It appears like the ongoing pissing contest between the incumbent governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, over the deplorable state of roads in the state has spiraled to their support base as it was gathered that the Nigerian Police has invited one of Amosun’s aides for allegedly physically assaulting a journalist over the issue.
According to Timothy Odedina, the publisher of a news platform, Newsacross, who spoke exclusively to Freelanews, trouble started from social media on Odeda Gbayi WhatsApp group, a non-partisan platform for indigents and stakeholders of the Odeda Local Government Area in Ogun state, when an argument ensued between Amosun’s aide, Olasheu Adebayo, who was Amosun’s former IGR Consultant and him (Odedina) over the state of roads in the state.
The details of the exchange and its escalation were captured in the screenshots below.
The argument escalated beyond the social to physical assault when one Bongo (Bello Rasheed), who allegedly works for Olasheu Adebayo, led some boys to physically assault the publisher.
As at the time of publishing this report, it was gathered that Bongo had been detained at a police station in Obantoko cooling his heels while Odedina is receiving treatment for his injuries.
The unfortunate incident has led political pundits to question why it was not Amosun and Abiodun at the receiving end of the bashing as they were both primarily responsible for the deplorable states of the roads in Ogun state.
They stated that while Amosun, during his 8years in government constructed several less durable road networks in the state, Abiodun has spent time trying to repair these roads to make them fit for use.
Pundits also expressed concern whether the governor’s efforts to revamp the economy and social infrastructure since he took over from his immediate past predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun are strong enough to secure his stay in government beyond four years.
“It’s sheer stupidity for those fighting to defend these politicians, who may not even know or care about them,” a political analyst opined.
Recently, Amosun was seen inspecting the damages caused by flood in Abeokuta, the state capital, which included roads, bridges and Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library fence, among others. This act was believed to be a form of clout chasing or an attempt to rub it in for not voting his ‘anointed candidate’ during the last election that brought in Abiodun administration.
After his predecessor’s visit, it took Dapo Abiodun almost 24hrs later to carry out his own inspections.
But while the former governor was silent on the reasons for the visit, Abiodun didn’t leave the scenes without promising ‘that his administration would carry out proper channelisation in flood prone areas to put an end to perennial flooding in Abeokuta, the state capital’.
Not only that, the governor also promised to pay those who lost properties to the flood.
“I want to assure you that we will repair the damaged roads, expand the gutters and bridges so that when such rains fall, the gutters and the bridges would be able to accommodate the large volume of water. With this, the problem of erosion would be a thing of the past”, he promised.
Although, Abiodun during this year’s Workers’ Day Celebration agreed that his government’s effectiveness has been below par. He, however, blamed it on the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic that has tested the administration’s effectiveness just like it did to all governments across the globe in the last five months.
He said, “As an administration, we have been focused, deliberate, methodical, driven by an unwavering commitment to serve and one that enjoys tremendous goodwill of our people, we confronted the pandemic headlong. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges we have had to confront, we have been able to record notable achievements in all sectors of our dear state in the last one year of our Administration in office.”
While politicians are known for making promises but not interested in keeping them, it is hoped that Abiodun’s administration will change that narrative as the hard working people of Ogun State deserve better for putting so much trust in him.
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