Society
Untold Story Of How Dapo Abiodun Protected Lives & Properties With Handling Of #EndSars Crisis In Ogun State
Charles Oyelesi
In one of a very rare but spectacular crisis management move since he assumed the saddle as Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun was a step ahead of events in the widespread #EndSars agitation that rocked the nation and subsequent looting in different states under the pretext of the hunt for palliatives.
Governor Abiodun deployed a strategy that ensured that a very limited number of lives and properties were affected.
Ogun state is coming out as one of the safest states in the country as far as the #EndSars crisis and related issues are concerned.
But how did the administration of Dapo Abiodun widely labeled responsive and not anticipatory to all the controversies that have rocked it since came to power achieve this daunting task?
Societynow.ng gathered that Dapo Abiodun and his men changed their approach.
“They were anticipatory. The Ogun state government not only identified with the #EndSars struggle but also became a part of it underground and was able to script the endgame in its domain” societynow.ng learned.
Multiple sources confirmed the #EndSars agitation became visible in Ogun State after media aides of Governor Abiodun identified with the protesters.
“They not only identified, but they also gave the move prominence with mentions on their social media pages” societynow.ng learned.
The aides were led by Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye.
Multiple sources also claim the Abiodun government released backdoor funds to support the protesters.
“So, the government knew the main organizers of the protests in Ogun state and it was very easy to shut down the agitation and prevent it from spiraling into a menace to lives and properties like it did in most states” societynow.ng learned.
The easy shut down of the #EndSars protests in Ogun state by the government is outside of Yewa West, Atan area where smugglers hijacked the agitation to settle scores with law enforcement agents.
The check made by societynow.ng revealed attempts some people to make an issue out of the talks that government released funds for the handling of the #EndSars protests in Ogun state is being shut on the altar of “interest of public good.”
“I am not a fan of this administration but if that was what D.A (Dapo Abiodun) did to protect lives and properties by preventing the kind of mayhem witnessed in Lagos state and other places, then kudos to him. The amount they are mentioning is not up to the value of a bungalow not to talk of the life of a person” a source stated.
The funds being mentioned are between the range of ten and fifteen million Naira (N10m – 15m).
Insiders disclosed that a similar ploy has been deployed in the handling of the ongoing crisis resulting from the hunt for palliatives.
“When the Governor said there is no looting in Ogun state, he is correct because the scenes you see are scripted to minimize damage. In Sagamu where it started from, the local government wanted to give out the palliatives and the people rushed them and they let them take it at will till it finished. The same thing happened in Ifo and Ijebu Ode. It is not like the residents went to those palaces, broke the doors, and started looting” a witness started.
Insiders disclosed there are local governments that shared palliatives during this period that did not result in such for the what was disrtibuted based on the strategy deployed. And there are political leaders given that distributed as well.
Multiple sources disclosed that “all in all” the Dapo Abiodun administration appears to be on top of managing the #EndSars crisis and its fallout in Ogun state – for now.
