Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has approached the Federal Government to mediate in the ongoing dispute with Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. regarding the Ogun Free Trade Zone (FTZ). The governor reportedly met with top federal officials last Thursday to resolve the issue, which has escalated to the seizure of presidential jets by a French court.
Multiple anonymous Ogun State officials confirmed the meeting, with one senior official noting that Governor Abiodun is committed to settling the matter promptly.
Simultaneously, renowned economist and political commentator, Professor Pat Utomi, clashed with former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, over a revoked property deal. Utomi accused Amosun of canceling a contract that led to significant financial losses, claiming the cancellation was part of a pattern of actions that have harmed others, including the recent seizure of jets.
Utomi took to social media to express his frustration, stating that the canceled contract during Amosun’s administration forced him to repay loans under difficult circumstances. He linked the jet seizure to Amosun’s decision to terminate agreements made by his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, labeling the situation as “Karma at work.”
In response, Amosun accused Utomi of making unreasonable demands following the contract’s cancellation. He described Utomi’s claims as an attempt to exploit the situation for personal gain, alleging that Utomi tried to induce him into paying more than the actual value of the revoked property. Amosun stood by his decision, criticizing Utomi’s “entitlement mentality” and dismissing his grievances.
Amosun further addressed the broader dispute involving Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co., describing the company as an impostor. He defended the cancellation of their contract, citing court rulings that favored the state’s actions. Amosun emphasized that the law should be uniformly applied to all Nigerians, regardless of status, and warned against the spread of misinformation.
The ongoing dispute highlights tensions between current and past administrations in Ogun State, as well as the challenges in managing public-private partnerships and contracts.
