How Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Reign of Impunity In Ogun State Is Being Abetted By The Clerk Of The Ogun State House of Assembly – Naija Lives Matter Cried Out
How Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Reign of Impunity And Corruption In Ogun State Is Being Protected and Abetted By The Clerk Of The Ogun State House of Assembly – [Naija Lives Matter Officials Cry Out After Failed Attempt To Deliver Petition To Legislators]*
Prince Dapo Abiodun’s Ogun State Is Shaping Up To be Another Sad Example Of A Democracy in Crisis
In an era where citizens are waking up to the urgent need for local government accountability, the recent events at the Ogun State House of Assembly have exposed a disturbing level of executive impunity and legislative compromise that threatens the very soul of grassroots democracy.
On Wednesday May 21st, a delegation of Naija Lives Matter executives—including our National President, Secretary General, Director of Projects, and National PRO—visited the Ogun State Assembly complex in Abeokuta to submit a formal petition calling for the investigation of 21 serious allegations of corruption and maladministration against Governor Dapo Abiodun.
We did not go there with a crowd to protest or cause a scene. Only 5 of us went just to deliver our official petition for investigation into the allegations against Gov Dapo Abiodun to the state assembly . That’s all
What followed was a shameful, undemocratic display of arrogance and executive capture by the clerk of the house who made it clear he was running interference for Governor Dapo Abiodun instead of receiving the official petitions we took over there
Clerk of the House: Gatekeeper of Impunity
Rather than fulfill his administrative duty by receiving the petition addressed to him and the Speaker, the Clerk of the House arrogantly refused, claiming—without reading the document—that “the courts have already ruled” on some of the issues raised.
When we explained that his role was not to evaluate or screen petitions, but simply to deliver them to the members for deliberation, the Clerk berated our delegation for “daring” to petition the Governor. He then stormed out of the office and instructed his assistant—who had previously engaged with us professionally—not to receive the petition or she would be “on her own.”
This was not just a bureaucratic hiccup. It was a blatant abuse of office, a slap in the face of constitutional democracy, and a crystal-clear indicator that Governor Dapo Abiodun has hijacked all arms of government in Ogun State.
The Smell of Fear in the House of Assembly
The atmosphere in the Assembly complex reeked of intimidation and fear from the governor. Civil servants whispered in corners. Eyes darted nervously once they saw we have come with a petition to back up our previous public allegations again Gov Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state. No one wanted to be seen associating with the petition. It was as though the Governor had imposed a reign of terror within the very institution meant to check his powers.
The Clerk’s conduct left no doubt that Governor Abiodun has turned Ogun State into a fiefdom, where the rule of law is suspended and government institutions serve only one master—the Governor himself.
Why This Petition Matters: 10 Out of 21 Allegations That Must Be Investigated
Naija Lives Matter has raised 21 detailed and well-researched allegations against Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Below are 10 highlights out of the 21 alegation that demand urgent investigation in goun state:
- Diversion of over N9 billion allocated for road rehabilitation across the state.
- Inflated contracts awarded to political cronies without due process.
- Illegal sale of public land under the guise of “urban renewal.”
- Fraudulent payroll padding involving hundreds of ghost workers.
- Unlawful seizure and hoarding of federal allocations meant for local governments.
- Harassment of whistleblowers within the civil service who exposed internal corruption.
- Unaccounted-for COVID-19 relief funds and inflated spending on foreign trips.
- Neglect of historical sites like Olumo Rock during major national events.
- Manipulation of state agencies to suppress dissent and intimidate opponents.
- Complete erosion of legislative independence, turning the Assembly into a rubber stamp.
State-Level Dictatorships by Governors like Prince Dapo Abiodun Are the Real Threat To Nigerian Democracy
While national attention is often focused on Abuja, the real danger to Nigeria’s democracy is unfolding quietly at the state and local government level. Governors like Dapo Abiodun now rule with unchecked power—appointing loyalists across all institutions, silencing civil society, and co-opting the legislature.
This is why Naija Lives Matter is launching a nationwide movement to federalize the agitation for good governance.
We will no longer ignore the tyranny that festers in our states while pretending that only the federal government matters. If the people cannot submit petitions to their state assembly, then we are not a democracy—we are living under elected monarchs.
Our Call to Action
We demand:
- Immediate disciplinary action against the Clerk of the House for obstructing a lawful citizens’ petition.
- A formal sitting of the Ogun State House of Assembly to accept and investigate the 21 allegations raised.
- Public transparency and livestreaming of legislative debates on all petitions brought by civil society groups.
- Independent panel of retired judges and civil society observers to review all corruption allegations in Ogun State.
Ogun State belongs to the people, not to a political cartel. The House of Assembly must rise from its slumber—or be remembered as collaborators in one of the darkest chapters of executive tyranny in the state’s history.
Conclusion: No Going Back
Naija Lives Matter will not be intimidated. We will resubmit the petition. We will escalate the matter nationally. We will organize town halls, publish damning evidence, and mobilize every citizen who still believes in justice.
Governor Dapo Abiodun may silence civil servants and co-opt legislators, but he cannot silence the voice of the people.
This is not the end. This is just the beginning. We intend to make Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Governor of the state of the national chairman of Naija Lives Matter a test case on holding our governors accountable
He and his acolytes in power may run from our petitions but they cannot hide forever . We will escalate this to EFCC and also send personalized packages to all State legislators in the coming days to ensure everyone got a copy of our petition for investigation against Governor Abiodun. Then we will know if ALL legislators in Ogun state are in the tank to perpetuate the impunity of the worst performing governor in Ogun state history
Dr Ope Banwo
For Naija Lives Matter Organization
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