The Ogun State Government has dismissed as false and malicious a viral report alleging that members of the State Executive Council prostrate before Governor Dapo Abiodun whenever he is displeased with them.
The government, in a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, described the publication by an online blog, Naijamixed, as a deliberate fabrication aimed at ridiculing the governor and creating unnecessary tension in the state.
According to the statement, the allegation that commissioners and other cabinet members routinely prostrate before the governor is entirely baseless, insisting that no such incident has ever occurred.
The government also dismissed claims that the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, prostrates before the governor, describing the allegation as absurd.
“The claim that members of the Ogun State Executive Council routinely prostrate before Governor Dapo Abiodun whenever he is displeased with them is a complete fabrication. At no time has any commissioner or cabinet member been required to prostrate before the Governor, nor has such an incident ever occurred,” the statement read.
It explained that the blog had distorted a previous incident involving local government chairmen who voluntarily prostrated while appealing to the governor on behalf of the former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Hon. Wale Adedayo, following allegations he made against the state government.
The statement stressed that the governor neither requested nor encouraged anyone to prostrate before him.
“At no time did Governor Abiodun request, direct or encourage anyone to prostrate before him. The gesture was entirely voluntary,” Akinmade stated.
The government further noted that the allegations made by Adedayo were investigated by the Ogun State House of Assembly, while the Joint Account and Allocation Committee confirmed that local government allocations were disbursed through the statutory process without diversion by the state government.
It added that the state had, on several occasions, supplemented local government finances to enable the councils meet their financial obligations.
Describing the publication as reckless and irresponsible, the government urged residents to disregard the report and rely on credible sources of information.
“Freedom of expression does not include the freedom to fabricate stories or incite the public through deliberate falsehood,” the statement added.
The government also called on security agencies to investigate those behind the publication, saying such reports could undermine the peace currently enjoyed in Ogun State.
