By Lukman Omikunle
Ogun State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Waheed Odusile has reacted to some online newspapers’ reports alleging that the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun admitted to certain crimes in the United States of America.
This is coming after a petition emerged from a member of the All Progressives Congress, Ayodele Oludiran, who claimed that the governor is not eligible for a second term in office.
Oludiran had accused the Mr Abiodun of “concealing criminal offences he allegedly committed in the USA in the 1980s.
According to him, the governor’s candidacy would portend danger for the APC with the damning allegations against him.
Sequel reports from some online newspapers to the allegation, however, alleged that Mr Abidoun admitted to the said crime.
But reacting in a statement released and seen by newsheadline247.com Thursday night, Mr Odusile maintained that governor Abiodun “did not admit ever being convicted of any crime.”
Describing the report as “fallacious”, the commissioner condemned the reports in its entirety adding that those behind it were obviously out to discredit the governor.
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The statement read; “Our attention has been drawn to a story with a misleading caption in some online newspapers.
“To say this story is fallacious is to say the least. It is an admission to the fact that the journalism profession, which we still hold as noble has been thrown to the dogs.
“Journalists are expected to fact check their information before going to the press.
“This particular story was purportedly from a letter written by Afe Babalola & Co, to the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a response to a petition written by a political mercenary.
“Nowhere in the letter written by the Afe Babalola & Co. was there any admission by Prince Dapo Abiodun to have admitted to committing any crime.
“The letter written by the governor’s lawyers was twisted and presented to suit a particular purpose best known to those that authored / sponsored it.
“It should, however, be noted that their obvious game plan is to discredit the governor and get through the backdoor, what they could not get through the ballot.
“Prince Dapo Abiodun is unperturbed by this machination. Just like they failed in 2019, they will also fail this time around.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be noted that Prince Dapo Abiodun did not admit ever being convicted of any crime.
“While we enjoined journalists to comply strictly to the ethics of their profession, we shall however not hesitate to take appropriate legal step against the purveyors of this blatant falsehood.”
