s house, made a break in the movie industry, bought his first car, built houses and is now living his dream. What if I had taken the plunge into the well? Mr. Ibu asked the gathering at the Freedom for All Nations Outreach. He started the life-changing testimony by admonishing the congregation to “let this story teach you a lesson. “

    What lesson, you ask. Well, it is simple. At the point when his ‘rich’’, one-room apartment friend decided to play god, threw his nose up in the air and, inadvertently, set Mr. Ibu on a suicidal journey of no return, God stepped in and providence availed for him. Surely, Bolton’s track couldn’t have come at a better time. His eventual triumph was a testimonial that man’s folly and egoistic shenanigan shouldn’t be a barrier to one’s dream of greater tomorrow. They are mere cogs in the wheel of progress.

    Perhaps, nothing testifies to this than the trajectory that Prince Dapo Abiodun had to pass through before he could snatch victory from the jaws of imminent defeat. Of course, we all know that the odds were stacked against him by his once-bosom friend that became his fiercest nightmare, a demagogue with a bloated ego. Abiodun, in a testimony relayed to an audience at a Redeemed Church of God in London, said he practically went through hell in his bid to become the governor of his state. The most shocking aspect of his experience was the fact that those he thought he could trust with his two eyes closed were the ones beating the drum for his downfall and disgrace.

    Listen to him: “I thought that God will not forgive me if I didn’t come forward to share a bit of my testimony and my ‘only God’ moment. I stand here as a testimony of the awesomeness of the Almighty God, and the fact that God is greater than man. God will be God and man will continue to be man, because if it were for men, I will not be the Governor-elect of Ogun state. I have been in the private sector, but I have always had a passion for politics. In 1997, I made my first show in politics; I ran for the senate. I became a senator-elect, and I was the youngest ever elected senator in Nigeria. I was so young that there was a controversy that I was probably too young to be sworn-in because the age limit then was forty and I was not quite forty. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Head of state then died and that republic came to an end. I tried again in 2015; I was persuaded to run for the senate, and I didn’t quite win. Well, I won, I was rigged out, and I went to court. I won at the tribunal and my opponent went and appealed and it was overturned.

    “I was so unhappy. I thought to myself: ‘This is surely it, I’m done with politics; I must just face my business and leave all these politicians alone. They are not trustworthy, they are not reliable, and it is just a waste of money and resources.’ As time went on, in 2017, I had an unfortunate incident. I lost my first son, and life could not have dealt me a worst blow. I withdrew into my shell. For over six months I could not function. I could not go to work, I didn’t see people; I became a complete recluse. Then, in 2018, someone came to me and said will I consider going back into politics. Of course, I said never. Time after time I will be talked to, and then it was that I should go to the senate, and I said I was not interested. I have done this twice, so I’m not interested; God definitely does not want me to be a senator. At some point in time, someone asked me: ‘would you consider being Governor?’ I said that I will consider, but I will first go to God and see what God has to say about it. To cut the long story short, I became convinced that God indeed wanted me to be Governor of Ogun state. I could not explain it. I sat down with the incumbent Governor and had a chat with him. Of course, he said ‘No, never; I will offer you senate’. I said I don’t want senate. Eventually, our Pastor Prof, the Vice President intervened. He now said: ‘maybe you should consider this senate.’ I said okay. I will do it, only to find out that the incumbent Governor that had indeed offered me this senate didn’t mean it. He actually was just leading me on. When that became clear, I went back to Pastor Prof and said: ‘Pastor Prof, God is telling me something. I am going to be the Governor of Ogun state. Like the Pastor said: ‘it was against all odds.’

    And that, in a nutshell, was what Abiodun summarized as “the most turbulent, most bumpy, most challenging, most difficult” tale of a political heroism in which the “incumbent did everything humanly possible to stop me. This is considering the fact that this incumbent has been a friend of mine for over 25 years.” Put bluntly, Ibikunle Amosun’s folly and buffoonery is wreathed in hollow triumphalism. Without thinking of the God factor in the affairs of men, he ascribed to himself the Alpha and Omega of others’ fate—the godfather of godfathers. He was huffing and puffing with a swag that defies logic. He forgets that the fall of humpty dumpty is one of the tragic renditions of all times, the emptiness of it all. How, for example, did Mr. Ibu’s former benefactor feel when he heard that the man he threw out in the sun to dry was now dancing in the sun to His glory and using his rags-to-riches experience to inspire thousands of hopeless people to get their mojo back?

    How are those that swore on their grannies’ graves that Dapo Abiodun would never be in charge of the levers of governance in Ogun State feeling now that he has set up a transition committee in that state with the incumbent saying he would stop being governor on May 28, 2019? Oh! I thought he was in it till the grim reaper puts a tone of finality on his tenure. In short, how does it feel to throw away 25 years of solid friendship on the altar of political self-immolation? How does betrayal taste in the mouths of these persons anyway?

    Here, Bolton’s lyrics resonate:

    Soon these tears will all be dryin’

    Soon these eyes will see the sun

    Might take time, might take time, but I’ll see it

    When I’m back on my feet again

    When I’m back on my feet again

    I’ll walk proud down this street again

    And they’ll all look at me again

    And they’ll see that I’m strong

    Abiodun and Mr. Ibu’s tears dried up and there came a soothing balm of victory that etched permanent smiles on their faces. One can only hope they remember to apply the same spirit of untainted love for humanity in their dealing with others as they progress. Maybe we should also ask those who pilloried Woods in all those 14 years in the wilderness how they felt when, through determination, grit and divine help, the man broke the chains around him and got back on his feet again in Augusta some days back. When, I ask, will men learn to stop playing gods in the affairs of fellow men? When?

  • Letter to Dapo Abiodun

    Sir, let me start by congratulating you for a battle well-fought. If man were God, Adekunle Akinlade would have been declared Ogun State governor-elect. It is for this reason that the interest of the people of Ogun State should be your primary focus when you are sworn-in on May 29, which incidentally also marks your 59th birthday.

    Let me make it clear here sir that my intent in writing you is not to rubbish the records of outgoing Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Like all mortals, he has his faults, which some people believe are capable of eclipsing his achievements. I leave that for time to decide. I was excited some days back when your spokesman, Remmy Hazzan, released a statement on your 23-man economic transition committee. According to the statement: “Ogun State is blessed with an abundance of human resources in all fields of endeavour and this is reflected in the array of distinguished sons and daughters who have volunteered their skills, rich and diverse experience, and vast network, to work on this important assignment. “Furthermore, our commitment to provide an inclusive Government is expressed in the composition of the committee.”

    Looking through the membership of the committee chaired by Mr Tunde Lemo, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), I felt you mean business. I also like the fact that you looked beyond party affiliation by including Dr Reuben Abati, who was Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship running mate, and Mr Gboyega Isiaka, who was a rival in the poll. This shows that you know that for Ogun State to develop, all hands must be on deck.

    At the risk of telling you things you know sir, permit me to recap the place of Ogun State in Nigeria’s history. Ogun State has produced two Heads of State. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, aside from his time as military Head of State, also led us as a civilian president for eight years. No one in the country’s history has this kind of record. Ogun also produced a Head of State in Chief Ernest Shonekan. Ogun was home to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Great minds such as Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Olusegun Osoba and many more are sons of Ogun State. I dare say Ogun is a state whose history other states, including my Lagos, cannot boast of.

    Up till now, Ogun State anthem makes me nostalgic. I sang it for six years as a student of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Isaga-Orile, near Abeokuta, and can still recite it word for word. The lines are powerful and the message in it I indulge you to imbibe.

    Sir, I have said all this for you to know that you are not going to govern just another state. You are going to govern Ogun, the home of Olumo Rock, the home of men of no mean stature, the home of great teachers and above all, the land of knowledge. This great state, which is number three in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), deserves to be better than what it is. I sincerely believe that the state has not fully taken advantage of its closeness to Lagos. Agreed that the Ibikunle Amosun administration was able to work on its proximity to Lagos to raise the IGR significantly, the border towns, such as Alagbole, Agbara, Lusada, Mowe, Ibafo and Akute, are treated as though they are in Lagos State. Yet, residents pay their taxes to Ogun.

    I am always sad each time I visit friends in Akute and its axis. The Amosun administration went to this axis with bulldozers to pull down houses and started a massive bridge that, if completed, would have opened up the axis to greatness. In the beginning, the pace of work was frenetic. By the time people started salivating of the coming goodness, works technically ceased and even when it was later resumed and more houses pulled down, the pace was never the same again. And driving in the axis became a pain. It got so bad that residents had to forcefully inaugurate the bridge to ease their pain.

    Inner roads in Lusada, Mowe, Akute, Lambe and many of the border towns are in a terrible state. Other amenities, such as pipe-borne water, are inexistent. Sir, I am emphasising developments in the border towns because I believe they have a major role to play in Ogun State’s future. Abeokuta is important; Ijebu-Ode is germane, but there are immediate gains to get from fixing the towns close to Lagos.

    Let me also state here sir that you should avoid one major mistake when you resume on May 29 – let the past be in its rightful position. Let the people know what you have for them and not bore them with how your predecessor’s actions are making you unable to better their lives. The people know that hospitals are not in their best; they know that many schools are in states of disrepair; they know that many roads are terrible, and they know that water supply has not received the attention it deserves. With your experience in the business world and in politics, what the people expect is for you to tell them how you will improve the bad situation. Workers need to know they will get their allowances and salaries; teachers need to know they will have opportunities for retraining, and farmers need to know that the government can support them to commercialise their farms.

    I will also like to point out the need for your administration to make the best of the fact that Ogun is home to many higher institutions. Some even say no state has more higher institutions than Ogun. Sir, it should be about quality and not quantity. If you carry your due diligence and discover that any of these government-owned institutions cannot meet up with the quality standard expected, please shut it down or find a way to get it up to the required standard.

    Before I let you have your peace, sycophants are already plotting how to make you feel you are the best man in the whole wide world. Liars. That is what they are. Do not take them seriously. They are out to ruin you. The Yoruba will say: “eniyan laso mi”. You need to surround yourself with quality people, people who can look at you in the face and tell you the truth. This is how to succeed. Anything short of this is an invitation to failure.

    For now, say me well to your wonderful mother, Mrs. Victoria Abiodun. I can’t stop seeing that picture of her praying for you in my mind’s eyes. Say me well to your kids and wife, too. But above all, Ogun deserves much more than what is currently on offer and taking the towns bordering Lagos more serious is a good starting point.

     

  • We’re determined to make right difference in governance, says Abiodun

    The Ogun state governor – elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday declared that his in – coming administration is imbued with determination to make a difference in the governance of the State.

    Abiodun, however, expressed the hope that the out – going Governor Ibikunle Amosun would provide timely and accurate information on all the ongoing projects in the state and the general state of affairs of the people’s common patrimony to enable him face governance seamlessly.

    The Governor – elect made this known in Ogere, Ogun State, during the formal inauguration of his Economic Transition Committee (ETC) and Work Groups.

    He noted that he is not unmindful of the fact that people have become quite cynical of government and the political class because of their experiences, but pledged that his would be different, as he would provide leadership that could earn the confidence of the people.

    He also pledged to run a government that has character that could be trusted.

    The 23 member ETC is chaired by Mr. Tunde Lemo, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria with  Dapo Okubadejo serving as its Secretary while the Work Groups which are broken into parts have larger memberships.

    While ETC is expected to help articulate Abiodun’s  campaign manifesto, ensure robust engagement with stakeholders and develop a roadmap to guide its implementation,  the Work Groups would focus on assigned thematic areas such as Education, Youth and Sports, Health and Social Services, Government Processes, Agriculture and Food Security, Transformational Initiatives, to ensure an effective and efficient discharge of its assignment.

    Read Also: Dapo Abiodun, deputy get Certificates of Return

    He reiterated his vision to provide good and focused governance that will create an enabling environment for sustainable economic development of the state and translates to significant improvement in the welfare of citizens and their individual prosperity.

    Abiodun, an oil magnate and successful entrepreneur noted that the paucity of funds may present challenges to the incoming government, and urged the Work Group on Finance to identify creative means of funding to support the realisation of governance agenda.

    Abiodun said: “The importance of the task at hand cannot be over-emphasised. You are being called upon to elaborate on the campaign manifesto, identify and distil the pressing needs of the state and our people, recommend specific programmes and policies and develop a measurable and realistic roadmap, including identifying low hanging fruits, for implementation.

    “The Terms of Reference for the Work Groups will be provided to guide the assignment. However, should there be a compelling reason to tweak any of the items; I believe the Secretariat will be favourably disposed to consider such adjustment.

    “I am confident that the main committee and the Work Groups are most suited to deliver the objectives of this assignment, what with an array of leading lights of our State in all fields of endeavour, rich blend of perspectives across professions, political affiliations, gender, demography, among others. While our non-partisan technocrats are expected to bring to bear on the assignment their rich, global and detached “outsider” perspectives, the professionals in politics and other political actors will provide context and knowledge of the environment to develop a Policy Document that is deep in concept, broad in scope, ambitious in vision but takes cognizance of the current realties.

    “Equally important, it will enjoy the ownership and buy- in of the critical stakeholders, an important component of our commitment to inclusive government. In this regard, each work group should identify critical and relevant stakeholders and seek their input, as may be necessary.

    “Our vision is to provide good and focused governance that creates an enabling environment for sustainable economic development of the state that translates to significant improvement in the welfare of our citizens and their individual prosperity.

    “In traversing the length and breadth of the over 16,000 square kilometers of the state during the campaign, I gained further appreciation of the vast natural resources spread across the state. These natural resources, coupled with the premier status of Ogun State as the intellectual capital of the nation, should make the job easy. The challenge here is to bridge the gap between the potentials and actual performance.

    “There is no gain-saying that funding will be a major constraint, hence our recognition of public – private partnership as a veritable tool for funding in a manner that keeps the interest of the state paramount while delivering significant value to all the stakeholders.

    “Therefore, the Work Group on Finance is enjoined to identify creative means of funding to support the realisation of the governance agenda.

    “There are two other issues that I believe are worth emphasising. First, the Transition Committee and the Work Groups are requested to come up with recommendations on Monitoring and Evaluation mechanism that will ensure that agreed initiatives are not only implemented, but there is a framework to track progress and ensure desired outcomes are achieved.

    As Larry Bossidy, co-author of Execution: The Discipline of Getting Done, once said, “strategies are intellectually simple; but the implementation is not.”

    “On our part, I want to assure that we are fully committed to this process and that the document that will emerge will not be used to decorate the shelf but will be diligently implemented.

    “The second point I will like to reiterate is that the government is a continuum. Therefore, the next Administration will continue the implementation of the ongoing projects that have a clear line of sight to upliftment of Ogun State and benefits to the people.

    “I am hopeful that the incumbent government will provide to us timeously accurate information on all the ongoing projects in the state and the general state of affairs of our common patrimony.”

  • Ogun, Lagos to get Joint Development Commission – Abiodun

    Ogun state Governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun has disclosed his administration and of that of his counterpart in Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo – Olu had mulled plans to establish a “Joint Development Commission” to drive the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of both states.

    He said the proposal is also geared towards enhancing rapid development and transformation of border communities of the two neighbouring states.

    Abiodun also disclosed that improved security and upgrading of infrastructures would form parts of the major thrust of his government in the Gateway state.

    The successful entrepreneur, oil magnate and real estate player spoke on Friday during a  “Strategic meeting” with the state chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other members of the Organised Private Sector at the factory of the Flour Mills in Agbara, Ado-Odo-Otta local government of the state.

    The Governor – elect was accompanied to the meeting by the Deputy Governor-elect, Engr. Noimot Oyedele – Salako, Otunba Rotimi Paseda, ex – Deputy governor in the state, Prince Segun Adesegun, immediate past Youth and Sports Commissioner, Mr Afolabi Afuape, Senator Gbenga Obadara and Hon. Babatunde Olaotan among others.

    Abiodun said he would resuscitate the Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA) within 100 days of being in office to address the deplorable township and inner city roads across the state.

    Read Also: Ogun APC celebrates Abiodun’s victory

    OGROMA, the initiative of the administration of Governor Gbenga Daniel, which perfected the art of roads repairs and rehabilitation in the state, was phased out by Governor Ibikunle Amosun hours after he took his Oath of office in 2011.

    Abiodun stressed that he would also build industrial parks and farm settlements across the three senatorial districts.

    According to him, all uncompleted projects by Amosun’s administration would be completed because Ogun State tax payers money have been invested in such projects.

    He pledged to provide conducive environment for businesses to thrive with improved security and Critical infrastructure.

    He said: “I have known the governor-elect in Lagos state, Babatunde Sanwo Olu for a long time and we have both agreed to set up a Joint Development Commission to enhance  transformation at our border areas and also to enhance the IGR of the state.

    ”Any uncompleted projects by the outgoing governor will be completed during my administration.”

    The chairman of the state branch of MAN, who is also the Managing Director, Rite foods Limited, Mr Saleem Adegunwa, said MAN would work “hand-in-hand” with the government to construct Atan -Agbara carriage road.

    ”We are really excited about the presence of the governor- elect, because we believe his administration will favour us.

    ”It is when there is enabling environment that we can be able to generate more funds for the government,” he said.

     

  • APC warns against Amosun’s last -minute transactions

    Ogun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday advised the public against engaging in last minute transactions with the out – going administration, warning that the incoming government would review any of such transactions.

    In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of APC in the state, Tunde Oladunjoye, it alleged Governor Ibikunle Amosun- led administration has engaged in last- minute awards of contracts, withdrawals from treasury, sales of land and illegal recruitment of Senator Amosun’s cronies into senior positions of the Ogun State Civil Service, ostensibly to tie the hands of its successor.

    APC noted such reported transactions are shocking and warned members the general public such hurried deals would not necessarily be binding on the incoming administration.

    The party stated: “It has come to our notice that the outgoing administration of His Excellency Senator Ibikunle Amosun, is busy with last minute awards of contracts, selling and auctioning of government properties, and secret recruitments into the civil service in a way to tie the hands of the incoming Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    “While we find these reported last-minute awards of contracts, withdrawals from treasury, sales of land and illegal recruitment of Senator Amosun’s cronies into senior positions of the Ogun State Civil Service, very shocking, our party wishes to warn the members of the general public that such hurried transactions would not necessarily be binding on the incoming administration.

    “We urge Ogun State’s top senior civil servants not to be part of the desperate moves of the departing Governor to undermine socio-economic stability of our State, by engaging in, condoning or being part of any act that breaches or constitute a flagrant abuse of laid-down rules, regulations and due process.

    “It is our belief that an administration with less than two months to handover, should, by now, be preparing its handover notes for a smooth transition instead of digging pits for the incoming government.

    “May we also reiterate here that all loans, overdraft and financial obligations that do not follow due process, including the approval of the Ogun State House of Assembly, would not be honoured. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”

    Read Also: Onnoghen’s resignation: Buhari is vindicated, says APC

    On Friday, the state government approved appointment of Professor Akinwale Coker, a professor of Civil Engineering as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the newly established Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUSTECH), Abeokuta as part of measures for its take off.

    The university was established in accordance with Section 8 of the Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology Law, 2017.

    The government also approved the constitution of a Governing Council for the institution with Mr. Oye Hassan Odukale as Pro Chancellor/Chairman.

    Other members of the Council are Mrs. Bunmi Oke, Prof. John Oluranti Olajide, Chief Wale Taiwo SAN, Mr. Oladeji Oluwadiya, Bldr. Dapo Adesega, Arc. Ibukun Sonola, Ms. Amina Oyagbola and Engr. Segun Adeleye.

    The tenure of the Council Chairman and members shall be four years in the first instance while that of the Vice-Chancellor shall be a single term of five years, according to a release by the Secretary to the state government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa.

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Rotimi Durojaiye, demanded for details of the contracts and people recruited.

    “Can I have the list of contracts awarded, the names of people recruited into the civil service of the state and other information that may assist me, please? Thank you,” he stated.

    But when reminded Amosun has just approved the appointment of a Vice – Chancellor and Governing Council for MAUSTECH, Durojaiye stated: “Council members are not government employees, they only receive allowances.”

  • Dapo Abiodun, deputy get Certificates of Return

    Ogun State Governor – elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun and his Deputy Noimot Oyedele – Salako on Thursday got their respective Certificates of Return (CoR) from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The CoR was presented to them by INEC’s Commissioner in charge of Ogun, Ondo and Lagos, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola around noon.

    Read Also: Dapo Abiodun, deputy get Certificates of Return

    However, winners in the State House of Assembly – 26 of them, comprising 15 All Progressives Congress (APC) members and eleven others spread across the Allied People’s Movement (APM), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will collect theirs later in the day.

  • Ogun guber election: true reflection of people’s will – APC

    The Ogun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday appraised the March 9 governorship elections in the state and declared that the outcome was a true reflection of the will of Ogun people.

    The party added that it was “heart-warming, that despite the harassment, intimidation and sponsored violence from known quarters in the state, the people of Ogun spoke with their votes on who they preferred to govern the state for the next four years.

    In a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, in Abeokuta, APC observed that
    the election recorded over one hundred and fifty-eight thousand voters more than the National Assembly elections, a demonstration that Ogun people were really determined to choose who becomes their governor.

    The statement reads: “It is beyond a reasonable doubt that our candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, won fair and square as confirmed by all other candidates in the governorship election, except the sore loser and his paymaster.

    “Our people showed more concern in the governorship election. While the total votes for the Senate were 549, 909, the House of Reps were 552, 223, and Presidential elections had 605, 738 voters; a total of 708, 807 voters participated in the governorship elections.”

    “Furthermore, never in the annals of governorship elections in Ogun State, had the winner received such outpouring of congratulatory messages, encouragement, promised support and visitations by his co-contestants. Prince Buruji Kashamu, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, Otunba Rotimi Paseda, Chief Tope Tokoya, Mr. Adewale Omoniyi, and about other ten political parties and candidates have either sent goodwill messages or visited the winner or placed congratulatory adverts in the newspapers, in a commendable demonstration of good spirit of sportsmanship.

    Read Also: Why we settled for Lawan as Senate President, by APC

    “Having submitted itself to the authority of Election Petition Tribunal, we urged the Allied Peoples’ Movement to stop its campaign of calumny against our candidate, and its seeming patronage of the Tribunal with its amateur simulation in the media. We see this as deliberate and desperate campaign after elections. APM should allow the law to take its course.

    “It is also on record that over 90% of those arrested on election day, by security and anti-corruption agencies for perpetrating election-related crimes on March 9, 2019 in Ogun State were well-known agents of the Allied Peoples’ Movement and top government officials in the outgoing regime. We, therefore, call on the relevant agencies to do the needful going forward. The APM is actually crying for being unable to execute its rigging plans.

    “The APM, with a sitting Governor as its chief promoter, and despite the enormous state resources deployed and poured into the process, who could not muster a convincing win in 1/3 of the 20 LG’s in Ogun State should bury its head in shame and stop campaigning after elections. If the governorship elections in Ogun State is to be held several times again, the margin for our candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, can only increase.“