Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun’s success in the 2019 Ogun governorship race was a triumph against formidable odds. Five years later, Governor Abiodun has demonstrated that his success wasn’t a fluke. Impressed by his commendable first term in office, the people of Ogun State rewarded Governor Abiodun with another term. To return the favour, Governor Abiodun has picked up from where he left off in 2023, consolidating on his first-term projects, breaking new grounds, and steadily putting Ogun State positively on the world map. Better known for his exemplary disposition, Governor Abiodun speaks less and does more. He’s quietly implementing his “Building Our Future Together” agenda despite the distractions and tantrums of the opposition. The unique thing about Governor Abiodun, and perhaps one of the secrets of his administration, is his collaborative and inclusive approach to governance. He’s not running a one-man show. Governor Abiodun is willing to accommodate contrary views and ready to adjust his policies to satisfy the demands of his people. Beyond his ‘Omoluabi’ traits, Governor Abiodun has also shown competence and admirable leadership qualities in the last five years of his administration in Ogun State.
In terms of performance, Governor Abiodun is clearly on his way to historical reckoning as one of the most performing governors Ogun has ever seen. And this is not overhyped one bit. According to the Internally Generated Revenue for 2023 (States & FCT), Governor Abiodun’s Ogun State is at the top of the table, occupying the fourth position only behind Lagos, FCT and Rivers. The increase in Ogun’s IGR can be traced to Governor Abiodun’s sound economic policies and friendly incentives to private investors and business owners. Ogun State is one of the leading states in Nigeria when it comes to ease of doing business. Little wonder, Ogun State is rated as Nigeria’s most industrialized state, with hundreds of businesses littering the length and breadth of the Gateway State. As a forward-thinking governor, Prince Abiodun has implemented measures to enchance productivity. The top priority on the governor’s list of priorities is security. Without security, creating a conducive environment for business to thrive is practically impossible. Over the past five years, Prince Dapo Abiodun’s led administration has procured over 100 patrol vehicles, motorcycles, and 300 communication gadgets for security agencies in Ogun State. Recently, during the official working visit of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to Ogun State, Governor Abiodun donated an additional 25 patrol vehicles to the State Police Command, complete with surveillance drones to monitor criminal activities. In addition, the Security Trust Fund is in place to further enhance security agencies’ funding. The trust fund will also take care of security personnel allowances.
Additionally, in the area of infrastructural development, including road construction and rehabilitation and housing development projects, Governor Abiodun has covered himself in glory. Governor Abiodun has turned Ogun into an industrial giant, reconstructing abandoned roads, building new roads and opening up new cities courtesy of his low-cost housing projects. The good thing is that these projects are evenly distributed across the three Senatorial Districts of Ogun State. In Yewa South Local Government Area, Governor Abiodun reconstructed the 27km Owode-Ilaro road, which had been abandoned for over 35 years. Who doesn’t know the Expressway? That’s one of the legacy projects of the Governor Abiodun-led administration. That’s not all; the governor also extended his dividends of democracy to the people living along the Atan-Lusada-Agbara axis. As you read, work is already ongoing on the 19km Atan-Lusada-Agbara road. In Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area, the government, under Prince Abiodun’s guidance, reconstructed the hospital road in Ogijo. Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, is not left out of the developmental strides of Governor Abiodun. Work has resumed on the reconstruction of the Lafenwa-Rounder road project. In Ifo Constituency 2, Prince Dapo Abiodun led the administration to reconstruct the Toyin-Hercules-Giwa road. Oluwakemi-Denro-Isashi road project in Ifo 2 is ongoing. Not resting on its laurels, the governor gave the contractors handling the Denro/Ishasi/Akute road two weeks to deliver the road projects. A lot is going on in the area of infrastructural development in Ogun State. It is hard to fault Governor Abiodun when it comes to infrastructure projects.
Other notable gains of the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration include seamless energy transmission of mass transit, youth empowerment via a tech hub centre in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, providing basic healthcare provision funds, affordable low-cost housing, and so many more. No doubt, the construction of the Gateway International Afro-Cargo Airport stands out as the most ambitious project of Governor Abiodun. The project hailed by many, including stakeholders in the aviation industry, when completed, will turn around the fortunes of Ogun State in terms of increased revenue, trade and transformation of the host community and towns around the airport. Not only that, the agro-cargo airport will also serve as a flight training school and aircraft maintenance hub. For his giant strides as Ogun governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun received the Sun Newspapers 2023 Governor of the Year Award as well as the 2023 Silverbird Man of the Year Award. Prince Abiodun also received a Distinguished Award for Security Delivery(State) at the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service(NEAPS). No doubt, Governor Dapo Abiodun, MFR, has done well for himself and the image of his dear Ogun State.