The Ogun State Government under Governor Dapo Abiodun has once again come under fire following a fresh court order stopping the administration from acquiring land in Ilara, a Remo community. The injunction, issued yesterday, August 26, 2025 has emboldened critics who accuse the Abiodun-led government of presiding over what they describe as a “land grabbing administration.”
Traditional rulers and community leaders in Remo and beyond allege that Governor Abiodun’s policies have systematically stripped them of their ancestral lands, weakening their authority and plunging their people into uncertainty.
In Irolu, a community in Remo, residents lament that their entire territory has been swallowed up by government-backed acquisitions. “There is no land to rule over anymore,” a palace source revealed, underscoring the silent frustrations of monarchs who feel emasculated by the governor’s actions.
What is even worse, critics say, is the mysterious network of companies through which these lands are being acquired. Many believe these firms may simply be fronts for powerful men in government, hiding behind corporate veils to corner communal lands. The fact that procurement of contracts in Ogun State under Prince Dapo Abiodun’s administration has been shrouded in secrecy only appears to give strength to these speculations.
Opposition figures and civil society groups have also accused Governor Abiodun of using state power to dispossess communities under the guise of development. They argue that rather than prioritizing the welfare of indigenes, his administration has turned land — the people’s greatest heritage — into a political and commercial commodity.
The latest Ilara ruling has now cast a shadow over Abiodun’s leadership style, raising questions about his respect for the judiciary, traditional institutions, and the very people who entrusted him with power. Observers note that while development is necessary, Governor Abiodun’s government appears more interested in annexing land than engaging communities in dialogue.
For many in Ogun State, the issue goes beyond land. It speaks to what they describe as Governor Abiodun’s high-handedness, disregard for tradition, and failure to protect the cultural and economic lifelines of his people. With the court halting the Ilara acquisition, analysts predict a wave of legal resistance across the state as more communities may be emboldened to challenge what they call the governor’s “reckless appetite for land.”
The coming weeks will determine whether Governor Abiodun heeds the warning signals from the judiciary and his people, or whether his administration continues to fuel the perception that Ogun State is being run not for its citizens, but for the interests of a select few hiding behind government power.