Tag: Gbenga Daniel

Ogun State Government yesterday said the suspension of the senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, was a party affair and urged him to go and sort out his issues with the ward chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The state government stressed that the Dapo Abiodun-led administration could not re-admit the ex-governor into the Ogun APC fold when it did not suspend him in the first place.

It advised the senator to exert his energy and media efforts on proving his innocence to the party, instead of blaming everybody.

The government made this known  in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade.

Akinmade said: “It was not the Ogun State Government that suspended Senator Gbenga Daniel; it was the party, APC in his ward, and the suspension was then ratified by the State Working Committee.

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“Before then, the party gave him ample opportunity to defend himself, but he shunned the summons.

“That he is launching media attacks on the state government rather than facing the party that gave him a ticket to contest election, and against which he committed punishable acts, is illogical.

“It shows he has no regard for the party or its leadership, and no sense of accountability or responsibility.

He is just chasing shadows, blaming everyone but himself because of his huge ego.”

The government also dismissed the allegation that it stopped the constituency projects being executed by Senator Daniel out of spite, explaining that the contractors handling the works did not conform to the Federal Ministry of Works’ specifications.

It said Daniel’s projects in some areas were stopped because they were substandard and did not meet Federal Government specifications, adding that the government had a constitutional right to ensure projects were done appropriately and in consonance with standards.

It noted that the contractors were instructed to provide approved specifications and drawings for the road projects that had been awarded to them.

This, the government said, would enable Ogun State Ministry of Works to do proper monitoring of the projects, adding: “Those contractors who complied have since been given the go-ahead to continue with the road projects.

“At the same time, a designated engineer from Ogun State Ministry of Works is assigned to conduct routine supervision to enforce compliance with the specifications.” 

On alleged persecution of the senator by Governor Abiodun, Akinmade said the senator’s claims were laughable.

He said Daniel had consistently talked and acted as if he was still in charge of affairs as governor of Ogun State, adding that the senator wanted everyone to automatically kowtow to him no matter what he did.

He said: “Daniel claims that the government stopped his constituency project, a project meant to be executed with federal funds, simply because he was asked to follow due process. Is he the only federal lawmaker in Ogun State? Is he the only one executing constituency projects?

“Why is he the only former governor constantly at war against law and logic in Ogun State, and always staging a pity party using a pliant media whenever he is tasked with taking responsibility for his actions?

“In Ogun State today, there is peace and stability, unlike his crisis-ridden tenure when he was constantly at war with everyone in the state, including members of the state House of Assembly and the state’s representatives in the National Assembly. Daniel just can’t deal with not being in a position to manipulate things to his advantage.

“He cannot be bigger than the party that gave him a ticket for the Senate. He should sort out his issues with the party if he still has any shred of conscience or integrity.”

He added that the Ogun State Government had better things to do than to be constantly responding to Daniel’s tantrums.

Former governor of Ogun state and Senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, has called on his constituents to demand transparency and accountability from the state and local governments on how they have utilized the increased federal allocations received since the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking on Sunday at Idokunnusi, Ijebu Imushin, during his Midterm Community Assessment and Review Tour in Ijebu East Local Government, Daniel said both tiers of government have been receiving substantial allocations in the last two years and must justify how the funds have been spent.

Daniel, who represents nine local government areas under Ogun East Senatorial District, addressed a large gathering of political stakeholders, supporters, and constituents, using the occasion to distribute empowerment items, including motorcycles, deep freezers, sewing machines, fertilizers, sprayers, and grinding machines.

Responding to complaints about poor roads, unpaid stipends for traditional rulers, and general neglect of the region despite its economic potential, the senator explained that such issues fall under the responsibility of the state and local governments.

He expressed sympathy for the underdevelopment of the district, noting that the area is blessed with abundant natural resources that should make it a hub of prosperity.

Daniel also urged the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration to revive the Olokola Deep Sea Port project, which his government initiated at Ode-Omi in Ogun Waterside Local Government, saying the project could create over 50,000 jobs, boost internally generated revenue, and transform the state’s economy.

The senator further disclosed that he has begun discussions with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to harness the bitumen deposits in Ijebu East for the benefit of Ogun State and Nigeria at large.

He said, “For our people here in Ijebu East, I share in some of your pains on the current state of underdevelopment, especially because I am aware that this whole community should be thriving in wealth and prosperity especially with the abundance of natural resources which God Almighty has endowed us which has the capacity to sustain an entire nation.

“During my time as Governor of Ogun State, we discovered that Ogun East has the largest deposit of Bitumen anywhere in Nigeria. Our vision then was very clear: to create a whole new city for Bitumen mining and exploration which we believe would increase the economic prosperity and impact positively on the lives of the people living in the area. We envisioned this area bubbling with multinational investments, industries, jobs, and infrastructure, all driven by Bitumen exploration and processing.

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“Unfortunately, that vision stalled due to neglect after our administration. That is why I started by sympathizing with you because I understand your frustration and share in your hope for a new dawn.

“When you sent me to Abuja as your Senator, I took it as a sacred responsibility, not only to make laws (which of course is the primary responsibility of the Senate), but also to leverage on relationships with the President and other agencies of government at the executive level to influence government policies and attract development projects that can revive and empower our communities.

“I am in contact with, and delighted to inform you that the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, under the exceptional leadership of my friend and brother, Mr. Dele Alake, and in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has assured that the Bitumen wealth of Ijebu East will soon be put to productive use. I have every confidence in that assurance because Dele Alake is not only a trusted colleague and friend of over four decades; he is a man of results.

“Let me say with emphasis, the mining sector under President Tinubu has received greater attention and the revenue from the solid minerals sector has grown from ₦6 billion to ₦38 billion in just one year, a record-breaking transformation driven by efficiency, transparency, and accountability. And this was made possible by the President’s bold declarations that the era of exporting raw minerals is over and that mining licences will only be granted to investors who commit to local processing and value addition as a means of creating jobs for our local population and industries to ensure that prosperity derives from mining stay within Nigeria.”

A former governor of Ogun State, Senator Gbenga Daniel, has cautioned Governor Dapo Abiodun against letting his petty politics to short-change the good citizens of the state, especially the Ogun East Senatorial Districts, on facilitated development projects.

Daniel, who is the Senator representing Ogun East in the 10th National Assembly, said that what he expects, and even requires from the Dapo Abiodun – led state government was cooperation, not hostility manifesting as petty politics to stifle or abort facilitated federal projects to the state.

The former governor who gave the advice at Erunwon community during his Midterm Community Assessment and Review Tour of the BATOGD Movement, Ijebu North East Local Government, was apparently referring to the Paddy Arikawe-Oye Igbimo Road in Sagamu, a constituency project he facilitated which the state recently halted over alleged engineering designs issues.

The Nation reports that the state government had directed the contractor –  Minim and Tonye Nigeria Limited, the contractor handling the constituency project, to revise the engineering designs substantially and ensure transparency in all submissions to the state appropriate agency.

This development came after the contractor had submitted a bill of quantities to the state government, days after violating regulations by beginning work on the state road without approval and subsequently being directed to follow due process.

According to the state government, the design submitted by the contractor was below specifications.

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However, Daniel clarified that the road is a federal government project while he is merely the facilitator.

“A fundamental part of my role as your Senator is lawmaking and, crucially, facilitating the location of federal projects to our constituency. However, I must clarify a critical point: my job essentially ends with the facilitation. The process of awarding contracts and executing these projects is the responsibility of various federal agencies, often in cooperation with state agencies. What we expect, and indeed require, from the State Government is cooperation, not hostility. Petty politics must never be allowed to short-change our people.

“Let me give you a clear example. The Paddy Arikawe Road in Sagamu, which is currently a subject of controversy, was first opened up and tarred with drainages by our Ogun State Road Management Agency (OGROMA) in 2004, over twenty years ago. Sadly, since then, no significant repairs or maintenance had been carried out until we managed to include it as a palliative measure in our limited constituency projects. The primary responsibility for that road lies with the local and state government. The plank of my message to our state government is simple: we need encouragement, not discouragement, to bring more development home,” he said.

Daniel also called on the Dapo Abiodun – led state government to channel its energy to governance and development, saying that is a shared mandate and the best way to truly serve the people.

The ex – governor also passionately pleaded with Dapo Abiodun to come to the aid of Ijebu North East Local Government (LGA) urgently and pity the plight of the indigenes and residents, lamenting that the condition of road infrastructure in the area was dire.

Daniel said: “My dear people, permit me at this point to make a passionate appeal. As a matter of urgency, we call on the State Government to come to the aid of Ijebu North East and pity the plight of our people.

“The condition of our road infrastructure is dire, and rehabilitation can no longer be delayed. We therefore implore the government to immediately commence the rehabilitation of eleven key road networks that are central to the economic and social wellbeing of this local government.

“These roads are lifelines for our farmers, traders, students, and the entire business community. Their rehabilitation will not only ease movement but also boost commerce and restore hope to our people. We sincerely beg the State Government to act now and allow the Federal Government to complement its efforts for the benefit of all.”