By James Ogunnaike
Ogun State Government has dismissed as false and malicious a viral publication alleging that members of the State Executive Council are compelled to prostrate before Governor Dapo Abiodun whenever he is displeased with them.
Reacting to the report published by an online blog, Naijamixed, under the headline, “Cabinet members reportedly prostrate before Ogun State Governor when he is displeased with them,” the government described the allegation as a fabrication aimed at ridiculing the governor and misleading the public.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the government said no commissioner or cabinet member had ever been required to prostrate before Governor Abiodun.
“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,” Akinmade said.
He also dismissed as “absurd” the allegation that the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, prostrates before the governor.
“Even more ridiculous is the claim that the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, prostrates before the Governor. Such a falsehood exposes the reckless and irresponsible nature of the publication,” he added.
The government accused the blog of abandoning the fundamental principles of journalism, including accuracy, fairness and verification, in favour of sensationalism and deliberate misinformation.
According to Akinmade, the publication deliberately distorted an incident involving Ogun State local government chairmen, following allegations made by the former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Hon. Wale Adedayo, against the state government.
He explained that the council chairmen voluntarily prostrated before Governor Abiodun while appealing for forgiveness on behalf of their colleague, describing the act as a cultural expression consistent with Yoruba tradition rather than an action compelled by the governor.
“At no time did Governor Abiodun request, direct or encourage anyone to prostrate before him. The gesture was entirely voluntary,” the statement said.
Akinmade further noted that the allegations previously made by Adedayo were investigated by the Ogun State House of Assembly, while the Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC) confirmed that local government allocations were disbursed through the statutory process.
It added that the state government did not divert local government funds and had, on several occasions, supplemented council finances to enable local governments meet their financial obligations.
Akinmade expressed surprise that the incident, which received widespread media attention at the time, had been revived years later and, according to him, deliberately misrepresented.
“It is surprising that the blog has chosen, years later, to resurrect the episode and deliberately distort the facts in an apparent attempt to demonise the Governor and mislead the public,” he stated.
The state government urged residents to disregard the publication and rely on credible sources for accurate information, stressing that freedom of expression does not extend to the deliberate dissemination of falsehood.
It also called on relevant security agencies to investigate the source of the publication and those responsible for it, with a view to preventing actions capable of creating unnecessary tension or undermining the peace currently enjoyed in Ogun State.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability, the government said it would continue to engage responsibly with the media in the interest of the people of the state.
