Akinmade Defends Ogun Healthcare Records Amid Joshua Incident Controversy

In the bustling landscape of Nigeria’s digital democracy, the line between constructive criticism and deliberate misinformation has become increasingly blurred. Kayode Akinmade, a prominent voice in the Ogun State administration, recently stepped forward to address what he describes as a growing subculture of professional blackmailers. These individuals, often masquerading under the guise of independent blogging, are accused of weaponizing falsehoods to stir public unrest and undermine governance for personal gain.

The catalyst for this latest defense was a viral video released by a commentator known as Adetoun. Following a recent road traffic accident involving world boxing icon Anthony Joshua, the blogger alleged that Ogun State lacked a single functional ambulance. The claims went further, suggesting that Joshua’s survival was only secured by the intervention of the Lagos State Government while Governor Dapo Abiodun was purportedly in Ghana attending social events.

Akinmade has hit back at these assertions, characterizing them as not only false but dangerously reckless and defamatory. He argues that such narratives do more than just smear a political figure; they erode public trust in essential institutions and threaten the social cohesion of the state. For the administration, the Anthony Joshua incident has become a litmus test for the battle against “fake news” in the modern era.

Setting the record straight on medical infrastructure, Akinmade pointed to documented progress in the state’s emergency response systems. Contrary to the “no ambulance” narrative, Ogun State currently operates a fleet of 26 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances. These units are strategically positioned across both urban centers and rural outposts to ensure 24-hour coverage for residents in distress.

The state’s emergency network is supported by a variety of institutions, including the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta. These facilities provide round-the-clock dispatch services, ensuring that life-saving interventions are just a phone call away. For those in remote areas, the government has even introduced 90 tricycle ambulances specifically designed to navigate difficult terrain for maternal health and obstetric emergencies.

Akinmade highlighted that these efforts have not gone unnoticed on the national stage. Just recently, on December 12, 2025, Ogun State was honored as a runner-up at the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge Award in Abuja. The recognition came with a $400,000 prize, a feat that the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, attributed to sustained investment in the sector. The administration argues that such an accolade would be impossible if the state truly suffered from the total lack of resources claimed by critics.

Addressing the personal attacks against Governor Abiodun, Akinmade provided a starkly different timeline of the events following Anthony Joshua’s accident. He asserted that the Governor was on the scene within minutes, personally coordinating the medical response and providing updates to President Bola Tinubu. Photographs and eyewitness accounts, according to the state, place the Governor at Joshua’s bedside for hours, rather than at a party in Ghana.

The relationship between the two men adds a layer of personal frustration to the government’s rebuttal. Joshua, an Ogun State Sports Ambassador of Remo origin, is described as being “like a son” to the Governor. The suggestion that he was abandoned in a moment of crisis is viewed by the administration as a malicious attempt to stir resentment among the boxing champion’s massive fanbase.

Akinmade’s critique extends beyond a simple fact-check; it is a call for accountability in the digital space. He insists that freedom of speech must never be mistaken for a license to lie or incite the public. The administration is now calling on security agencies to investigate the source of these claims, suggesting that when misinformation reaches the level of criminal defamation, the law must take its course.

The official stance remains that Ogun State has consistently proven its competence in crisis management, dating back to its widely praised handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the development of the Gateway International Airport to the maintenance of the Sagamu–Abeokuta corridor, the government maintains that its track record speaks louder than the “sensationalism” of online detractors.

As the dust settles on the Anthony Joshua incident, the conversation in Ogun State has shifted toward the ethics of digital journalism. The administration hopes that by presenting verifiable facts—from ambulance counts to award wins—they can insulate the public from what they describe as a deliberate campaign of disinformation. For Akinmade, the truth is a stubborn thing that cannot be erased by a viral video.