* As Abiodun assures workers, residents of more developmental projects
By Nudoiba Ojen
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said that his victory at the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the show of love for him by groups and individuals have propelled him to do more in the provision of developmental projects.
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ogun State, commended the tribunal over Saturday’s verdict, which upheld the election of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The three-man panel, in its judgment unanimously dismissed the three grounds canvassed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, for lack of merit and incompetence.
IPAC State Chairman, Engr. Samson Okusanya, described the statement credited to PDP, which discredited the verdict, as docile and out of crass ignorance from political merchants.
Okusanya said at a press conference in Abeokuta, the state capital, “We find their (PDP) arguments empty and blind, where they claimed they were perplexed by the Tribunal’s reliance on technicalities involving procedural issues and semantics of the interpretation of words over the substance and core realities of the case.
“Ladi Adebutu and his team of lawyers ought to have known that law and facts are not based on technicalities, but rather on fairness and objectivity of the legal process which stipulates that the petitioner ought to have front-loaded certain information in the petition,” IPAC stated.
Also, a civil society organization, Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance, lauded the Tribunal for its verdict on the governorship election in the state, as a victory for democracy and affirmation of the people’s choice.
The group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Waheed Sulaimon, in Abuja, described the judgement as explicit without any ambiguity, saying “it was a true reflection of what happened across Ogun State on March 18, 2023”.
The group noted that the tribunal delivered its verdict based on the facts and evidence presented before it, as well as the credibility of the electoral process.
The group, therefore, urged all parties involved to accept the decision of the tribunal and join hands with Governor Dapo Abiodun to work towards the development of the state.
It also called on all stakeholders in the Ogun State project to rally round the governor to make the Gateway State among the best in Nigeria in terms of economic prosperity, political stability and social cohesion.
These were as Governor Abiodun, restated his administration’s commitment to building upon the successes recorded in the last four years.
Abiodun, who spoke at a special programme organized by civil servants to welcome him after his tribunal victory, expressed gratitude to the Judiciary for the transparent judgement that affirmed his victory.
He said, “Yes, we worked very hard in the first four years of our tenure against all attempted distractions. We worked very hard on our re-election. We campaigned across the nooks and crannies of the state and we won that election fair and square”.
He called on all his adversaries to set aside their grudges against him and join his administration in moving the state forward.
Abiodun said, “In the area of infrastructure, we will continue to surpass every other state. In the area of education, we will ensure that Ogun State occupies its pride of place in the comity of states, not just in Nigeria, West Africa or Africa, but the entire world.
“In the area of youth development and job creation, we will remain relentless and will soon be announcing some of the packages that we have for our youths in the coming weeks,” the governor added.
The governor reiterated his commitment towards fulfilling the promises made to the people of the state, especially in the areas of infrastructural development, education, youth development and job creation.
He also emphasized his avowed resolve to make Ogun State the number one investment destination in the country, while maintaining a transparent and fair administration.
The Governor, also commended the state civil servants for their dedication and cooperation.
