A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Olorunsogo Local Government Area of Oyo State, Hon. Evangelist Ogunrinde Gbenjo Williams, has issued a rebuttal to what he described as a “misleading and defamatory” social media video targeting former Oyo State Head of Service, Chief Mrs. Hannah Olawumi Ogunesan.
In a statement made available to journalists, Ogunrinde condemned the viral video allegedly circulated by Kola Amao, which he said contained unsubstantiated claims against the respected civil servant.
“Our attention has been drawn to a misleading and defamatory video currently circulating by one Kola Amao on social media, wherein unsubstantiated allegations were made against the person and public service record of Chief Mrs. Hannah Olawumi Ogunesan,” he said.
Defending Ogunesan’s career, the APC leader described her as a disciplined and dedicated professional whose rise to the peak of the state’s civil service was earned through years of meritorious service.
“Chief Mrs. Hannah Olawumi Ogunesan, MFR, is a career civil servant whose professional journey was built on discipline, competence, loyalty, and dedication to the Oyo State Government,” Ogunrinde stated.
“Her rise to the position of Head of Service was not accidental, but a recognition of decades of meritorious service, administrative excellence, and unwavering commitment to the development of the State.”
He stressed that her actions in office were guided strictly by constitutional provisions and institutional frameworks, insisting that it was misleading to isolate her decisions from the broader governance structure.
“It must be clearly stated that as a senior government official, Chief Mrs. Ogunesan acted strictly within the confines of her constitutional responsibilities and administrative mandate,” he said.
“Public officers operate within structured systems of governance, and it is misleading for anyone to attempt to isolate her actions from the institutional directives of government at the time.”
Ogunrinde noted that she served under the administration of late former governor, Abiola Ajimobi, and operated within the policy direction of that government.
“During the administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, governance was driven by policy reforms aimed at strengthening institutions and building a modern Oyo State. Chief Mrs. Ogunesan, like other top public servants, functioned under lawful directives in line with the vision of that administration,” he added.
He described the allegations against the former Head of Service as a deliberate attempt to rewrite history and scapegoat a public servant.
“The attempt by certain individuals to malign Chief Mrs. Ogunesan is not only unjust, but appears to be a calculated effort to rewrite history, scapegoat a reputable public servant, and mislead the public with politically motivated narratives,” Ogunrinde said.
“It is unacceptable for anyone to use social media platforms to diminish the dignity of a woman who served Oyo State with professionalism and integrity.”
The APC chieftain also defended the legacy of Ajimobi, noting that the former governor’s leadership contributed significantly to governance development in the state.
“It is on record that the late Senator Abiola Isiaq Ajimobi was a leader of remarkable administrative capacity, whose reforms contributed significantly to political organisation and governance development in Oyo State,” he said.
Ogunrinde described Ogunesan as a source of pride to the Oke-Ogun region and Oyo State at large.
“Chief Mrs. Hannah Olawumi Ogunesan, MFR, remains a pride of Oke-Ogun and Oyo State at large. Her legacy is that of excellence, dignity, and institutional loyalty,” he stated. “The people of Oke-Ogun and well-meaning citizens of the State will not accept the unjust defamation of a woman whose service record remains verifiable and respected.”
He, however, called on the public to disregard the viral video and urged content creators to embrace responsible communication.
