‘Legislature-friendly governor’ — senators commend Abiodun at Akesan Day celebration

Some members of the senate have commended Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, for driving infrastructural development in the state.

The senators, reportedly numbering 50, lauded the governor on Saturday during the Akesan Day Celebration at Iperu, Ikenne LGA of the state.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Opeyemi Bamidele, leader of the senate, described Abiodun as a “legislature-friendly governor” who is supportive of the parliament.

Bamidele, who was flanked by legislators, said Abiodun was the first among governors to back the senate presidency bid of Godswill Akpabio.

He said the senate holds the governor in high regard, adding that Akpabio would have attended the event if not for other important engagements in Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

“Let me hint here that during the campaign that led to Godswill Akpabio (election) as the president of the senate and the election of the speaker of the house of representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbass, governor Abiodun was the first to identify with us when most people did not believe in their candidature,” Bamidele said.

“Governor Abiodun was with us from the very first beginning. For us, this means so much and every opportunity that we have to identify with governor Abiodun, we will not hesitate.

“Let me also say this for the record that this is the most attended programme from Abuja where you have the highest concentration of distinguished senators and honourable members of the house of representatives.

“It is not by accident, it is because governor Abiodun is involved and so it was not difficult for our dear brother and colleagues, distinguished senator Olamilekan Adeola to invite us. Let me say that those who are not here amongst our colleagues are out of the country or attending some other programmes outside of Abuja.

“We have also known that governor Abiodun is an achiever and a serious-minded democrat and public servant.

“Flying into the international airport today (Saturday) did not only confirm the seriousness that we had always attached to Governor Abiodun, but it also holds him out as a governor who did not only work hard during his first term but because he realised that the second term is even more important.

“Those are the years of legacy creation and we are happy that he is leaving a lot of legacies behind. He has told us about some of the moves he is making to turn Ogun state into the modern-day commercial hub.

“He took us to what the Nigeria customs is doing in building a brand new customs city in the state. I want to thank him for doing this for his people, his state and for Nigeria.”

Also speaking, Abdullahi Ganduje, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), commended Abiodun for the infrastructural projects in the state.

“When we were invited, I asked, do we land at Ibadan or Lagos airport and proceed to Iperu by road? But we ended up landing at an international airport of four kilometres runway with the state of the art infrastructural facilities,” he said.

“This governor is leaving history, this governor is leaving legacies. I do congratulate him on that. In addition, on our way to the venue, I saw a well-constructed road network with concrete drainages.

“His passion for infrastructural facilities is well documented and I can assure you of our support.”