By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Labour Party has accused Ogun state Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration of what it described as “recklessly disposing of public assets in Ogun State”, alleging that civil servants and ordinary citizens are being displaced to enrich private interests.
National Vice Chairman (South West) of the party, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, raised the alarm during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu on Tuesday, describing the government’s actions as “asset stripping” of Egbaland.
Arabambi claimed that public estates, including the Ibara Housing Estate, were demolished and sold without due process. “You have houses for Commissioners, built by the government. You have houses for Assembly members, built by the government. You also have houses for civil servants, built by the government.
“But what Dapo Abiodun did was that, he was interested in making sure the civil servants live like a destitute. You swarm on that building, you demolish it, you now build another mansion there that was shared among themselves,” he said.
He accused the government of ignoring repeated requests under the Freedom of Information Act. “We wrote to the government office, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, and even to the office of the Commissioner, under Freedom of Information. The Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment that all states and the federal government must give information.
“Now, they lied to us that this matter was concluded within the State Executive Council. And they now demolished the place. Civil servants, some family living with another family, they now sold that land to unknown people. Because there was not a single sign board. Not a single sign board with inscriptions on what they were doing there.
“So whether it is ISIS, IPOB member Dapo Abiodun is selling it to, we don’t know. Whether they are from China, whether they are from Egypt, whether they are from Libya, we don’t know. The houses they were building, when we demanded, they failed to answer us.”
Arabambi also condemned the government for converting the governor’s personal residence in Iperu into a government house and allegedly using public funds for private gain. “It is wrong. The government of Ogun State does not belong to him,” he said.
The Labour Party official took a swipe at what he described as the “importation of commissioners and advisers from outside Ogun State,” accusing the administration of ignoring local expertise. “Our administration in Abeokuta performed better because we brought in local people, not imported officials. The current government is running a black market operation, prioritizing personal enrichment over public service.
Arabambi criticized the neglect of Abeokuta, arguing that the administration focused resources elsewhere. “Abeokuta cannot be taken as a slave by anybody. By anybody I say we cannot be taken as a slave. The government is yet to invest properly in the capital of Ogun State. They are making Ogun East a ‘small London’ with selective infrastructural development, while Abeokuta, Yewa, and other areas continue to suffer,” he said.
He accused the government of misallocating budgetary resources meant for the state house and other offices. “There has always been a budget capture for government house from Ogun State. We want to know who is spending that budget. Because government of Abeokuta is in a very solid state. Yet, they go before the Assembly on a full budget every year for it. Where is it being spent?”
Arabambi warned that the administration’s favoritism toward Ogun East risks creating inequality across the state. “It is not the issue of ethnicity. The allocation given to Ogun State is only for Ogun East. Is it only for Ogun East? No! You can’t just be traitor because your people defeated you in 2023 election and now want to placate them with our resources. You can’t be turning your Ogun East to small London. Are you not destroying our own legacy in Ogun East?”
He highlighted the neglect of road networks and infrastructure in other regions, accusing the government of “celebrating” works in Ogun East while ignoring Ogun Central, Ogun West, and Yewa. “When they approve 20 kilometers in Ijebu East they will approve 1 kilometer in Ogun Central. There are people who abandoned Ogun West for Yayi. Though they are all in the same party. That’s none of my business. But what about Ogun Central?”
Meanwhile, Arabambi urged intervention from respected statesmen, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and former Governor Olusegun Osoba. “They need to prevail on him. Silence will embolden the continued expansionist conquest of Dapo Abiodun. These are respected people in a better land than Yoruba. They should talk to him that you cannot be doing what we call asset stripping.”
He confirmed that the party’s legal adviser, Prof. Yemi Oke, SAN, has been briefed to initiate legal action against the governor and relevant officials if the alleged impunity continues.
