Dapo Abiodun Hasn’t Forgiven Me For Supporting Tinubu – Ex-Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel Says

 

Ex-governor of Ogun state and senator representing Ogun East senatorial district, Gbenga Daniel, said that the relationship between himself and incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun has not been amicable after he supported President Bola Tinubu’s bid for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the presidential election primaries in 2022 against the governor’s wish.

“For me, it is difficult not to support Asiwaju’s presidency because he is our overall boss. That is different from the position of my governor. But I understand where he was coming from, he was not really one of us at the beginning of the transition in 1998/1999. The contest did not go the way my governor wanted,” Mr Daniel said.

In an interview with This Day published on Sunday, Mr Daniel revealed that speculations on his relationship with Mr Abiodun stemmed from differences in which aspirant they supported for the presidential primary election.

He disclosed that Mr Abiodun did not initially support Mr Tinubu’s bid for APC’s nomination which despite efforts by the governor to conceal would be referred to as an audacious retaliation for derogatory comments Mr Tinubu made when he claimed credit for his emergence as governor.

Mr Tinubu had on June 2, 2022, visited the party’s stakeholders as part of his final push for support to win the APC’s nomination. During the event, he referred to Mr Abiodun, as “eleyi”, a term many described as derogatorily.

He also claimed that Mr Abiodun could not have been elected governor without his help. Mr Abiodun, visibly humiliated by the comments, later tweeted that he holds public office in trust and not as an emperor, a comment which was seen as a response to Mr Tinubu.

Mr Daniel added that Mr Abiodun’s win, which is currently being contested, was narrow because of the many administrative challenges that beset the state under his leadership.

“The people of Ogun state were also complaining. I am in position to know because I have my network across the state. I know a lot of people were not particularly excited about his election. Civil servants have the issue of unpaid allowances. Teachers too have their own issues with him. Pensioners have issues with the governor,” he added.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun Queries Civil Servants For Attending Tinubu Rally

 

The Dapo Abiodun-led government has handed down queries to some civil servants in Ogun State for attending a rally organised to promote candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) including Bola Tinubu.

In the letter, a local government staff member was accused of engaging in “a public political rally for a candidate aspiring for a political position in Sagamu.”

“In view of the above you were found to have flouted regulations 2 (e) of the United Local Government Service (Staff) Regulations which interpreted the allegation against you as an act of misconduct and punishable under section 42 (1) (d) with summary dismissal from service,” a part of the query sighted by The Gazette and signed by Akintomide Taiwo on behalf of the chairman of the state’s Local Government Service Commission read.

A 2003 judgement of the Supreme Court faulted civil service rules which restrict the participation of civil servants and other public servants in the politics of the country.

“There is nothing reasonably justifiable in a democratic society in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health in prohibiting a member of the public service or civil service … from eligibility to be registered as a member of a political party. The submission that the restriction is a valid derogation from section 40 by virtue of section 45 (1)(a) of the Constitution was erroneous,” Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, JSC held in his lead judgement in a suit between the Independent National Electoral Commission v Balarabe Musa & Ors.

In May, the Nigeria Labour Congress similarly argued in favour of workers’ right to participate in partisan politics following a circular by Head of Civil Service of the Federation Folashade Yemi-Esan, warning workers to keep off ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Ayuba Wabba, president of the NLC, had cited the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, (Justice of Supreme Court), which stated that Nigerian workers are constitutionally free to participate in politics in line with the country’s constitution.

“Their import is to allow every person, including public office holders and civil servants, the freedom to assemble freely and associate with other persons to form or belong to any political party, trade union, or any association to protect his interests in a trade union or any association for the protection of his interests,” Mr Wanna had argued.

I’m Not A Political Emperor With Entitlement Mentality – Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun Replies Tinubu

In what seems like a replied to former Lagos state governor, Bola Tinubu, Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has response to yesterday’s humiliation he suffered from Bola Tinubu.

Mr Abiodun’s comment was a clear shade at Mr Tinubu, who said in Abeokuta on Thursday that Mr Abiodun won’t be governor today but for his benevolence.

Mr Tinubu has insisted that he has to be the next president of Nigeria. He was in Abeokuta on Thursday afternoon to meet delegates of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“I am not an emperor by any chance and this is not my family inheritance,” the Ogun governor tweeted on Friday morning. “I am holding this position in trust for all the people of this state and I have vowed to be fair, just and equitable and this is the solemn agreement I made between the Almighty God and myself.”

“This one sitting behind me, Dapo, can he say he could have become a governor but for me?” Mr Tinubu said while pointing at Mr Abiodun.

The governor did not fire back at the event, but he appeared visibly humiliated.

Before and after humiliating Mr Abiodun, Mr Tinubu also claimed credit for making Muhammadu Buhari president in 2015, as well as his political favours to Atiku Abubakar, Nuhu Ribadu and other personalities across the country.

I Made You Ogun Governor – Bola Tinubu Tackles Dapo Abiodun For Supporting Osinbajo

Former Lagos state governor and presidential Hopeful under the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has knocked Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun.

The APC National Leader claimed that he made Dapo Abiodun the governor of Ogun State.

Tinubu disclosed this on Thursday in Abeokuta during a meeting to woo APC delegates ahead of the forthcoming presidential primary, fixed for 6th June this year.

“It’s over 34 years now that I have been serving them, this one sitting behind me (pointing at the governor), can he say it that he would have become the governor if not for me,” the former Lagos governor said boastfully in Yoruba.

Abiodun had in April 2022 declared that he would support Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s presidential bid.

Both Osinbajo and Tinubu were said to be instrumental to his victory when he battled former Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s anointed candidate, Abdulkabir Akinlade, in the last election.

According to Abiodun, Osinbajo’s academic qualifications as well as his pedigree serving as vice-president make him the best candidate for the presidency.

“If becoming president is by qualification, you’ve earned it. You are in office today as the vice-president of Nigeria. You’ve been in office for seven years. You’ve served your boss meritoriously. You are mature in this office. You’ve demonstrated capacity and capability,” he had told the Vice President who was in the state in April to consult APC stakeholders.

“If presidency is by way of an award, we will just gather here today and will award it to you. However, it isn’t an award; it’s a contest. We do not have a doubt in our minds that with your pedigree, the Lord Almighty that we all serve and that you also serve, will grant you the desires of your heart.

“As we stand here today, I make bold to say that your state is the industrial capital of this country; we are the religious capital of this country. God answers our prayers quickly in Ogun state. The Almighty God has answered your prayer. We will be with you, stand by you, and give you that support.”