Six Years Silent, Now Sprinkling Titles: Governor Abiodun Under Fire

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State is drawing sharp criticism across the state following a wave of controversial political appointments, a move many describe as a last-ditch attempt to salvage his dwindling relevance and reposition himself ahead of the 2027 elections.

On Monday, barely five weeks after celebrating six years in office, governor Abiodun announced the appointment of eleven new Senior Special Assistants, one Special Assistant, and twenty-seven liaison officers. The announcement, made via a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, has sparked outrage among political watchers and residents alike.

Critics say the timing of the appointments exposes a calculated strategy to win over aggrieved party loyalists and curry favour from the same electorate he largely ignored during the bulk of his tenure. Whispers of a senatorial ambition in 2027 have only intensified suspicions around the move.

“For six years, Dapo Abiodun was missing in action when it came to inclusive governance,” remarked a political analyst from Ijebu Ode. “Now he’s dishing out appointments as panic pills. It’s not leadership, it’s survival.”

Across Ogun State, many citizens are questioning the sincerity of the gesture. APC youth members in Yewa and party insiders in Ilaro say the appointments are too little, too late.

“Where was this energy in 2019, 2020, or even 2021?” asked a visibly upset youth leader. “This sudden love for grassroots engagement is not out of conviction, but fear of political irrelevance.”

The move has also stirred internal ripples within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where party stalwarts reportedly view the appointments as patronage politics aimed at patching up fractured alliances ahead of a possible Senate run.

Even more glaring, residents argue, is the absence of any landmark project that can be directly linked to the Abiodun administration. While past governors are still remembered for impactful infrastructure and bold initiatives, many say Abiodun will be remembered for photo ops, vague press statements, and missed opportunities.

“He’s borrowing other administrations’ legacies and trying to pass them off as his own,” said Mrs. Ronke Alade, a civil servant in Abeokuta. “Now that time is ticking, he’s offering titles like party favours. We see through it.”

With just two years left in office, Governor Abiodun’s recent political maneuvers have left a sour taste in the mouths of many Ogun indigenes. Whether the appointments will earn him renewed loyalty or deepen public disillusionment remains to be seen.

For now, the public mood is unmistakable: the governor may still hold office, but he is steadily losing the people.

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By Folake Sokoya