Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has declared that his administration in the past over five years has carried out unprecedented turn-around in all the critical sectors of the state economy, describing it as ‘silent economic revolution’.

He added that despite the humongous infrastructural deficit his government inherited upon assumption of office in 2019, especially in the area of roads at the border communities and federal highways, he has been able to drastically ameliorate the situation in the best interests of the people in the State.

Prince Abiodun made this known on Friday during the 14th Annual Lecture/Award ceremony of the Nigerian News Direct Newspaper with the theme “Achieving Economic Prosperity: The Role of Human Capacity Development, Fiscal Prudence and Revenue Generation”, held in Lagos.

The governor, who was conferred with the ‘Man of the Year Award’ and represented by his Special Adviser on Media &Communications, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, reiterated his avowed commitment to  an all-round development in Ogun State and the irreversible resolution to leave behind  enduring legacies of growth and prosperity in the Gateway State.

He highlighted  his enviable success in the State within a shot period of time to include the construction of over 600km of roads across the three Senatorial Districts, the construction of world-class agro-cargo airport as well as raising the internally generated revenue base of the state to become the most viable state in Nigeria in the area of IGR generation among other achievements.

Governor Abiodun further explained that Ogun State since he took the mantle of leadership has totally changed the business environment to make it more friendly to investors, therefore making the state the best in terms of the Ease of Doing Business and the investor destination of choice in Nigeria.

According to him, the State currently accommodates over six thousands manufacturing firms in different industrial clusters across the state and contributing immensely to the micro economy of the state as well as the Nigerian macro economic growth.

He commended the management of the Nigerian News Direct Newspaper for the honour bestowed on him, promising never to deviate from the path of purposeful and responsible leadership with patriotic inclination.

“I most sincerely thank the Nigerian News Direct Newspaper for the honour, obviously, the recognition would serve as impetus for our government to do more for our people in Ogun State and Nigeria in general.

“We are happy that a media organisation like News Direct is painstakingly monitoring our activities and progress in the state, which is no doubt a silent economic revolution of sorts in every critical sector of the state economy.

“I, therefore, urge them to continue to be vanguard of ethical journalism and strong illumination to the Nigeria’s public space for the ultimate good of the generality of the Nigerian citizenry”, Governor Abiodun said.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches ( AfAW) has urged Nigerians against encouraging or undergoing spiritual fortification. In a statement by AfAW’s Director Dr Leo Igwe, the group said that the warning had become necessary following the reported death of one Chikwado Eze, who was buried alive in the course of a spiritual fortification in Enugu in Southern Nigeria.

According to the report, the deceased, who had secured a visa to travel overseas, shared the news with the father. The father took him to a native doctor for spiritual fortification. The ritual required that he be buried alive for an hour and thirty minutes. This process, they believed, would make him strong and able to prosper overseas. The native doctor buried him alive, but he eventually passed away. The police have arrested the so-called native doctor and the father of the deceased.

The statement noted : “The case of Eze illustrates the dark and deadly effects of irrational and superstitious beliefs and rituals. Superstition is a form of intellectual poison. Many Nigerians believe in the potency and efficacy of fortification rituals. As in the case of Eze, they subject themselves or their relatives and friends to this often harmful process. In many cases, spiritual fortification forms a part of initiation into campus cult groups, community age grades, or protective and prosperity rituals. In the course of fortification rituals, people are beaten and flogged with sticks. Many end up with serious injuries that sometimes lead to death. Sometimes, they are cut with machetes, made to sleep in the wild or drink heath-damaging concoctions. The belief is that these barbaric and savage treatments and processes would make them spiritually strong and fortified to withstand and resist any threat or danger to their lives or estate.

“Unfortunately, there is no evidence for this belief. There is no proof that spiritual fortification is potent and effective. As in the case of Eze, there is overwhelming evidence that spiritual fortification leads to death or health damage.

“The Advocacy for Alleged Witches warns the public not to indulge in spiritual fortification of any kind because the process is a sham. Charlatans conduct it; ignorant and gullible people subject themselves to the ritual. First, the process is a contradiction. A spiritual fortification process should be strictly a spiritual affair, that is, it should be conducted metaphysically. The process should be carried out spiritually, not materially, not physically. To spiritually fortify, there is no need to beat, flog, or bury people alive. It is contradictory to use material and physical rituals to strengthen people spiritually. Such a process reeks of absurdity, fraud, or stupidity.

“Second, the process is harmful. In cases where people do not die in the process of being spiritually fortified, they sustain injuries, traumas, and other physical or health issues that they grapple with for the rest of their lives. Spiritual fortification yields weak health and existential conditions and contradictions.

“In addition, fortification leads to the exploitation and impoverishment of seekers of these rituals because the process is not free. Those who seek spiritual fortification are desperate and vulnerable. The so-called native doctors take advantage of them. The native doctors charge their clients huge sums of money. They use the ritual as a pretext to extort money. So the ‘native doctors’ get financially fortified while their clients end up impoverished. Spiritual fortification makes people weak financially. It leads to destitution and death.

“Spiritual fortification is another spiritual scam! It is a bogus and harmful practice.”

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has again broken an age-long jinx by rehabilitating the 45-year-old Ogun State House of Assembly, built by the administration of the late Chief Bisi Onabanjo.

He commissioned the newly renovated Assembly Complex on Wednesday before presenting the N1.054trn before the state House of Assembly.

The renovated Ogun State House of Assembly Complex.

Abiodun, while commissioning the Complex, noted that the project was the fulfillment of a promise he made last year during the presentation of the 2024 appropriation bill where he promised that the complex would wear a new look when he came to present the 2025 appropriation bill.

“This time last year, we were here following which on assumption of office of the new Speaker and the new assembly, we made a commitment and that commitment was to ensure that we all come back this year and present our budget to the House by ensuring that this Assembly Complex that was built in 1979, about 45 years ago that had practically begun to fall apart gets a new look.

“Our commitment was that we will not come back here this year and present our budget in the same assembly complex it was last year.

“We have a commitment that we will reconstruct, rehabilitate this complex so as to make it more conducive for our lawmakers,” he said.

The structure, which was practically fallen apart as a result of the neglect it had suffered over the years is now wearing a new look as the complex can now boast of the availability of water.

Aside from the complex wearing a new look, all the offices for members are now ensuite as members now have the liberty of good rest rooms as against the past when all members had to use just a single toilet.

While appreciating the governor for embarking on the renovation of the Assembly Complex, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide lauded the cordial relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, assuring that Assembly members would work towards the speedy passage of the budget.