Adeolu Kayode, Abeokuta
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogun State chapter has viewed with utmost disappointment and indignation the appointment of 1,200 political assistants by the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun.
Governor Abiodun – led state government had through a statement on Friday by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, announced the appointments of 1,200 Political Assistants to serve as change agents and enhance civic engagement across the state.
Akinmade had described the move as a strategic effort to strengthen democratic governance across all nooks and crannies of the state.
According to him, the assistants — five from each of the 236 wards in Ogun State — would ensure greater local participation in governance, effectively bridging the gap between the grassroots and the state government.
“The newly appointed political assistants are to support the delivery of democratic dividends, articulate the needs of their respective wards, and communicate these needs to the state government. They are also expected to provide accurate feedback from the government to the wards and vice versa,” he stated.
But in a swift reaction through a statement on Saturday by the state chairman of the ADC, Otunba (Dr.) Femi Soluade, the party stated that the appointment, which it also noted had been shamelessly packaged as an attempt to “strengthen grassroots democracy,” is nothing short of daylight robbery of the state’s patrimony.
Soluade noted that at a time when ordinary citizens, workers, pensioners, and the unemployed are wallowing in abject poverty with infrastructural decay in the area of roads and social amenities, this outgoing government had decided to weaponize poverty further by creating political jobs for cronies in the name of governance.
He stated that the appointment reflects the cluelessness of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state, stressing that the ADC condemned it, also describing it as a “collosal waste.”
The ADC chairman in the state called on well-meaning citizens, civil society, and other political stakeholders to rise against what he termed “reckless decision that further impoverishes the people,” adding that “Ogun State deserves leadership that invests in productive sectors of the economy, not leadership that thrives on political patronage and the weaponization of poverty.”
Stating further, he said: “The outgoing clueless APC administration claimed that the newly appointed political assistants are to support the delivery of democratic dividends, articulate the needs of their respective wards, and communicate these needs to the state government knowing fully well that they are members of the APC being groomed to form their party delegates with state resources since such appointments are not statutory by law and will not be remunerated by the Revenue Mobilsation Allocation and Fiscal Commission
“The ADC condemns this colossal wastage of public resources, which clearly serves no purpose other than to advance the Governor’s selfish political expediency and inordinate ambitions ahead of 2027 elections .
“It is also very unfortunate that some notable National Leaders of NNPP and Labour Party in persons of Comrade Oginni Olaposi and Comrade Abayomi Arabambi are shamelessly supporting the illegal and heinous crimes of malgovernance and maladministration of Gov.Dapo Abiodun and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led APC maladministration.
“The recent Launching of EMI LOKAN Programme in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2027 and Dapo Abiodun’s clueless succession bid is condemnable and dead on arrival.
“The ADC as a welfare Political Party is ready to put every plan of Gov.Dapo Abiodun to extend his clueless government through a successor in jeopardy while the dislodgement of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from Aso Rock by the ADC is inevitable in 2027 Election.
“The Ogun State ADC with the support of the people of Ogun state will on May 29th 2027 make APC defunct in Ogun and retire Governor Dapo Abiodun back to his home town Iperu to go and manage his oil company business.
“Robbing Peter to pay Paul cannot be equated to governance. Ogun people deserve policies and programs that empower them sustainably, not cosmetic appointments that drain the treasury and mortgage the future of our youths at the expense of people.
“True grassroots democracy is built on transparent governance, economic empowerment, job creation, quality education, healthcare, and infrastructural development not the reckless distribution of political largesse to a selected few while the majority of our people suffer.
“The African Democratic Congress, Ogun State here by implores the Governor to reverse this illegal appointment with immediate effect .
“Our party remains committed to championing the cause of the masses and will continue to speak truth to power until good governance is enthroned in our dear state on May 29th 2027when ADC would have sent this clueless , greedy and grossly irresponsible APC administration out of Ogun State.”
