He issued a warning, saying anyone seen selling land in the state's plantations and forest reserves would face disciplinary action from his administration.
At the state Council of Obas' Statutory Meeting, which was held at the Oba's Complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the governor issued the warning.
He called the people's actions—which include some Obas selling government land—unpatriotic.
"We will keep looking for your support in the area of lands," he declared. Sadly, stories concerning some of our kings taking it upon themselves to give government land, government forest reserves, and plantations to others have been brought to our attention here in Abeokuta. The government has been selling and distributing land.
This has been so hard for me to believe. That our monarchs would now start distributing such lands to others—and worse, that the land is going to non-Ogun State natives in parts of the areas—is something I find incredibly disloyal.
"Our Kabiyesis are collaborating with individuals from outside Ogun State, giving them access to our plantations and property, and they are visiting there and clearing forests. The plantation is being destroyed by them. There, Indian hemp is being planted. When I received this news, I was utterly devastated, and upon further verification, it turned out to be accurate.
We shall be forced to take disciplinary action against anyone found guilty of such an act as a responsible state government, whether they be Kabiyesi or not.
The reason for this is that neither you nor I own this land. As a state, we own it as collective property and it is part of our collective inheritance. Since this is our commonwealth, we should make an effort to avoid doing any actions that could damage the reputation of the throne and royalty.
The governor of Ogun State, who informed the monarchs of his administration's efforts to attract more investors, announced that the state government and a private investor would sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of the Ogun State Dry Port at Kajola before the year ends, and that talks had been held with the president of Benin about the use of the airport by investors from that country.
It implies that Ogun State will soon have a dry port, allowing everyone to ship goods to Kajola from anywhere in the globe, including our manufacturers and industries. Between now and Christmas, this Memorandum of Understanding will be signed.
"I had a meeting with the president of the Benin Republic last week. He informed me that the Benin Republic's government has been informed about our airport, sent delegates, and decided to be the first client to export goods from our airport.
"They have made the decision to transport all of their agricultural products from the Benin Republic to our airport, from where they will be exported to the rest of the globe."
The governor said that the state government has chosen to concession the 250-bed hospital in Abeokuta as part of his administration plan for the health sector.
The governor claims that the hospital's daily operations are being handled by others because the state is unable to manage it.
Here in Abeokuta, we will be signing the Memorandum of Understanding for the 250-bed hospital.
"We understand that the state will not be able to manage such facility since, at the moment, the salary alone at our tertiary hospital, OOUTH, costs the state almost N300 million per month. We recognize that the state is not equipped to manage the hospital in the most effective manner.
"Based on our observations and actions, the facility will draw medical tourists if it is managed well.
According to a template that the state has approved, we will be the property's landlord, and others are welcome to come take the concession and manage it in a business manner.
"We are in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Afrexim Bank and the medical group to take over and professionally operate that hospital before the end of the year," he continued.
Prince Abiodun thanked the Obas for their assistance both before and after the governorship election.
He urged them to keep working with the government as partners in security, offering intelligence reports that would support security services in achieving their goals for the state's socioeconomic development.
During his inaugural speech, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, recognized the collaboration between the state government and traditional institutions that has resulted in local peace. He urged these institutions to persist in aiding the government in advancing development throughout the state.
Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Akarigbo of Remoland, praised the state government for its developmental progress throughout the entire state and thanked the governor for his generosity toward the traditional institution.