Abiodun government scored below 20% in most sectors, says Ogun PDP Chair

Michael Olumide Alabi

Ogun State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Abayomi Tella, has described the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun as a failure, urging residents of the state to vote out the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 governorship election.

Tella made the call on Wednesday while speaking during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme aired by Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.

The PDP chairman said residents across the state were dissatisfied with the performance of the present administration, insisting that his party remained the best alternative ahead of the 2027 election.

“It would be a mere wasting of time talking about the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun. Every individual in Ogun State tells you he did not do well. It’s as simple as that. And the alternative is PDP, and we are coming on board,” he said.

Tella argued that the effectiveness of any government should be measured by its ability to deliver development at the grassroots, stressing that local government administration remained critical to improving the living conditions of citizens.

According to him, successive administrations that came after the PDP government in Ogun State had failed to adequately empower local government councils, thereby weakening grassroots development and service delivery.

He said the PDP, if returned to power, would prioritise the strengthening of local government administration and ensure that governance was brought closer to the people.

“Any government that does not make the local government administration work can never be a good government because every policy is local. The only government that did that in this state is the PDP. Every other one that has come thereafter does not get it right,” Tella said.

He maintained that stabilising the local government system would significantly address some of the socio-economic challenges confronting residents, particularly at a time when Nigerians were facing economic hardship.

“Once you stabilise the local government administration, in this present economy that we are in, everybody is crying everywhere. You have, honestly, I must tell you, talking from experience, you have stabilised 30 per cent for the people of Ogun State,” he added.

The PDP chairman also criticised the Abiodun administration’s performance in education, healthcare and infrastructural development, alleging that the government had concentrated too much attention on projects within the Abeokuta metropolis at the expense of rural communities.

Tella particularly faulted the administration’s approach to education, claiming that the renovation and painting of schools in the state capital did not adequately address the challenges facing the sector.

“In the area of infrastructural development, I will score this government less than 20 per cent. Education, to me, this government is zero,” he said.

He alleged that the administration had focused largely on beautification and renovation projects in Abeokuta while neglecting the needs of schools and communities in rural parts of the state.

“You see, one of the things that this government likes to do is to come into Abeokuta metropolis, paint a school, and showcase it with their yellow, yellow colour. Whereas Ogun State has more rural areas than urban. This government has failed in its responsibility to align with the rural dwellers, and any government that fails in doing that can just rate them easily. They are far, far below average,” he added.

However, Tella acknowledged the completion of the Gateway International Airport, which he said was initiated by former Governor Gbenga Daniel and completed under Governor Abiodun.

He said while he credited the current administration for completing the airport project, he maintained that its performance in other sectors fell short of expectations.

“And that’s why I give credit to Otunba Gbenga Daniel for initiating the airport that we now have at Iperu. And I give it to Prince Dapo Abiodun for completing that…at least he completed that. That is the only area where I would call this government 40 per cent. Every other place is less than 20,” Tella said.

The PDP chairman also promised that the party would prioritise the welfare of pensioners and retired civil servants if it returns to power in 2027.

He accused the current administration of neglecting retirees, insisting that people who had dedicated their productive years to serving Ogun State deserved to receive their pensions and other retirement benefits promptly.

Tella said a PDP administration would ensure that retirees were treated with dignity and would not be subjected to prolonged delays in receiving their entitlements.

“If the PDP government gets into power today, as I told you earlier, the people of Ogun State are our primary objective that we are going to face, and our retiree who has given his best to the state must not suffer while collecting his stipend. Retirees during our tenure were close to us. The government is not going to owe them. Anybody who is doing that is just callous for no reasons” he stated.

He further contrasted the PDP’s previous administration with the current government, claiming that retirees had enjoyed closer engagement with the government when the PDP was in power.

“There is a clear difference between the PDP government in Ogun State and the government there now. Retirees during our tenure are close to us. We talk at all points in time, solve their problems, we do that every time,” he said.

Tella assured pensioners that the PDP, if elected in 2027, would not only ensure the regular payment of pensions but would also work towards clearing outstanding arrears.

“I want to assure retirees that we will not only continue to pay them as at when due, but we will clear out the backlog because we know that they are giving their best to this state and they deserve to live,” he said.

He expressed concern over the plight of some retirees who, according to him, had died while waiting for their retirement benefits and were unable to enjoy the fruits of their years of service.

The PDP chairman also expressed confidence in his party’s chances of reclaiming the Ogun State governorship seat in the 2027 election.

Tella argued that the PDP remained a political home for many prominent figures in the state who had previously belonged to the party before moving to other political platforms.

He cited Governor Dapo Abiodun, former Governor Ibikunle Amosun and former Governor Gbenga Daniel, now a senator elected on the platform of the APC, as prominent political figures who had roots in the PDP.

“Even Mr. Governor today, Prince Dapo Abiodun, was a product of this party. Governor Amosun was a product of this party. Otunba Gbenga Daniel, today, who is a senator under APC, is a product of this party,” he said.

According to him, some politicians currently in other parties may return to the PDP after leaving public office, arguing that political positions had influenced the continued membership of some individuals in their current parties.

Tella also dismissed concerns over the internal crisis that had affected the PDP at the national level, insisting that the Ogun State chapter remained united and focused on the 2027 elections.

He said the party under his leadership had maintained unity in the state and was fully prepared to challenge the APC at the polls.

The PDP chairman predicted what he described as a “heavy surprise” for the ruling party during the 2027 election, although he declined to disclose details of the party’s strategy.

“Let me tell you, the 2027 election is going to be a heavy surprise. I’m not going to let the cat out of the bag, but I’m going to assure you that PDP will close victory in the 2027 election in Ogun State,” he declared.

He added that the national crisis within the PDP was no longer an obstacle to the party’s electoral preparations, maintaining that the Ogun chapter had remained united.

“From day one, Ogun State PDP under my leadership has remained one, and we have focused ever since then. Today, we are united, we are ready for election 2027,” Tella stated.

The PDP chairman’s comments come as political activities and preparations gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties expected to begin positioning themselves and mobilising supporters across Ogun State.