RismadarVoice Reporters, June 29, 2026
The Ogun State Government has dismissed as false reports alleging that members of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s cabinet prostrate before him whenever he is displeased with them, describing the claims as a deliberate fabrication intended to ridicule the governor and create unnecessary tension in the state.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade, said no commissioner or member of the State Executive Council had ever been required to prostrate before Governor Abiodun.
He also described as “ridiculous” allegations that the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, prostrates before the governor, saying the claim underscored the reckless nature of the publication.
“The claim that members of the Ogun State Executive Council routinely prostrate before Governor Dapo Abiodun whenever he is displeased with them is a complete fabrication. At no time has any commissioner or cabinet member been required to prostrate before the Governor, nor has such an incident ever occurred.
“Even more ridiculous is the claim that the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, prostrates before the Governor. Such a falsehood exposes the reckless and irresponsible nature of the publication,” the statement read.
The government accused the online platform that published the report of abandoning the principles of factual and responsible journalism in favour of sensationalism and deliberate falsehood.
According to Akinmade, the publication distorted a widely reported incident involving local government chairmen during the controversy surrounding allegations made by the former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Mr Wale Adedayo.
He explained that the council chairmen voluntarily prostrated before Governor Abiodun while seeking forgiveness on behalf of their colleague, in keeping with Yoruba cultural tradition, stressing that the governor neither requested nor encouraged the gesture.
“At no time did Governor Abiodun request, direct or encourage anyone to prostrate before him. The gesture was entirely voluntary,” he stated.
The state government further recalled that the allegations raised by Adedayo had been investigated by the Ogun State House of Assembly, while the Joint Account and Allocation Committee confirmed that local government allocations were disbursed through the statutory process and that the state government did not divert council funds.
It added that the state government had on several occasions supplemented local government finances to enable councils to meet their financial obligations.
The government urged residents to disregard the publication and rely on credible sources of information, while calling on security agencies to investigate those responsible for the report, warning that such false publications could undermine the peace and stability currently enjoyed in Ogun State.
