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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