Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said the 36 states have taken ownership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic framework on ameliorating the plight of the people and have begun the implementation of the same.
Prince Abiodun made this known in an interview during the two years memorial service of his father, Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun at St. James’ Anglican Church, Iperu-Remo.
The governor pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with President Tinubu’s administration, saying, “This too shall pass, and we will all be better for it.”
Abiodun, while noting that the resultant effect of the removal of subsidy is hard on the people but good for the economy, noted that the federal government action would save the country over N4 trillion and allow the government provide people with programs and projects that would better their lives.
“We have shown that we are very deliberate. We have demonstrated that we feel the pains of our people, and we have done that by being very proactive.
“We sat with the President because he took the decision to remove the fuel subsidy in the best interest of this nation. It was a cancer that was causing this country over N4 trillion as of last year and would have caused over N6 trillion by the end of this year. And he took that bold step to remove it so that we can use that much money toward things that people can see, feel, and touch; things that will be of direct benefit to the common man.
“Like I said earlier, this is just a process of transition. Mr President under his leadership have provided us with a framework. I mean the governors as to what we need to do in our respective states, and we in Ogun State have taken ownership of that framework, and we have begun the implementation of the same.
“We were in Benin Republic recently. In Benin Republic, fuel prices are about N900 to N1000 per litre.
“So Nigeria was busy subsidizing all her neighbours; so he decided to remove subsidy. With that removal, there has been an attendant increase in transportation fares and high costs of food prices, and things have been a bit difficult for our people,” he said.
The governor said that his administarion, in line with the president’s mandate, has started with the payment of N10,000 transport allowance to civil servants and pensioners.
He also confirmed that he recently had the opportunity of riding an electric-powered motorcycle during his trip to the Benin Republic with President Tinubu, reiterating that Ogun State would soon launch its E-mobility program which would make transportation more economical and affordable for the people of the state.
“We recently began the payment of N10,000 transport allowances to all civil servants and even pensioners. We are a promise-keeping administration. I believe that we have taken very clear and decisive steps that demonstrate our sincerity of purpose.
“I was in Benin Republic yesterday (Tuesday) with the President and I actually rode a bike that is an electric motorcycle, an exact replica of the one that is coming here. I will be launching maybe in two to three weeks,” he said.
Governor Abiodun at the service described his father as a peaceful man, whose ministry was teaching and touching lives people.
He added that he has no doubt that his father has gone to join the Saints.
Earlier in his short exaltation, the Vicar, St. James’ Anglican Church, Iperu -Remo, Rev. Shadrach Ajileye, said that Dr. Emmanuel Abiodun in his life time, served God and mankind diligently, noting that his death was a great loss not only to the church, but the society as a whole.
According to the cleric, it is imperative for all to impact positively on the lives of others, just as Dr. Abiodun did, adding that what one does while alive would determine how he would be remembered.
