Group fumes as Ogun council chairmen reject Mikano, demand exotic cars from Abiodun

By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta

A group, Ogun Integrity Vanguard (OIV) has described as condemnable and highly unfortunate, the reported rejection of car gifts presented to local government chairmen in Ogun State by Governor Dapo Abiodun, on the ground that they were not exotic.

Abiodun had on Sunday April 2, presented 20 units of Mikano 2006 cars to the chairmen of the 20 local government areas in recognition of their steadfastness at the governorship poll, but the chairmen rejected the gift and left the Government House, Isale Igbehin, Abeokuta, disappointed.

In a statement signed by its Secretary, Duro Thomas, Ogun Integrity Vanguard flayed the actions of the chairmen, saying that it showed ingratitude and a lack of appreciation of the current economic realities.

Noting that many of Governor Abiodun’s appointees have no official vehicles as he had been trying to channel the state’s resources to the provision of democratic dividends to the people, the group wondered if a group of chairmen really intent on serving their people would complain about vehicles that the average Nigerian on whose behalf they are in office would die to have.

“We find it highly incongruous that local government chairmen would claim that Mikano cars were below standard and not enough to compensate them in view of all they had done for the Abiodun administration.

“Do the chairmen expect the governor to open the state’s vaults and spend money recklessly because they (chairmen) are so high up in the skies and above the people they are called to serve?

“It is highly unfortunate that LG chairmen would request for the latest Toyota, Lexus and Honda Sonata cars, and that the only Mikano they know is the diesel generator.
“What do the people they want to serve have and where is their patriotic fervour?

“If they want exotic cars, what stops them from calling their car dealers and paying for them from their own purse?

“The chairmen must stop sending the wrong signals to the public, they must stop behaving as people whose only interest in public service is personal aggrandisement,” the group said.

Meanwhile, effort made to speak with some of the council bosses in Ogun Central Senatorial District were unsuccessful as they refused to react on the issue.

However, a close aide to one of the chairmen confirmed to our correspondent that the car gifts were rejected by the chairmen.

The aide reaffirmed that his boss would not comment on the issue “as it will not be politically expedient for him to venture any comment and reactions.”