The Ogun State Government has dismissed as false claims that members of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s cabinet prostrate before him whenever he is displeased with them.
The government described the allegation, published by an online platform as “a complete fabrication” aimed at ridiculing the governor and creating unnecessary tension in the state.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, the government said no commissioner or member of the State Executive Council had ever been required to prostrate before Abiodun.
It also dismissed as “ridiculous” the claim that the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, prostrates before the governor.
“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.
“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,” the statement read.
The government accused the blog of abandoning the principles of factual and responsible journalism in favour of sensationalism and deliberate falsehood.
According to the statement, the report deliberately distorted a widely reported incident involving local government chairmen during the controversy surrounding the allegations made by the former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo.
It explained that the council chairmen voluntarily prostrated before the governor while appealing for forgiveness on behalf of their colleague, in line with Yoruba culture, stressing that Abiodun neither requested nor encouraged the gesture.
“At no time did Governor Abiodun request, direct or encourage anyone to prostrate before him. The gesture was entirely voluntary,” Akinmade said.
The government further recalled 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 and that the state government did not divert council funds.
It added that the state had, on several occasions, supplemented local government finances to enable councils meet their obligations.
The statement urged residents to disregard the publication and rely on credible sources of information.
It also called on security agencies to investigate the source of the report and those behind it, saying such publications could undermine the peace currently enjoyed in the state.
“The Ogun State Government remains committed to transparency, accountability and responsible engagement with the media in the interest of all citizens,” the statement added.
