Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, waving to supporters at the Gateway International Agro Cargo Airport, Iperu, on arrival from Abuja after Friday’s Supreme Court judgment.
By Nudoiba Ojen
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said on Friday that the Supreme Court has dashed all attempts to distract his administration from its development goals.
Abiodun, who said that his Supreme Court victory marked an end to court shopping by his political adversaries, said, “We hope our opponents who have been making a lot of noise about a re-run can prepare for a re-run in 2027”.
The governor spoke in a chat with journalists at the Gateway International Airport, Iperu-Remo, on his arrival from Abuja, saying, “Now, this victory marks an end to this court shopping for adversaries. And for us, it is the final victory in this journey that started in 2018.
“We will now keep our eyes further focused on the ball. All attempts to distract us have failed. We will now focus on sustaining our legacies, the foundation of which we laid since we assumed office in 2019 and in the coming weeks, you will see some of the goodies that we will be unveiling for the good people of the state,” he said.
Prince Abiodun expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for supporting his political journey, his team of lawyers, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, national and state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdulahi Umar Ganduje and Chief Yemi Sanusi for their support.
Governor Abiodun also praised the five-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro, the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court, saying, “We thank them because once again, they’ve demonstrated that they are the hope and the last one of the common man”.
Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, ascribed the victory to God Almighty, saying that while the governor placed his trust in God, the opposition put theirs in money.
House of Representatives member (Yewa North/Imeko-Afon), Hon. Gboyega Isiaka, said that with the victory, the developmental strides of Governor Abiodun is certain to continue till 2027.
APC State Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, praised the Supreme Court for ensuring that the people’s verdict was not taken away by money mongers.
Special Adviser, Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, who thanked God for the victory and the truth that was made known at the Supreme Court, added, “Money was put to shame, while those who placed their trust in God earned a well-deserved victory”.
This was as Ogun State APC applauded the Supreme Court judgment, saying it “served the course of justice and sounded the death knell on the vaunting and forlorn serial governorship ambition of the PDP candidate, Ladi Adebutu.”
APC, in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, quoted the party Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi congratulating Governor Dapo Abiodun and his deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele “on the landmark judgment by the apex court.”
It stated, “Now that the matter has been finally laid to rest, we urge our amiable Governor and his team to increase the tempo of their transformational governance in our dear Ogun State.
“And we again, for the umpteenth time, urge the losers to purge themselves of their illusions (if they ever will) and join hands with Governor Abiodun to take our dear state to greater heights. They should stop the politics of bitterness and offer constructive criticisms and ideas on how to make our state a better place for all,” the APC stated.
