The Ogun State Government vehemently refuted criticisms leveled against Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), characterizing the opposition’s remarks as a desperate attempt to regain relevance after being rejected by the electorate due to years of alleged underperformance, corruption, and violence. The government, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, highlighted the administration’s achievements in infrastructure development, investment attraction, and various social sectors, contrasting these with the PDP’s claims of incompetence, nepotism, and lack of transparency.
The PDP, in its Democracy Day statement, had accused Governor Abiodun’s six-year tenure of being uneventful and a disservice to the people of Ogun State. However, the state government countered this assertion by showcasing the significant strides made in transforming the state into a construction hub and a prime investment destination. The government pointed to the construction of the Gateway International Airport and over 1,200 kilometers of roads across the state as evidence of its commitment to infrastructure development. Further emphasizing the PDP’s alleged disconnect from reality, the statement questioned how the opposition could overlook such tangible advancements.
Akinmade underscored the administration’s success in attracting substantial investments, including a $400 million investment by Arise Integrated Industrial Platform for the development of Olokola Free Trade Zone and Remo Agro Processing Zone, over $500 million from African Industries Group, a steel conglomerate, and another $500 million from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency to bolster power infrastructure. He further enumerated investments from Inner Galaxy Steel Company Ltd ($300 million for a specialized steel plant) and a British company establishing a $5 million battery recycling plant. These investments, according to the government, demonstrate the confidence investors have in the state’s economic potential and the enabling environment created by the Abiodun administration.
The government also provided a comprehensive list of completed and ongoing road projects across the state, including the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway, various urban and rural roads, and the Ijebu Ode-Epe-Sagamu-Benin Interchange Flyover Bridge. These projects, according to the statement, are aimed at improving connectivity, boosting economic activities, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. The government emphasized that the PDP’s criticisms are unfounded and disconnected from the reality on the ground, especially considering the visible transformation taking place in the state’s infrastructure landscape.
Beyond infrastructure, the statement highlighted achievements in other sectors, including education, agriculture, and sports. The government cited the N50 million Ijebu Development Initiative for Poverty Reduction (Eriwe) focused on fish farming and empowering agripreneurs, the Ogun State Teaching Experience Acquisition Channel (Ogun TREACH) which provided internship and employment opportunities for teachers, and over N3.5 billion disbursed through EDUCASH to support students and their parents. The full accreditation of Ogun State Schools of Nursing and Midwifery and their upgrade to collegiate status were also cited as evidence of the administration’s commitment to improving the education and healthcare sectors.
The government further highlighted the successful hosting of the National Sports Festival in Ogun State, where the state contingent emerged second overall, and the event itself was lauded as the best ever and an international benchmark. The statement concluded by referencing Governor Abiodun’s recognition by Forbes Magazine in 2022 as the Best of Africa Governor in Industrial Revolution, emphasizing his compassionate leadership and commitment to the development of Ogun State. The administration challenged the PDP to acknowledge the tangible evidence of progress across various sectors, urging the opposition to engage in constructive criticism rather than resorting to baseless accusations.
