Dapo Abiodun, Deputy Sworn-In, Pledge Good Governance With Fairness, Justice, Equity

By Raymond Osho

The newly elected Governor of Ogun State, Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun has been sworn-in as the fifth Civilian Governor of the state amidst pledges to govern the 43-year old state with fairness, justice and equity.

Abiodun was elected at the March 23, 2019 Ogun Governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), having defeated his close rival, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

The new Governor was sworn-in together with his Deputy, Engr.(Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele on Wednesday May 29,2019, afterboth took the oath of office at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, the State capita.

Abiodun in his convoy, arrived the venue of the event at 11:04 am alongside his wife, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun while his Deputy and her husband, Bode Oyedele, arrived around 11:00am for the most anticipated ceremony.

The State’s Chief Judge, Hon Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu administered the oath of office on the Deputy Governor at exactly 11:41am, followed by the Governor who took his own around 11:53 am amid jubilation.

All roads in the State led to the venue of the programme as people came from across the State to felicitate with the newly sworn-in Governor and his Deputy.

The epoch event witnessed eminent personalities that came from within and outside the state. They include the former Governor of the State, Chief Segun Osoba; Senator representing Ogun West, Tolu Odebiyi; former Deputy Governor, Gbenga Kaka, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Yemi Sanusi, royal fathers, and a host of others.

The Ijebu-Remo-born Governor who delivered his speech after inspecting the Guard of honour pledged to create a portal for the registration of unemployed youths in the State in order to end the unemployment narrative.

His words: “I am honoured to received the mantle of leadership to govern you. I will serve the State with a deep sense of responsibility. I will govern with character, I will serve you diligently.
”It is pathetic that the level of unemployment in the State is uncalled for, I will make sure I reduce the rate of criminal activities among the youths, and the only way we can tackle this is to provide employment for the youths.

”In the next two weeks, a portal will be created for unemployed youths so they can register with their documents and certificates to tackle unemployment in the State”

Abiodun stated further: “To the good people of Ogun State, you have now provided me the mandate to serve our dear State. I will serve you diligently and sincerely, I will make your interests the core of governance, I will neither personalise nor abuse the mandate, I will not betray your trust”

Reiterating the vision of his adminstration, the oil magnate said”, Our vision is to give Ogun State focused and qualitative governance and to create the enabling environment for a public private sector partnership, which is fundamental to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of the people of Ogun.”

On his agenda for the Civil Service, Abiodun said, ”We are aware that the workers in Ogun State have been confronted with a number of challenges that resulted in low morale and productivity.

“Workers are the prime resource of the State and an economy is only as good as its managers. Within the limit of available resources, we shall endeavour to be fair, open, just and equitable to all our workers and pensioners.”

He insisted ”The Civil service must be professionalised and empowered to carry out the basic mandate of running government operations effectively and efficiently. We shall embark on massive re-training and relevant skills acquisition programmes especially in ICT and related managerial and functional courses that will prepare our Civil service for the great tasks ahead”.

The new governor continued; ”My Administration will evolve a new, but constitutionally backed arrangement that will make our Local Government responsive and responsible to the yearnings of the people.”

He however said the government, under his watch would be people-centred, saying, ”The government will be our government, not their government.”