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Gov. DAPO ABIODUN Gives Shocking Details
For those who followed closely the Ogun State governorship election in 2019, which had as the leading contenders Prince Dapo Abiodun of the APC and Adekunle Akinlade of the Amosun backed APM, the role and position of the Awujale, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona, the Paramount ruler of Ijebu land, was very clear- he was solidly behind Prince Dapo Abiodun, the current governor of Ogun State. Despite that he is the father to all the aspirants at the time, he still did not hide the fact that, in as much as he has to support all of them and not be seen to be throwing his weight behind one and ignoring the others, Prince Dapo Abiodun was his anointed one. And what many did not realise at the time was that Prince Dapo Abiodun and the Awujale have always been very close. They share a relationship that transcends politics.
At the recent week long celebration of the Awujale’s 90th birthday and 64 years on the throne of his forefathers,the governor revealed a lot about the closeness between him and the Awujale. Many did not know how close they were before now. The relationship between Prince Dapo abiodun and the Awujale is a special one. They share a special bond together. It is indeed a relationship that dates back to years before Prince Dapo Abiodun emerged governor of Ogun State. According to the governor, he calls the Awujale, “My father.’ Every opportunity he gets, he lets anyone who cares to listen know that the Awujale is not just his king, but a man he holds in very high esteem and whom he shares a special relationship with. At the commissioning of the Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance, Prince Dapo Abiodun seized the opportunity to extol the virtues of the Awujale and share with everyone the bond he shares with his royal father, the Awujale, Paramount ruler of Ijebu land.
During the 2019 Ogun State governorship election, the Awujale had openly supported Prince Abiodun. He did not make any secret of where his heart and support laid. Oba Adetona had declared openly his support when he told a gathering that Prince Dapo Abiodun, the APC flagbearer had the wherewithal to administer the state having been a success story in his calling, urging all Ijebu sons and daughters to cast their votes for the party.
The revered monarch said the election was payback time for Abiodun who had contributed immensely to the development of Ijebuland at different times.
When Prince Dapo Abiodun’s campaign team visited Awujale, Oba Adetona used the opportunity to express to Abiodun some of the immediate unfrastructural needs of the people. He told the APC candidate to place priority on the reconstruction of roads linking Ogun to Lagos and Oyo States and equally rural roads for economic advancement.
The traditional ruler also advised him not to take the people of the state for granted when he becomes the number one citizen of the state, by fulfilling his electoral promises.
He also told him not to make his deputy a “spare tyre” by making her redundant, which according to him is peculiar to some governors in the country.
“When you informed me about your desire to contest for the office of the governor, I was a bit sceptical. I wondered why you wanted to leave your businesses for governance, but in the long run, I believed that God has answered your prayers. You will never be put to shame. God will back your administration and you will succeed.
“This is payback time for somebody that has been doing well. We must all support him by casting your votes for him. The Ijebus must not be put to shame in this course. Dapo Abiodun, this is payback time for you for all your good deeds. We will support you with prayers to ensure your victory at the polls,” he added. He showered prayers on Abiodun and equally solicited for the support of members of the Ijebu Traditional Council on his victory.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the Awujale’s support that Prince Dapo Abiodun enjoyed during the elections played a huge role in his eventual victory and emergence as the current Executive Governor of Ogun state. With the Awujale throwing his full weight behind him, Abiodun got the support and votes needed from all the Ijebu towns. And till today, Governor Dapo Abiodun never takes Awujale’s support and love for him for granted. He tells anyone that cares to listen how much the Awujale supported him when he was contesting to be Governor of Ogun State. He says the Paramount ruler has been pivotal in his journey to government house.
At the commissioning of the Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona School of Governance, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, last week, Governor Abiodun once again extolled the virtues of the Awujale and expressed his gratitude for the significant role the monarch played in his journey to the Ogun State government house. He revealed:
“In church last Sunday and today, we have heard several testimonies from both the Bishop, the VC and others about Baba’s benevolence. I am privileged to call Baba my father. When I was recovering in the UK following an accident, like I said in church last Sunday, Baba would come and sit with me by my bed side to encourage me. And I remain eternally indebted to Baba for the open and staunch support for me in the course of my journey to government house. Kabiyesi, once again, I thank you. I also thank you, Kabiyesi, for your unwavering support for me and my administration. As a token of my appreciation, as soon as I resumed office, I immediately embarked on the reconstruction of the Ijebu Ode-Epe road., which I had promised him, knowing how much that road means to him. It was our first major road project. I also renamed the Tai Solarin College of Education after him. It’s now known as the Oba Sikiru Adetona College of Science and Technology.
On Kabiyesi’s prompting, I sent a bill to the Ogun State House of Assembly to review the Obas and traditional council Laws of Ogun State, which amongst others now allows our Kabiyesis to be buried as they wish. This bill was Kabiyesi’s initiative and desire for many years. This bill was signed into Law and we signed it at Awujale’s palace. I have made a commitment that our Permanent Secretaries in Ogun State will be the first set of students that will come here to benefit from Kabiyesi’s School of Governance. I have also further made a case to Mr. President for this institute to become an affiliate of the Institute of Public Service.”
If truth be told, when the success story of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s remarkable eight years in office is being told, Awujale’s invaluable contributions to his electoral victory and unprecedented performance will be written in gold. His unwavering support for the Dapo Abiodun led government and undeniable confidence in his leadership style is one that the governor will always hold very dear to his heart for the rest of his days….
-WALE LAWAL
(08037209290)
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