The Ogun State Government has dismissed as false a viral report claiming that members of the State Executive Council are made to prostrate before Governor Dapo Abiodun whenever he is displeased with them.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor
on Information and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, on Monday, the government
described the publication by a blog as malicious propaganda and a deliberate
attempt to mislead the public.
According to the statement, “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.”
The government insisted that no commissioner or cabinet
member has ever been required to prostrate before the governor, saying such an
incident has never happened.
“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 said.
It also dismissed as ridiculous the claim that the Deputy
Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, prostrates before Governor Abiodun.
“Such a falsehood exposes the reckless and irresponsible
nature of the publication,” the government stated.
The state government accused the blog of abandoning the
principles of professional journalism in favour of sensationalism and
misinformation.
According to the statement, “Professional journalism is
founded on facts, verification and fairness. Unfortunately, Naijamixed
abandoned these principles in favour of sensationalism, deliberate falsehood
and calculated mischief aimed at ridiculing the Governor and creating
unnecessary tension in Ogun State.”
The government said the blog deliberately distorted a widely
reported incident involving local government chairmen in the state.
It explained that the incident followed allegations made by
the former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Hon. Wale Adedayo, against
the Ogun State Government.
According to the statement, the local government chairmen
voluntarily appealed to Governor Abiodun on behalf of their colleague and, in
line with Yoruba tradition, prostrated while pleading for forgiveness.
“At no time did Governor Abiodun request, direct or
encourage anyone to prostrate before him. The gesture was entirely voluntary,”
the government said.
The statement further noted that the allegations raised 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 released through the statutory process.
It added that JAAC found that the Ogun State Government did
not divert local government funds and that the state had, on several occasions,
provided additional financial support to local governments to enable them meet
their obligations.
The government said the incident received widespread media
coverage when it happened, making it surprising that the blog chose to revisit
it years later.
“It is therefore surprising that Naijamixed 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,” the
statement said.
The government stressed that while freedom of expression is
a constitutional right, it does not give anyone the liberty to publish false
information.
“Freedom of expression does not include the freedom to
fabricate stories or incite the public through deliberate falsehood,” it
stated.
It urged members of the public to disregard the publication
and rely on credible sources of information.
The Ogun State Government also called on security agencies
to investigate those responsible for the publication, saying its inflammatory
nature could create unnecessary tension and undermine the peace currently
enjoyed in the state.
It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability
and responsible engagement with the media in the interest of all citizens.
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