…Reiterates commitment to building greater Ogun State
…Pardons 51 prisoners
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has reiterated his resolve to use his second term administration to pursue programmes and projects that would further enhance frontiers of socio-economic development across the length and breadth of the state.
Abiodun said though, he has never promised to provide solutions to all the challenges confronting the state but whatever he had promised the people of the state during his campaign would be done to the admiration of all.
The Governor reiterated this commitment on Monday after being sworn in alongside his Deputy, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele for another term of four years at a colourful occasion held at MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta.
The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu administered the oath of office on Abiodun and his Deputy, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele.
The Governor said that his administration had fulfilled all the promises made during his first term in office saying that in the last four years, his government had constructed over 400km of roads, almost 2000 housing units, over 1,000 classrooms, rehabilitated and equipped over 100 health centres, empowered of 40,000 through Okowo Dapo soft loan scheme, employed over 5,000 into the civil service, constructed the Agro-Cargo Airport at Ilisan Remo, to mention but few.
He explained that during his second term regime, his administration would consolidate on the success of his first term in office and ensure the completion of all ongoing projects while new ones that would make life a lot easier for the people of the state would be embarked upon.
He listed some of the projects his second term would be deployed to pursue to include the completion of the ongoing Agro-Cargo Airport, construction of Dry Port and logistics hub at Kajola in Ewekoro Local Government area of the state, exploration of oil in Tongeji Island, Ipokia as well as Ogun Waterside area, construction of additional 4,000 housing units, construction of more access roads, construction of rail lines in collaboration with the Lagos State, investment in power sector to enhance power supply to the state among others.
The Governor also before concluding his speech announced the release of 49 inmates serving various jail terms across the correctional facilities in the state while three others on death row had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
Gov. Abiodun said that having received counsel from the committee set up to advise him on how to correctly apply the constitutional power of prerogative of mercy, he had signed that 49 inmates serving various terms should be released to reunite with their families while three others on death row had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
He explained that “the convicts who have received this gesture today, are inmates who have served long prison sentences with some having been in prison for more than 20 years. At least two of these convicts have serious medical conditions such as tuberculosis and HIV which even render them a health hazard to the prison community.
“Three of these convicts are over 60 years old, with one being 84 years old. Others already have less than two years of their sentences to serve anyway. All of these convicts have shown remorse for their crimes, they have acquired skills and certifications in prison, and they have demonstrated verified good conduct during their imprisonment.
“The Ogun State of our dreams is not only for one class of persons. It is not for the perfect. It is an inclusive State that gives opportunities to the law-abiding, and second chances to deserving offenders. If we spend considerable time, effort, and resources in supporting correctional facilities, then we must believe in their capacity to correct, and be willing to reabsorb, reintegrate, and utilise those that these facilities have corrected. While we are not softening our stance on crime.”