By Dr. Ope Banwo, Mayor Of Fadeyi and Founder Naija Lives Matter
When a state hosts the nation, it is expected to showcase not just hospitality but heritage. When athletes, dignitaries, and thousands of spectators descend upon your soil, it is not just a sporting event—it is a cultural parade, an opportunity to put your best foot forward. But when that state is Ogun and the governor is Dapo Abiodun, even national pride becomes collateral damage in the ongoing tragedy of misgovernance.
In what can only be described as an act of administrative sabotage, Governor Dapo Abiodun allowed Olumo Rock, the crown jewel of Ogun State’s historical and cultural identity, to be locked up, neglected, and deserted during the very week the National Sports Festival brought the entire nation to his doorstep.
Let that sink in: Nigeria came to Ogun, and the gate to her greatest symbol of heritage was shut. No tours. No restoration. No explanation. Just silence.
A Monument in Chains, A Legacy in Ruins
Olumo Rock is not just any rock. It is the spiritual and historical backbone of the Egba people. It is the monument that tells the story of resistance, refuge, and rebirth. It is to Ogun what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, what Table Mountain is to Cape Town, what Zuma Rock aspires to be in Abuja.
Yet, in Dapo Abiodun’s Ogun, this sacred rock was padlocked, fenced off from citizens, historians, and tourists—right when the spotlight was brightest.
No scaffolds. No workers. No signs of renovation. No cultural programming. Just a national embarrassment etched in stone and sealed by neglect.
While Edo and Delta Rise, Ogun Sleeps
Other states are turning their heritage into economies. Edo has rebranded its cultural assets into international tourism magnets. Delta has used festivals to showcase its pride and people. But in Ogun, Dapo Abiodun is using public funds to paint over incompetence.
He reportedly allocated N2 billion to feed athletes—an amount that could have restored Olumo Rock and refurbished stadiums across Ijebu, Ilaro, and Sagamu. But instead of investing in legacy, he squandered on logistics.
The Biliki Sugbo Shrine, the Queen of Sheba trail, and even long-abandoned sports facilities now rot under Abiodun’s regime of forgetfulness, as his administration prioritizes photo ops and private deals over public heritage.
This Is Not Just Incompetence—It Is Cultural Betrayal
Closing Olumo Rock when the world came to watch is not just an oversight. It is a calculated insult to the Egba nation, a failure of vision, and a betrayal of duty.
Governors are elected to protect history, preserve culture, and inspire identity. Dapo Abiodun has done the opposite. He locked up the soul of his people, left it to gather dust, and offered no apology—not even a press release.
The Verdict of the People Is In
Even politicians who once dined at his table now decline his calls. Their loyalty has shifted—to the Next Man, the Redeemer of Ogun’s shame. Abiodun’s name now draws sighs of regret, not applause of achievement.
As his 2-term tenure comes to a close in less than 2 years, there are no monuments to his greatness. Only closed gates, broken promises, and a rock that will whisper his failure to future generations.
The gods of Olumo do not forget. The people of Ogun state will not forget . We will be waiting for you to present yourself for votes in leading our state in any other capacity. God forbid.
Conclusion: The Rock Will Outlive You, Governor
Governor Dapo Abiodun may have silenced Olumo Rock for a moment. But history will speak. Loudly. And painfully.
Because a man who locks up his legacy during a national gathering is not just unfit to govern—he is unfit to be remembered. In fact he is a disgrace to his people and the state
My name is Ope Banwo and I say it’s time we federalize our agitation for better lives for Nigerians by holding our leaders accountable at the state and local govt levels starting with our govenors!
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