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Tag: Governor Dapo Abiodun

  • 2023: APC Stakeholders Awaiting Buhari’s Guidance on Zoning – Gov Abiodun

    2023: APC Stakeholders Awaiting Buhari’s Guidance on Zoning – Gov Abiodun

    Ahead of the APC National convention in February and General Elections in 2023, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun is confident that the President Muhammadu Buhari will give necessary guidance to ensure that equity and justice is reflected within the party’s zoning formula.

    The Governor expressed this view after a visit to the President at the State House in Abuja on Friday.

    He was accompanied by a broad delegation including former governor of the state, Olusegun Osoba; Chairman of the Council of Obas, Oba Babatunde Ajayi; former deputy governor, Alhaja Salimot Badru and a foremost industrialist, Chief Sulaiman Adegunwa.

    In a chat with state house correspondents, Governor Abiodun who thanked the president for his recent visit to the state (where a number of projects were commissioned), equally spoke on the issue of zoning.

    He noted that the party is working on a formula, which according to him will be made known after an approval by the National Executive Council.

    According to him, it is after the NEC approval that “we’ll know where the president will come from.”

    “I will be hesitant to delve into the details of this question because, one, I’m not in any position or capacity to advise the party. I am a governor, I am a member of the party and I will continue to be guided by the party leadership and in line with party discipline.

    “We have a President in place, we are the party that’s in government, our President is the leader of the party. I believe that His Excellency, Mr. President, will continue to offer us the guidance that’s required and will do that which we need to do under his leadership.

    “I am not sure that I am capable, or have the capacity to begin to advise the party when I am just a member of the party and a governor, and the party has a leader who is the President.

    “We are aware that the party is working on zoning and when that is formalized and ratified by NEC, then it will be made public so we’ll know where the chairman of the party will come from, we’ll know where the President will come from and things will evolve in their own time,” the Governor stated.

  • I’ve never spent Ogun local govt funds – Gov Dapo Abiodun

    I’ve never spent Ogun local govt funds – Gov Dapo Abiodun

    Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State says he has never spent funds belonging to the 20 local government councils in the State.

    Instead, Gov Abiodun reechoed that his administration had been supporting the local governments with funds to allow them meet their expenses.

    Abiodun said the clarification became necessary to dispel the rumour in some quarters that his administration was tampering with funds allocated to the councils by the Federal Government, monthly.

    The Governor spoke while meeting with the 20 local government Chairmen, at his Oke-Mosan office in Abeokuta, on Thursday.

    According to him, his administration had been making up for the shortfalls from the federal allocation to the councils in order to allow them pay staff salaries, pensions and to execute developmental projects.

    While saying he would keep to his promise, the Governor assured that the new council Chairmen would be given free hands to run the affairs of their respective local governments, saying they are the closest to the masses.

    “I will keep to my campaign promises and allow local governments free hand to run their affairs. If they are empowered, they can complement us as they are the closest to the people and can identify their problems and needs,” he stated.

    As the tier of government that can feel the pulse of the people better than the State government, the Governor assured of his administration’s support for them to fulfill constitutional obligations, adding that they would be relied on to achieve his objectives.

    “You are not just a salary paying institution, your are a tier of government and a partner in progress. We will empower you to function to the fullest,” the Governor stressed.

    He also charged them to stamp out kidnappers, cultists, robbers and other criminals from their areas to ensure a secure Ogun State.

    Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape, appealed to Gov Abiodun to give grants to the new council Chairmen, recalling that about 146 projects were executed by the last caretaker Chairmen.

  • SARS Ban: Gov Abiodun to prosecute those who vandalized public properties

    SARS Ban: Gov Abiodun to prosecute those who vandalized public properties

    Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has said those taking advantage of the protest against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to vandalise public properties will be brought to book.

    Gov Abiodun made this known in his message to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, on Sunday.

    The Governor, who shared photos of vehicles vandalised by the protesters on his social media handles, told the Police Commissioner that “no peaceful protester should be harmed or arrested.”

    However, he stated categorically that, “but in a situation where there is any form of unlawful protest leading to the vandalization of public properties, perpetrators of such dastardly act will be brought to book.”

    #EndSARS protesters, on Saturday, vandalised vehicles belonging to the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Naimot Salako-Oyedele, when she attended Owu traditional festival at Oke-Ago-Owu in Abeokuta.

    About 23 of the protesters were said to have been arrested by the police in Ogun.

    He noted that as a Government which promised to ensure the safety and security of its law-abiding citizens, its duty is to keep the people safe from harm.

    “It is essentially the civic right of all citizens to make known their grievances through peaceful protests and demonstrations that will foment no danger to the State and other persons.

    “When these individuals then exercise their rights, there should be no fear or arrest of harm from the Nigeria Police,” it was said.

    “In this line, this is to make it clear that all officers of the Nigeria Police, Ogun State be directed not to harm or arrest any citizen involved in the peaceful protests gaining traction over the Country.

    “Meanwhile, all persons already arrested should have undeterred access to legal representation that will ensure a fair review of their individual circumstances, as this State Government will not condone infringement on the rights of any citizen,” the statement added.