The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dapo Abiodun

  • Dapo Abiodun decries alleged smear campaigns, attacks

    he Dapo Biodun Campaign Organisation (DACO) in Ogun State has raised the alarm over what it called “planned smear campaign and violent attack against the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Dapo Abiodun”.

    In a statement yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, by its spokesman Remmy Hazzan, the organisation alleged that there is a planned attempt to increase smear campaign against Abiodun and attack his convoy.

    The statement said the planned attacks on Abiodun and his convoy may occur as the campaign train of the APC governorship candidate tours the local government areas to meet with the voters.

    It reads: “As we plan to start our local government tour from Ijebu North East Local Government Area on January 7 (today), it has become necessary to inform the public that intelligence at our disposal reveals plans from certain quarters not only to heighten smear campaign against our candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun (MFR), but to also attack his convoy as we move round the state with our teeming supporters.

    “We want to let the public know that our campaign organisation, as promised from the onset, has continued to run a decent and issue-based campaign with zero tolerance for violence.

    “We, therefore, find it appalling and alarming that some desperate politicians with their known sponsor and collaborators, are planning devilish acts against a decent candidate who is only offering to use his wealth of experience and established connections in the service of our dear state to take Ogun State to greater heights.

    “Our schedule of tour was carefully selected and copies of same were sent to security agencies in advance. We will never take the voters for granted.

    “We want to continue to meet, talk to and interact with Ogun voters and sell the vision and programmes of our party and candidates to the voters without intimidation, harassment or coercion.

    “We are also aware of the plan by the state government to dissolve some elected local government administrations across the state, whose chairmen and councillors have insisted that they remain in APC and have refused to work against the party on whose platform they were elected in the first place.

    “In the last few weeks, our party members in various wards in Ogun State have suffered serious harassment, persecution, forceful take-over of our secretariats at wards and local government levels, and the dubious re-painting of such in the colours of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) with the backing of some people in government.

  • Amosun deserves our sympathy – Ogun APC

    The Ogun State Chapter of the  All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday said outgoing  Governor Ibikunle  Amosun deserves  pity and prayer over alleged recent  anti – Prince Dapo Abiodun comment, which the party added, portrayed the Governor as one suffering from exit fear.

    The Governor had reportedly claimed the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate, Abdulkabir Akinlade, would defeat his party gubernatorial candidate, Dapo Abiodun, in the March 2019 governorship polls.

    Reacting through a statement by the Publicity Secretary to the Ogun APC State Executive Caretaker Committee, Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye, and made available to The Nation, APC said Amosun actually deserves sympathy and not condemnation, stressing that he has lost touch with political reality in the Gateway State.

    The statement reads in part:

    “But for the fact that the reported outbursts of the governor were reported by a credible online medium, we would not have taken him serious; and for the fact that friends in the media have been asking for response, we would not have reacted.”

    “However, rather than exchange words with the governor, we would call on members of the public  to please sympathize with the governor and pray for him, as he is obviously manifesting outgoing syndrome resulting from political amnesia, loss of touch with reality and fear of life after office.

    Read Also: Amosun signs N400.3b budget into law

    “For an individual to attempt to play God, and assault the collective intelligence of the well informed people of Ogun State by telling them who the next governor of Ogun State will be, as if he has already written the results, shows that such person deserves our pity; we don’t need to exchange words with him, but to actually sympathize with him on his present state of paranoia on Prince Dapo Abiodun.”

    “The constant, unceasing and monotonous attack on Dapo Abiodun by the governor and his minions shows that our candidate is the leading contestant and his imminent victory is only a matter of weeks.

    “We challenge the governor to publish the recent survey he commissioned and which he read to some leaders in his house last week, wherein it was revealed that his preferred governorship candidate will not only lose the election, but also lose in the governor’s hitherto strongholds of Ifo, Ewekoro and Ado Odo Ota local governments.”

    “Our party and candidate will remain focused, maintain decorum and continue to sell out policies and programmes to the good and discerning people of Ogun State, even as we are sure of victory.

  • Buhari, Osoba, Dapo Abiodun meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed doors with former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Also at the meeting was the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Mr. Dapo Abiodun.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Osoba said that one of the reasons for his visit to the Villa was to present the APC candidate to the President.

    He said: “First of all, I want to wish the President a successful election. 2019 will by the grace of God be a defining year for the President.

    “Secondly, we have come to present our candidate in Ogun state; the candidate of the president; the candidate of APC.

    “And the President has raised his hand and told the world that his candidate in Ogun State is Prince Dapo Abiodun and that he has no other candidate. His party in Ogun State is APC. He has no other party in Nigeria other than APC.

    “He has assured us that he will personally come to Ogun State to formally present Prince Dapo Abiodun as his candidate, and he assured us that he is clearing the air of any ambiguity whatsoever, of any name dropping, any blackmail, any misinformation that anybody may be peddling; that in all elections throughout Nigeria, not just in Ogun State, people must vote for APC and no other party.

    “That is the message that the President gave to us this morning, and I also seized the opportunity to present my autobiography, which I am going to launch when the President gives me a date.

    “Because in this book, I reminded him of the letter he wrote to me on June 12, 1984 when he appointed me as the Managing Director of the Daily Times. He laughed and he was happy to see the memory and that he has always known me to be a man with an elephantine brain.

    “So I presented the book to him, and in the book, I showed the judgment in 2003 when he won the election in Ogun State even when he was not the president.

    “So we assured him that if he could defeat an incumbent president in 2003 in Ogun State… a judgment was given where they said the election in Ogun State was fraudulent and was nullified by the tribunal.

    “So I said if he could win in 2003 and defeated an incumbent president, he will win in 2019 by the grace of God.”

    On his part, Dapo Abiodun thanked President Buhari for clearing the air and re-affirming that he (Buhari) is the APC candidate for President and he (Abiodun) is the APC governorship candidate in Ogun State.

    He said: “Naturally, APC is his party and there is no other candidate in Ogun State except me.

    “I think that affirmation could not have come at a better time when there is a lot of ambiguity, when people have attempted falsehood and other kinds of misinformation.

    “So I am very elated, very reassured that the President has stood by the party and stood by me, and I believe that this matter will finally be put to rest and all those that are trying to gain by using the President’s picture on their posters, on their vehicles will finally begin to remove it, because it is actually illegal for you to be putting the presidential candidate of one party on the face of the poster of another party.

    “It is an attempt to confuse and misinform the public. I believe that after today, that will be put to rest and everybody will know that in Ogun State, the only party to vote for is APC from the presidential election, to gubernatorial, to senatorial to House of Reps and the House of Assembly.”

  • Buhari, Osoba, Ogun APC Gov candidate meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Also at the meeting was the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Osoba said that one of the purpose of his visit to the Villa was to present the APC candidate to the President.

    He said “First of all I want to wish the President a successful election and 2019 will be a defining year by the grace of God for the president who has always won all the elections which the former Ambassador said sometimes ago.

    “Secondly, we have come to present our candidate in Ogun state; the candidate of the president; the candidate of APC and the president has raised his hand and told the world that his candidate in Ogun state is Prince Dapo Abiodun and that he has no other candidate, his party in Ogun state is APC, he has no other party in Nigeria other than APC.

    “He has assured us that he will personally come to Ogun state to formally present Prince Dapo Abiodun as his candidate and he assured us that  is clearing the air of any ambiguity whatsoever of any name dropping, any blackmail, any misinformation that anybody may be peddling, that all elections throughout Nigeria, not just in Ogun state people must vote for APC and no other party.

    “That is the message that the president gave to us this morning and I also seized the opportunity to present my autobiography which I am going to launch when the president gives me a date because in this book, I reminded him of the letter wrote to me on June 12, 1984 when he appointed me as the Managing Director of the Daily Times, he laughed and he was happy to see the memory and that he always know me to be a man with an elephantine brain.

    Read Also: ‘Buhari’s campaign will be successful in Akwa Ibom’

    “So I presented the book to him and in the book I showed the judgment in 2003 when he won the election in Ogun state even when he was not the president.

    “So we assured him that if he can defeat an incumbent president in 2003 in Ogun state, a judgment was given where they said the election in Ogun state was fraudulent and was nullified by the tribunal.

    “So I said if he can win in 2003 and defeat an incumbent president, he will win in 2019 by the grace of God.” he said

    On his part, Dapo Abiodun, thanked President Buhari for clearing the air and re-affirming that he is the APC candidate for President and himself (Prince Dapo Abiodun) is his APC gubernatorial candidate for Ogun State.

    He said “Naturally, APC is his party and there is no any other candidate in Ogun state except me. I think that affirmation could not have come at a better time when there is a lot of ambiguity, when people have attempted falsehood and other kinds if misinformation.

    “So I am very elated, very reassured that the president has stood by the party and stood by me and I believe that this matter will finally be put to rest and all those that are trying yo gain by using the president’s picture on their posters, on their vehicles will finally begin to remove it because it is actually illegal for you to be putting the presidential candidate of another party on the face of the poster of another party.

    “It is an attempt to confuse a d misinforms the public. I believe that after today, that will be put to rest a d everybody will know that in Ogun state, the only party to vote for is APC from the presidential election, to gubernatorial, to senatorial to House of Reps and the House of Assembly.” he said

  • ‘I once prostrated for Amosun, begged him over Yewa agenda’

    Ogun State governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Prince Dapo Abiodun has said he was never aversed to the struggle of Ogun West to produce the governor for the State.

    Abiodun revealed that he was committed to the Ogun West cause to the extent that he did not only beg Amosun, but also prostrated for him to allow Senator Solomon Adeola be the governorship candidate of the party due to his wide acceptance and popularity.

    Senator Adeola, from Pahayi, Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government but representing Lagos West at the National Assembly, had taken Ogun State by whirlwind with his gubernatorial ambition but beat a retreat early this year when it was obvious that the support of the governor was not forthcoming.

    Amosun had repeatedly vowed at the time that he would not hand over to ‘tekobo’ or stranger making a veiled allusion to the effect that
    Adeola popularly called Yayi is a non-indigene of the state and therefore not qualified to rule the state.

    However, while addressing Yewa Traditional Council of Obas led by the Paramount ruler of Yewa land, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle at Ilaro on Wednesday evening, Abiodun considered his emergence as the ruling party governorship candidate as the will of God.

    He said: “Let nobody thinks that we are not sensitive to the long time yearnings of Ogun West to also produce governor for the state. As a very strong believer in this cause, I personally took your son, Sen. Adeola to Gov. Amosun, begged and prostrated for him to support his governorship ambition but he refused. That I am the governorship candidate of APC today in our dear State remains a testimony of God’s awesomeness and that He is the only one who has the power to enthrone.”

    He pledged not to be an accidental governor who would do things on happenstances.

    The APC governorship candidate disclosed that as a successful private sector player he already has the blueprint for the development of the state vowing to accord the traditional institutions their due respect and honour while pursuing development of every part of the state.

    The billionaire oil merchant explained that his government would embark on massive rural roads construction, qualitative, affordable education and healthcare, jobs and wealth creation for the youth through conscious investment in agriculture, complete some of the ongoing projects in the state among others asking the royal fathers to give him their royal blessings for the gargantuan tasks ahead.

    Read Also: 2019 Budget presentation: kogi governor, Bello attacks lawmakers

    Responding, Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewa land, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle described Prince Dapo Abiodun as someone who feared God and this he said could be seen from his comportment and speech.

    Oba Olugbenle added that it was God who indeed enthrones and that whatever God has ordained cannot be upturned by ten Paramount rulers. The royal father before giving his blessings on behalf of other traditional rulers from Yewa land however urged Prince Dapo Abiodun to stay true to his promise to be fair to all in distribution of projects when he got to office.

    Dignitaries on the entourage of the governorship candidate included the deputy governor designate, Engr. Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Engr Ayo Olubori, former Commissioner for environment, Chief Bode Mustapha, Mr Olu Agemo, Prince Segun Adsegun, former deputy governor and Director-General, Dapo Abiodun Campaign Organisation, Hon Isiaq Akinlade, ChiefTolu Odebiyi, Sen. Gbenga Obadara, Chief Femi Majekodunmi, Hon Biyi Otegbeye, Chief Mufutau Ajibola, former SUBEB Chairman among others.

  • ‘We’ll strengthen LGAs to perform assigned constitutional roles’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has assured that his administration would strengthen the Local Government system in the state, to enable them perform effectively, their constitutionally assigned responsibilities.

    Abiodun also pledged to improve on the prevailing religious harmony, saying if given the mandate to govern in 2019, there shall be a special office on religious affairs to strengthen the inter – faith harmony in the state.

    The APC flag bearer gave the assurances while speaking with reporters, shortly after his meeting with the Muslim leaders in Egbaland at the Kobiti central mosque, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Friday evening.

    The indigenous entrepreneur and real estate player and his running mate, Engr.(Mrs) Noimot  Salako -Oyedele, were in Kobiti to seek the blessings of the Imams in Egbaland and solicit their support ahead of the formal flag – off the governorship campaigns round the state.

    Abiodun who also used the visit to market his policies, listed rural development , good governance, women empowerment, educational development, improved health sector, facilitation of constant power supply, increasing the Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) and infrastructural development among others, as issues his administration would implement when sworn-in.

    Read Also: APC UK backs Dapo Abiodun

    Abiodun said: “We visited Kobiti Central mosque to get the blessings of the Muslim community. The same we have seen in CAN. So that they can pray for us before we embark on going around to campaign.

    “We also solicited their support because they are religious leaders. We thanked them for the peace we have been enjoying in Ogun State because if there is no harmony in both the Islamic and Christian religions, there may be crisis. I also shared with them part of my vision for Ogun State.

    “Like I said earlier on, we will ensure that we keep them very close to our chest by appointing a Special Adviser on Religious Affairs and having Special Assistant for both the Islamic and Christian religions.

    “So,  we have someone who is constantly bringing their issues to the fore so that they are not lost in the sewer of things.

    “I have assured them that we will only be building on what Governor Ibikunle Amosun has done. It will not be any less. If they have enjoyed peace and harmony, we will improve on that.

    “I don’t know about moribund. We will strengthen the local government administration. We will ensure that they are empowered to do that which they are constitutionally assigned to do.

    “And going forward, we will see a more virile local government administration but that doesn’t mean they are moribund.”

     

     

  • 2019: Obas shower royal blessings on Abiodun

    Front line governorship candidate in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has received the blessings of the royal institutions in Remoland led by the Paramount ruler and Akarigbo of Remo Land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, to courageously pursue his gubernatorial ambition to a successful end.

    This occurred when Abiodun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flag bearer, consulted them in Sagamu, Ogun State, on his desire and candidature to become the governor of the State in 2019.

    Abiodun who reeled out his manifestos during the consultation, highlighted the policies and plans, including free education up to the junior school, provision of standard health care, provision of industrial parks, increase in Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) and even distribution of infrastructures that would be implemented when he becomes the governor of the State.

    Read Also: 2019 poll: Knocks, kudos for Obasanjo

    The Remo royal fathers including the Ewusi of Makun Sagamu, Oba Timothy Akinsanya, Oludotun of Idotun Ikenne, the Odunayo Solarin  and Onirolu of Irolu – all spoke on behalf of other Obas and blessed the candidate of APC to show support for his ambition and as one competent to govern the state.

    Also, the Akarigbo, Oba Ajayi,  prayed for Abiodun’s success in his aspiration to govern the state, advising him to ensure he fulfills the policies he highlighted when the candidate gets the people’s mandate.

    Later, the Oil magnate and real estate operator and his campaign team also paid a consultation visit to the Palace of Alake of Egba Land, Ake, Abeokuta and received  royal blessings ahead of the official flag off of his  governorship campaign towards the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

    The APC gubernatorial candidate reiterated there that his administration would build on the success of the Governor  Ibikunle Amosun and ensure  that he puts the good people of Ogun first.

    While pleading for support for himself and his Deputy from the Paramount ruler, Dapo also used the medium to solicit support for President Muhammed Buhari for his second term ambition tagged Next level for Nigeria

    While reading his blueprint to the council of Obas, Abiodun said within one year of his administration, he will ensure increase in the IGR of the state, rural development , good governance, women empowerment, educational development, improved health sector, facilitate the availability of constant power supply and infrastructural development among others.

  • APC UK backs Dapo Abiodun

    The United Kingdom chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has declared its support for the governorship candidate of the party in Ogun State, Prince Adedapo Abiodun, saying they would queue behind him with “full support during the campaign and in the days ahead.” The chapter said it has elected to align itself with the position and decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) which affirmed Abiodun’s candidature in line with party supremacy.

    This followed a meeting of the members in London on Friday, details of which were made available to The Nation. The meeting was attended by the APC National Secretary UK, Mr. Francis Akpan;  Prince Dele Tinuosho, Sunday O. Oyesanya, APC Ogun State Chapter UK Secretary, Mr Andrew Taiwo  and the APC Chairman, Ogun State Chapter UK- Mr Dapo Oduwole.

  • Ogun 2019: We’ll reconcile with Amosun, others, says Dapo Abiodun

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, on Friday, met with party leaders from across the state, assuring that aggrieved members, including Governor Ibikunle Amosun, would be appeased.

    Abiodun said the party primaries have come and gone, but added that the important things today are reconciliation of all members because of the crisis arising from the primaries and forge a “common front” as team to deal with the electoral contest ahead.

    The oil magnate who spoke with reporters at the residence of former governor, Segun Osoba, in Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, the state capital, shortly after the political meeting there, described Amosun as his “long time friend.”

    Abiodun noted that the fact that there was a disagreement between them over the primaries, does not negate both still being members of APC.

    He added that the disagreement is a “party family issue” that would be resolved, assuring that the Ogun State APC would enter 2019 electoral contest “strong and united.”

    He disclosed that his running mate would come from Ogun West Senatorial district, and pledged to improve the welfare of civil servants, particularly teachers in the state.

    He also pledged to embark on aggressive agricultural drive to enhance food supply and create jobs for the state’s teeming youth.

    Abiodun promised to improve the state’s current Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by harnessing all her potentials if elected into power in 2019.

  • 2019 governorship: Amosun, Okorocha lose out as APC insists on Dapo Abiodun, Uzodinma

    NATIONAL Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, declared yesterday that Senator Hope Uzodinma and Prince Dapo Abiodun remain the party’s governorship candidates for Imo and Ogun States respectively, despite protestations from the governors of the two states. Oshiomhole said he would not be a party to alleged effort by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to create a political dynasty in the state. He said Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State would also not be allowed to keep running the affairs of the party in his state like an emperor. The party chair spoke to reporters in Abuja ahead of last night’s deadline for the parties to submit the names of their governorship and state assembly candidates for next year’s elections.

    Oshiomhole said the party was in the process of conducting fresh primaries in Rivers State after the Supreme Court invalidated the last congresses in the state that produced candidates for the elections. Taking the states one after the other, he said while the party’s constitution allows only the National Working Committee to conduct primaries, Amosun resorted to selfhelp by organising primaries where the secretary to his government was the chief returning officer. His words: “The Ogun State governor decided in his wisdom to conduct his own self help. I mean resorting to what you can call self-help by conducting what he called his own primary. “The Secretary to Ogun State Government became the Chief Returning Officer and I and other NWC members were watching the television and we saw the Secretary to Ogun State Government proclaiming himself as the returning officer, and purported to have conducted the primary.”

    Amosun, he also claimed, at a point decided to introduce consensus and went ahead to announce the names of those he said were the consensus candidates of the party. The governor’s action, he said, was rejected by other stakeholders in the state, after which the governor settled for direct primary. Oshiomhole said that when the electoral committee sent to the state to conduct the primary got there, Amosun and his preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, refused to participate in the exercise. Dapo Abiodun went on to win the primary, he said. Oshiomhole said Amosun thereafter began to pile pressure on the party’s hierarchy to get the party to accept Akinlade, including mobilising some traditional rulers in the state to visit the President on the matter.

    He vowed that no amount of blackmail would make him or members of the National Working Committee change what had been done in accordance with the laws of the party and in accordance with the provisions of the electoral act unless a court of competent jurisdiction rules otherwise. He said: “As we speak, we have submitted Amosun’s name to INEC as our senatorial candidate (for Ogun Central). “If we had anything against him, we would have found a way to disqualify him. The fact that we submitted his name means we don’t have anything against him. The issue is that he did not have his way. “He announced somebody as the consensus governor. He proceeded to announce another man as deputy governor. “He went on to proclaim himself as the next senator, and he said the current senator, Tejuoso, should step aside. “He also went on to announce that the second senator, also from Ogun State, will step aside while another man will come in. “Governor Amosun went on to announce another man who will be the next speaker, and another one as the next deputy speaker.

    “He also singlehandedly picked eight House of Representatives members. Seven will not return, according to him; only one will return. All these he claimed as consensus.” On Imo State, Oshiomhole said the APC reviewed the report of the panel sent to the state, headed by Ahmed Gulak, and discovered that it substantially met with the guidelines set by the party and decided to uphold the report and adopt the senator as its candidate. Responding to a reporter’s question, the APC chair said: “The governor of Imo State said I should obey the order of the court and the law. I accept that advice wholeheartedly. “Yesterday (Thursday), I received documents from the High Court of Justice in Owerri where Governor Rochas heads the executive arm of government. The Chief Judge of the state ordered that I should not tamper with anything that has been done legally to throw up Uzodinma as the candidate of the party.

    “The sitting Deputy Governor is the one who obtained that order. So, in accordance with the advice of Governor Rochas, I will respect that order of court.” Oshiomhole vowed that he would not be a party to helping the governor to build a political dynasty for himself where he would be a senatorial candidate of the party while his son-in-law would become the governorship candidate. He said Governor Okorocha is already a beneficiary of the party’s belief in doing things in accordance with the principles of fairness and justice. He said: “He completely lost out in the congress that was conducted by my predecessors, and when we came in, he cried foul and we took another look at the process and decided to cancel it, and we conducted another congress that now put a smile on his face.”

    On Zamfara State where INEC said the party did not conduct primaries and will not be allowed to field candidadtes, Oshiomhole said the party is already in court to challenge the INEC position. His words: “We respect the sanctity of INEC and we expect them to remain impartial and not deny the people of Zamfara the opportunity to choose who should be their governor.” He said it would be undemocratic for the electoral management body to deny the party its right in the state. Oshiomhole expressed confidence that justice will prevail and the party will be allowed to present candidates in the state. The APC chair said the party will soon conduct fresh primaries in Rivers to pick its candidates for all elections after the previous list sent to INEC was invalidated by the Supreme Court. He apologised to the judicial arm of government for the invasion of the court by hired thugs in Rivers. He also expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will emerge winner of the 2019 election, boasting that “Buhari will defeat Atiku in his home town.”