Group Cautions Gov. Abiodun On State Appointments

… Says First Roll Of Appointments Excluding Aworis Is Distasteful, A Bad Omen

OTA-AWORI – A group under the auspices of the “Awori for Ogun State Governor 2027 Movement” has slammed the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, over what they described as a biased first roll of appointment.

The group, addressing the press through its convener, Mr. Azeem Salako, said the first roll of the governor’s appointment excluding only the Awori division of the state is a bad omen, especially coming barely two weeks after the inauguration of the governor’s second term in office.

Salako said since his inauguration on May 29, 2023, Governor Dapo Abiodun has assigned eight portfolios to eight persons, and only the section of the Aworis is not included.

The list of the eight appointments made so far are Tokunbo Talabi, Secretary to the State Government – IJEBU; Oluwatoyin Taiwo, Deputy Chief of Staff – YEWA; Oladapo Okubadejo, Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor – IJEBU and Ade O. Akinsanya, Special Adviser, Works & Infrastructure – REMO;

Others are Olaolu Olabimtan, Special Adviser, Budget & Planning – YEWA; Jagunmolu Jamiu Akande Omoniyi, Special Adviser, Housing – YEWA; Olusina Ogungbade, Special Adviser, Justice – EGBA and Tomi Coker, SA, Health – EGBA

The political analyst, therefore, urged the governor to ensure that the Awori section of the state is not marginalized in appointments and sightings of development projects.

His words, “Our group is ready to give support to any person sitting on the exalted seat of the Governor of Ogun State, but we will not allow any hidden or devious plan aimed at weakening the agenda for an Awori person to succeed the current administration in 2027.

“The analysis of the results of the 2023 gubernatorial election and the unmatched contribution of the people in Aworiland, which gave victory to Gov. Dapo Abiodun, is in the public domain, and it must guide the politics of power and governance distribution in the state.

“It is, therefore, our sincere hope that the biased appointments made by Gov. Dapo Abiodun to date, which indicate an ugly trend in future appointments, will be reviewed.

“The Aworis are not subservient to any sections of the state.”

He included that “the governor must also address the situation in which the deputy governor, HE Noimot Salako, is not assigned a portfolio, a circumstance that left her office redundant in their first tenure.”

Speaking further, Azeem Salako also condemned a situation where the entire three appointments zoned to the Ogun West senatorial district are all from its Yewa axis, adding that no section of the state should be patronized at the expense of the Awori.

He equally cautions the governor not to allow any person, no matter how ranked in the government or the ruling party, to input policies that have a biased direction to achieve a selfish and calculated political purpose.

Salako stated further “We are aware that the politics against 2027 have started, and the Aworis will not allow any scheming that will place her political leaders in unfavorable positions.

“We are watching every single appointment and promotion closely, so the government should not give us any reasons to think and believe that he is in support of the ploy and plot to weaken the might of the Awori against the Ogun State 2027 politics.”

Azeem noted that, ” “the Governor should be aware that there is no plot that can be won against the Aworis come 2027”.

He thereby urged the politicians on the homefront to unite themselves and ensure they bargain for offices not only in terms of quantities, but also in qualities such that we will have offices that will be strategically useful in 2027, he concluded.