Society Gists

Contrary to the reports being circulated by the loyalists of the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last election, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, has denied bribing a former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, in order to win the election.

Recall that the media space was recently awash with the claims that OGD, as the former governor is fondly called, betrayed his party, All Progressives Congress, by colluding with Adebutu to unseat Abiodun.

In a recent statement released by the PDP candidate, the politician accused the governor of looking for who to blame for his show of shame at the election instead of taking responsibility for it.

“Once again, I wish to thank the people of our great State for the massive support freely and overwhelmingly given to me and People Democratic Party (PDP) especially in Ogun East, where the seating Governor was flatly rejected in our homestead by our people.

“While the Governor is yet to recover from the Tsunami that hit him across Ogun State and looking for who to blame for his predicament, he has not realised that he doesn’t need a stargazer to know that his anti people and standoffish disposition, below par performance amongst others, are part of the reasons for his obvious failure at home and across Ogun State.

“This is a Governor who remained deliberately incommunicado to his people for three (3) years, and only woke up online at the last minute preceding the election period, using State resources to entice the people, while statutory responsibilities remain largely unattended to.

“Roads and infrastructure across the State remain in terrible shape and the very few he did were suspect, as they were awarded to cronies at exorbitant cost several times over QS estimates. This is a matter for another day.

“Albeit, Ogun State people are very sophisticated and can read between the lines. They have been able to discern the desperation to remain in office at all cost, ostensibly to cover up maladministration and financial recklessness in the last four years in the Governance of our dear State

“Instead of acknowledging the fact that his rejection for 2nd term by the electorate was borne out of his very poor and abysmal performance, the ingrate of a Governor is absurdly looking everywhere and for someone to blame for his failure to an extent of impertinently denigrating a former Governor- H.E. The Senator, Otunba Gbenga Daniel Fnse Faeng (OGD) who actively ensured his first term victory,” Adebutu revealed.

Adebutu categorically insisted that his family did not give fund to Otunba Daniel in order to influence the result of the election. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Adebutu family did not give any funds to the said former governor, who we believe is a very rich man in his own right. It is a fact not fiction that before he ventured into politics, he was reputed to be one of the richest in his generation.

To think a dime was given to such dignified personality, could only exist in the warped imagination of the perpetrators of the ugly rumour,” he clarified. The politician, who wondered at the display of ungratefulness by Abiodun, narrated how OGD was the latter’s benefactor.

“How callous and ungrateful can someone be to his benefactors. The same OGD for the sake of Remo-Land favoured him over me in 2019, by rallying his entire political forces behind him when it was obvious Kunle Akinlade, the APM Governorship Candidate was going to defeat him.

“Ditto my dad, Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu CFR, Odole Oodua of the Source, who willingly gave hundreds of millions naira in 2019 to both our political structures, because he regarded both of us as his sons from the same Iperu town.

“Furthermore, Odole continued to support his government with huge donation during COVID-19 pandemic and several other projects in the State. I am sure Mr Governor will not deny this. How has he acknowledged or appreciated these gestures?” he lashed out.

Adebutu also addressed other allegations leveled against him by the sitting governor, who is currently fighting his eligibility as governor at the election tribunal over the outcome of the last election, which included heating up the polity.

“To continue to portray me and PDP as overheating the polity because we seek through legitimate means to reclaim our mandate at the tribunal is deemed as cheap blackmail, unjust, immoral and utter insult to the people of Ogun State that have freely expressed their suffrage.

“The question we should all ask our consciences are many and chiefly;

A, is democracy viable without opposition parties?

B, would it be right to leave our state in the hands of the most corrupt Government in the history of Ogun State?

C, is it illegitimate to seek redress at the election Tribunal, when it is very obvious the election was wantonly rigged with reckless abandon?

D, would it be right to walk away and be “settled” at the expense of those that have been maimed, widowed and orphaned by Dapo Abiodun’s chicanery and desperation to hold on to power at all cost?

E, is it right that the power of government should be deployed for the purpose of harassment of opposition parties and their candidates to extinction. Is that the new norm for our Democracy?

“Good conscience says no. Hence, I must leave my comfort zone and pursue to a logical conclusion the noble and onerous cause of liberating Ogun State from the shackles of someone with the background of criminality and proclivity for stealing and looting,” he said.

Hon. Adebutu, therefore, appeal to his supporters and party faithfuls to remain resolute and hopeful, believing the tribunal would do the right thing.

“Against this resolve, I wish to appeal to all our supporters to remain resolute and composed, while awaiting the verdict of the tribunal, fully convinced of success, and given the overwhelming evidences already gathered against the charade, the real winner of the election shall soon be declared. In God we trust!” he concluded.