No forest reserves sold by government, says gov’s aide
The second term bid of Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, further got a more boost as traditional rulers, under the aegis of Progressive Royal Fathers of Ogun Central, endorsed the governor for another term.
The monarchs hinged their support on what they described as “his sterling and creditable performance in office.” Olu of Itori, who spoke, yesterday, while addressing newsmen on behalf of the royal fathers after their meeting in Itori, Ewekoro Local Council, said that 72 monarchs, after meeting with the governor on Wednesday, unanimously voiced their support for his continuity in office come 2023.
“We thank God for our governor who God has been using to turn around the state despite the pandemic and its effect on the economy. The governor has done tremendously well in the state and we are proud of him.
“We throw our weight behind him; we will do all necessary things to make his coming back in 2023 easy. Our mantra in the Progressive Royal Father’s forum is eight years for Governor Dapo Abiodun, and we are giving him 100 per cent support,” he said.
IN another development, the state government has refuted the rumours making the rounds that it had sold some forest reserves in the Ijebu axis of the state to foreign investors.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile, who stated this, while fielding questions from newsmen on the protest by timber merchants made up of Timber Sellers Association, Plank Sellers and Ijebu Sawmillers, and Timber Contractors Association, said the forest reserves were concessioned by the immediate past administration in the state.
Odusile, however, insisted that the reserves were never sold by the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration, but were concessioned to two Nigerian companies for N800 million yearly by the immediate past administration.
Besides, he reiterated that the present administration would not do anything that would bring hardship to the people, saying that the state government would always take the interest of the people into consideration before any major decision.
