A pro – democracy and civil rights group, Civil Society Coalition in Defense of Democracy, has written to the Ogun State House of Assembly (OGHA), calling the state lawmakers’ attention to what it alleged as the abuse of power and recourse to persecution of political opponents by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
The group which claimed that Prince Dapo Abiodun was abusing his position of authority, engaging in political persecution and violating human rights, urged Speaker Kunle Oluomo – led 26 – member assembly to rein – in the Governor.
The petition was submitted to OGHA on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.
Addressing reporters afterwards, Com.
Shina Loremikan, leader of the group, said, “The petition’s goal is to examine the state’s chief executive’s recent unjust, unfair, and intolerable behavior in containing the spread of political persecution and egregious power abuse by His Excellency, the governor of Ogun State. Dapo Abiodun, prince. We have serious concerns that the situation in Ogun State could undermine democracy and public tranquility if let to worsen.
“We want the Ogun State House of Assembly to be aware of the continued political persecution of some persons in Ogun State.
“We want to emphasize that political persecution of individuals should not be tolerated under any circumstances and has no place in a democratic society. In order to exercise its authority under the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution, the OGHA must handle the current issue because it casts a negative light on the Gateway State.”
Also speaking, one of the leaders of the Coalition in Defense of Democracy, Com. l Buna Isaiq Olaitan, expressed the worry that it seemed that the Ogun state House of Assembly is gradually abdicating its responsibility, functions, and its duty, and urged the lawmakers to arrest the drift.
“We want to remind the Honorable Assembly of its responsibilities in the management of local government in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution as the branch of government responsible for creating laws. We are troubled by the OGHA’s apparent failure to conduct an investigation into there were of public interest in recent times,” he said.
The Daily Crucible has reached out to the Governor’s camp for reaction but not response yet as of the time of filing this report.
