Razaq Bamidele
Abiodun, governor of Ogun State deserves a second term, says residents of the state who said he has performed above par. As the 2023 general election moves closer, residents of Ogun State, in the western axis of Nigeria are canvassing support for the incumbent governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun for a second term in office, premising their support on his good work in the state in the last two and a half years in office.
The residents, who cut across the three Senatorial Districts of the state -Ogun Central, West and East, have overwhelmingly aired their views on the satisfactory performances of the governor, arriving at the conclusion that he merits a second term in office. To them, no reasonable coach changes a winning team halfway into the game.
The greater percentage of respondents, who volunteered remarks during a vox pop conducted while the governor was on an inspection tour of projects across five local government areas Saturday, October 30, admitted that Governor Abiodun unarguably deserves a second term in office.
They attributed his people-oriented and people-centred projects, which they agreed have placed him above his predecessors, adding that the Gateway State, as Ogun is fondly referred to, deserves the services of “such a committed and hardworking public officers to further move the state forward to the Promised Land.”
Let us bring to our esteemed readers, some of the responses of the residents who volunteered to talk to our reporter:
A 46-year-old trader from Ibara, Abeokuta, the capital city of the state Ogbeni Tajudeen Alabi set the ball of discussion rolling when asserted Governor Dapo Abiodun has brought governance nearer to the people.
He has vindicated us that, we never made a mistake in giving him our mandate in 2019 to be our governor as he has proved to be a round peg in a round hole, he declared adding, “for me, Governor Abiodun has done well and he has scored over 90% in my assessment of him.”
Speaking in the same vein another 37-year-old businesswoman, Mrs. Iyabode Ajayi from Kobape, also praised the Governor on his healthcare programmes, rural development, youth empowerment and women recognition among other schemes of people’s interest.
According to her, she has made up her mind to definitely support the Governor for a second term, just as she urged him not to relent on the progressive programmes that have endeared him to the hearts of the good people of Ogun State.
However, a teacher from Oke Ijeun saw no big deal in Abiodun performing reminding him that he was voted for to perform. He is of the strong conviction that there is no need to wait time and energy in commenting on somebody performing his statutory duties to the people that voted for him to do just that, saying it would have been another ball entirely if he has failed to perform!
Mr. John Emeka, is another trader from Ake axis of the capital city who said Abiodun is doing well and the people would want him to be in office till 2027.
His words: “I am particular about his technology hub across the state and the way he has reached out to farmers and his efforts on road construction. I want to urge our people to support him for a second term in office because he has performed beyond expectations.”
A civil servant, Olanrewaju Tijani in Oke Ilewo said the people of Abeokuta want more of the Governor, saying that nobody does it better 100%.
Though Tijani went short of comparing Abiodun with past governors, he, however, stressed the need to give the governor a second term in office to allow him to complete the numerous laudable projects he has started and that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has proven to be a party of the people through Governor Abiodun.
Adeleke Ibiyemi, another 28-year-old resident of Isabo in the capital city, who works as a contractor, said that he would not want to say much, but that “time will tell if the people want more of the Governor from 2023 or not.”
On her part, however, a 28-year-old housewife, Mrs. Ronke Adewale, from Itoku, who said that it might be hard to measure performance, emphasised that Governor Abiodun has shown that despite the meagre resources available in the state, one could still do his best to the admiration of the people.
Another Adewale from Onikolobo, said she was born and brought up in the state, and that the transformation agenda of the current Governor is a testimony that, “we still have committed politicians in Nigeria.”
This stand was echoed by a 60-year-old cleric, Mr. Steve Ikechukwu, a resident of Ijaiye, Abeokuta, who urged the people of the state to allow Governor Dapo Abiodun go for a second term saying, “this is the kind of person we need to steer the ship of our dear state to the Promise Land.
A Borno State-born Malam Adamu Mohammed, who lives in Itaoshin, explained that Governor Dapo Abiodun is a good man, who is passionate about development.
“I am from the North, but I can tell you that I have been in Ogun State for 20 years and if I should compare, this man has done better than others no matter what anybody says,” he said.
Respondents from Ogun East senatorial district, who reacted to the Governor’s level of performances also agreed that he has performed better than his predecessors.
Mr. Oladipupo Onanuga 57, a businessman from the Odogbolu area of the state, said Governor Dapo Abiodun has touched every area of the state within a short period.
“We in Ijebu area of Ogun State can attest to his performances. We have had several governors, who did not remember us. But we can feel Governor Abiodun through his people-oriented programmes in agriculture, healthcare, technology, sports development, road construction amongst others,” he said.
While Mr. Kunle Owode, a 35-year-old resident of Ijebu Igbo area and a company worker, said that he had no comment, but 67 years old Mr. Adewale Osinubi, a legal practitioner, who resides in Ijebu Ode said that the Governor has done well given the available resources in the state.
“You can see the way he handled the outbreak of COVID-19 and how #EndSARS protest was prevented in the state. We want our Govenor once again. He is the best man for the job,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, a 54-year-old carpenter, Mr. Dele Ariyo from Ijebu Isiwo said he would want the people of Ogun State to give the Governor another chance of four years.
Ariyo asserted that Governor Dapo Abiodun has brought his experience in the private sector to bear and that he would expect that he should enjoy massive support from the people to show that they appreciate his good gestures.
In his own comment, Mr. Solomon Idimogu from Imo State, who lives in Shagamu said Governor Abiodun’s second term is secured, adding that the people of the state value his “good works.”
Idimogu, a trader, commended the Governor on his efforts over the tech hub across the state, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, development of the education sector, healthcare amongst others.
“This man is trying. We appreciate his good work. What else do we want if we say he has not done well. We all know that the resources of the state are limited and he has managed the little that is available well and we can all see what he has done so far,” he submitted.
A commercial bus driver, Mr. Kehinde Ajisegbede, said he would want Governor Dapo Abiodun to be given a second term ticket and mandate without any stress because he has proven to be selfless and people-oriented.
Ajisegbede stated that there are proofs everywhere to show that the Governor has a good team as commissioners with brilliant ideas and special advisers that are capable, enthusing that, “the man would not disappoint if given another chance.”
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Also commenting, a Medical practitioner, Dr. Rasheed Bolajoko, 55, from Isiwo, also wants the Governor to be given another term, saying that his works are everywhere for everybody to see and promised to be part of those that will campaign for the Governor’s second term in office.
In his response, Mr. Alamu Omolaja, a 37-year-old artisan, said that Ogun State has come a long way and that history would be on the side of Prince Abiodun as a man who ensured massive development of all the areas of the state.
“It is only dishonest people and those who play politics of bitterness that would not support this kind of man who has done well for our state for a second.
“See the way he handled the issue of farmers/herders clash and other issues in the state. See his tech hubs, healthcare programmes, education programmes, youth empowerment, sports development, and others. There is no doubt that he deserves a second term of office,” he said.
From the overwhelming supports expressed by the Ogun State resident across board, the second term of Prince Dapo Abiodun appears stamped and the parcel delivered.
