Abiodun committed to rule of law, democracy- Media Consultant

By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta

A Chief Consultant on media to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state, Kayode Akinmade, has said the governor is committed to ensuring the preservation of rule of law, battle corruption and protect tenets of democracy.

Akinmade while fielding questions on a television programme on Friday, said as a law abiding leader, the governor has always recourse to the judiciary to seek redress for himself and his administration whenever the need arises, rather than engage in self help.

He stressed that the decision of the governor to approach the court over the matter between him and the impeached chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Wale Adedayo, is a demonstration of his belief in the rule of law and his indisposition to ‘rule of force’.

Adedayo appeared before a Magistrate Court at Isabo, Abeokuta, on a petition filed by the State government against him, over an earlier allegation of diversion of funds meant for Council Areas in the state.

Governor Abiodun is insisting that the former Council boss must prove his allegations against his administration or face the the wrath of the law for falsely inciting the people against the government.

Adedayo was arraigned on a two-count charge.

Meanwhile, Akinmade said that it was wrong for people to rush to accuse the governor of persecuting Adedayo, who according to him, have “severally apologised to the governor in private while continuing with his ill-motivated misinformation in public.”

“The governor believes that taking Adedayo before the court will deepen our democracy and entrench the rule.of law. Unlike some other people in Governor Abiodun’s shoes who would readily recourse yo sending thugs after and unleashing other forms of violence on those who accused them rightly or wrongly.

“our governor decided to seek redress in court. I think he should be commended by all and sundry for this. What he is doing is giving Adedayo a chance to prove his allegations.”

Speaking on the allegation by the impeached chairman that the governor was behind his removal, Akinmade said Adedayo was already facing removal from office before he raised the allegations against the governor.

“He has already been accused of several impeachable offences before he wrote the letter alleging the governor. He had already reached out to the governor and other leaders of the party to help him stave off his removal. It was when he realized he may not survive the impeachment move that he connived with some other unscrupulous politician in the party to malign the governor and discredit the APC in Ogun state,” Akinmade said.

The Media chief added that claims by Adedayo that he got zero allocation since he became council chairman were proved wrong by the FAAC committee in the state when the House of Assembly looked into his petition.

He recalled that other council chairmen in the state also debunked the allegation and even brought Adedayo with them to apologize to the governor for the wrong allegations.

“But in spite of all these, he didn’t stop his scripted plot to tarnish the image of the governor. Hence, Governor Abiodun approached the court for redress”, said Akinmade.

Speaking further, Akinmade recalled that the impeached council boss has been in office for more than two years, saying “One then wonders why he is raising this alarm now”.

“He claimed zero allocation but he has been collecting his monthly N3million security votes regularly. Local government staff in his LGA are not being owed and primary school teachers there are paid as at when due. We all should be asking him to explain what he meant by zero allocation,” he said.