3rd November, 2022
The Ogun chapter of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogun chapter has said the administration of the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun is fast descending into an autocratic regime “where opposition parties are being intimated, harassed and denied freedom of assembly”.
Stakeholders of APC made the accusation while expressing their displeasure over refusal of Council of Obas in Yewa-Awori land of the state led by Oba Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege to host the party’s governorship candidate, Barr Biyi Otegbeye.
The cancelled meeting was initially slated for Thursday.
But speaking to journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital, stakeholders through a former Senator who represented Ogun West at the National Assembly Senator, Iyabode Anisulowo said ADC had scheduled a meeting with the monarch to pay homage to him and also intimate him with their programmes of the party.
But the meeting was later cancelled without the monarch giving any “justifiable reason”.
However, Anisulowo, who was flanked by the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Muyiwa Oladipupo and other leaders of the party blamed Gov. Abiodun for the development.
“The intimidation by the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, that led to the sudden cancellation of the planned visit of Barrister Biyi Otegbeye, the Gubernatorial Candidate of ADC to the Council of Awori Obas which was scheduled for today, is shameful.
“It is sad that our revered traditional institution which is the custodian of our culture and values is being trampled upon by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“This harassment by Abiodun and his failed party (APC) is a sacrilege and a total desecration of the traditional institution.
“It is even worse that he decided to wield such draconian powers on Ogun West by preventing Yewa-Awori monarchs from receiving their own son on their land. As we speak, the same man is currently meeting with Obas in Ijebu-Ode just as he has been doing throughout the state. This is pathologically hypocritical and a double standard”, Anisulowo said.
She vowed that the party would resist any attempt by the governor to kill opposition parties in the state.
In reaction to the accusation,the commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alh Waheed Odusile denied the allegation, describing as total falsehood.
“That cannot be true, it is not true. We don’t tell Obas what to do, that is definitely not true, Odusile said