The Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said his emergence as the fifth civilian governor of the state was a “hostile take-over and a turbulent journey.”
The governor, who stated this Friday at the inauguration of a 56-man Governor’s Elders Advisory Council at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said unlike his colleagues who had a smooth ride into office, he had to fight many adversaries.
According to him, after his election, he had to win at the court three times to seal his victory at the polls.
He said, “We spent the first few months in settling down and I do not need to remind us how hostile the takeover was and how turbulent the journey has been.
“For me, I won an election and I have to win at the court three times, while doing that I was also trying to be very deliberate, very meticulous about choosing the team that would work with me particularly in the areas that are very sensitive.”
The 56-man council is headed by a one-time permanent secretary in the old Western Region, Chief Oluseye Okuboyejo.
Abiodun, who charged the elders to feel the pulse of the people, insisted that his administration would not disparage the advice of the elders, saying, “We intend to benefit from the elders’ wealth of experience and knowledge.”
In his goodwill message, the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Yemi Sanusi, said the event was another bold step by the Governor to display his governance of inclusiveness, adding that the Governor needs the elders as their voice was a voice of wisdom.
The elder statesmen, while urging the governor to continue with his good style of governance, affirmed that his style is not slow, but steady and rewarding.
In his response, Okuboyejo commended the governor for opting to form the Council and listen to the voice of wisdom from elders, giving the assurance that the Council would do its best not to disappoint the people.
