*Allegation heinous, naked propaganda- Ogun govt

BY KOLADE LAREWAJU
The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ogun State, has raised alarm over alleged plans by the out-going Governor Olugbenga Daniel government to disrupt the May 29 hand-over ceremony by bombing the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, venue of the event.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sola Lawal, the ACN said Governor Daniel has already instructed his aides and associates to vacate the state on or before Wednesday, May 25 so that they will not be caught up in the mayhem.

This move, he also said, was to provide an alibi for top functionaries of the administration in case of being fingered as culprits in the planned disorder.

According to the party, Governor Daniel was bent on marring the transition ceremony in the face of the disgrace he suffered in the April 26 governorship polls which saw his candidate, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka of the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN, defeated overwhelmingly by the ACN’s Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

The ACN said “Daniel is yet to wake up to the reality of his exit from power and is grudgingly leaving office with the evil intention of causing pandemonium not minding its impact on lives and property.

“He was unable to stop the emergence of Amosun and now, he is planning to halt his installation. “We hereby call on the security agencies to be at alert to ensure maximum security throughout Ogun State and also put in place steps that will guarantee safety of lives and property at the stadium during the hand-over ceremony.

Allegation heinous- govt

Reacting to the allegation, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Daniel; Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo desribed the Action Congress allegation as a “heinous statement credited to Mr. Sola Lawal, to the effect that a bomb blast was being planned to disrupt the inauguration programme of the incoming administration on May 29, 2011.

“To say the least we are shocked by the resort to naked propaganda and vile untruth by a party which should ordinarily be concerned with fashioning ways to consolidate the gains of the last eight years in Ogun State. Rather than constructive engagement that would further deepen good governance, what we have seen is a descent to the abyss of propaganda and issuing of statement meant to heat up the polity and divide our people.

“However this latest concoction from the propaganda mill of the ACN in Ogun State gives cause for worry. For if this is the colour of the emerging administration then Ogun State people should be prepared for lies at the highest level and propaganda as tool of governance. All the allegations contained in Mr. Lawal’s Statement are completely false.

“We as a government cannot and will not destroy what we have built and what would continue to stand as legacies of our good governance in the last eight years.

“In the first place on the 25th of May 2011 which the propaganda machine of the ACN claimed functionaries of the outgoing administration have been warned to leave the State in order for them not to be caught in the phantom bomb blast which is a creation of the ACN, the entire civil service personnel in Ogun State would hold a valedictory gathering to honour the outgoing Governor for repositioning the public service.

“The next day, the reconstructed Isale Igbehin Bridge would be commissioned while a special plenary session of the Elders Consultative Forum would hold”.

On Friday May 27, 2011, Otunba Daniel would commission the private ward of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital while around 12 noon there is a scheduled meeting with the Governor elect, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

“At the meeting Governor Daniel would brief Senator Amosun on the inner working of Government and would also present handover notes to him. All top functionaries of the government would attend all the events.

“So while we are working to ensure a smooth transition, the ACN is clearly working to sow the seed of discord and cause confusion in Ogun State with its repeated false, baseless and deliberately concocted allegations against the government of Ogun State. Indeed the new lies from the ACN came

“When Governor Daniel was hosting dignitaries from across the country and beyond at a thanksgiving service to mark his eight year successful tenure as governor of Ogun State. At the service Governor Daniel appealed to the generality of the members of the public service to transfer their loyalty to the incoming administration since all of us should continue to work for the peace, progress and development of Ogun State. He has canvassed this position at different forums and it is on record that he was one of the first people to congratulate the incoming governor after his victory had become certain

“We hereby call on the people of Ogun State to ignore this latest perfidy from the ACN propaganda machinery and go about their lawful duties without let or hindrance.

“We also call on security agencies to investigate the source of this heinous propaganda and bring those who are bent on causing disaffection and breakdown of law and order by spreading false rumor and lies to justice.

“Finally In and out of office, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his associates would continue to work for the greater glory of Ogun State and would never do anything to retard its progress that his administration worked assiduously for in the last eight years”