The Ogun State Government has said that the tweet by Governor Dapo Abiodun mentioning ‘emperor’ was not a reaction to the statement made by the National Leader and presidential aspirant of All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, during his recent visit to party delegates in the state.
Recall that while speaking to delegates in Abeokuta on Thursday, Tinubu had refered to Dapo Abiodun as ‘eleyi’ (this one) while talking about how he was instrumental to his becoming governor.
As Tinubu was speaking about Dapo Abiodun, one of the supporters of the APC National leader shouted ‘Alaso dudu’ (wearer of black clothes) in an apparent reference to the governor donning black apparel on the occasion.
“We were at the stadium; they tore all his posters. Even the party flag, they didn’t want to hand over it to him. I was the one who brought it. If he wants to meet God at the right place, he must know that without God and me, he would not have become Governor.”
Dapo Abiodun who had openly endorsed Yemi Osinbajo for the 2023 presidency sat quietly through the insults.
However, on Friday, a tweet was made on his official Twitter handle: “I am not an emperor by any chance and this is not my family inheritance.
“I am holding this position in trust for all the people of this state and I have vowed to be fair, just and equitable and this is the solemn agreement I made between the Almighty God and myself.”
It was immediately deemed a response to Tinubu’s tirades of the previous day.
However, the Ogun State Government has now maintained that the post was not directed at Tinubu.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Abdulwaheed Odusile, the state government said: “The attention of the Ogun State Government has been drawn to comments purportedly made by Governor Dapo Abiodun in reaction to statements made by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his recent visit to party delegates in the state.
For the avoidance of doubt, the tweet released this morning was an extract to re-emphasise the comments of Governor Abiodun to party faithfuls and appointees on May 29 during the celebration of his third year in office, which also coincided with his 62nd birthday.
“The comments could, therefore, not have been a response to comments by Asiwaju Tinubu whose visits to Abeokuta came five days later.
“While Governor Abiodun appreciates the media, including online platforms, as partners in progress with Government, he enjoins media practitioners to always report the truth at all times and refrain from giving vent to fake news, distortions and misinterpretations.”
