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Tag: Gbenga Daniel

  • No clash with Bode George over PDP chair – Daniel

    No clash with Bode George over PDP chair – Daniel

    The former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has denied any rift with a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, over the party’s national chairmanship position.

    There had been reports of a rift between Daniel and George over the plum party job. The elective national convention of the PDP is tentatively billed to hold in Abuja on December 9.

    A statement issued on Monday by Ayomide Giwa, media aide to Otunba Daniel dismissed reports of the alleged rift, saying they were figments of the author’s imagination.

    The statement said: “While these reports have cited anonymous sources as the authority of the reported disagreement, it is important to set the record straight lest the general public and members of the PDP take them with any bit of seriousness.

    “Otunba Gbenga Daniel has proven time and time again that he is a strict follower of the tenets of Yoruba culture and tradition which places premium on respect to elders.

    “Chief George is not only one of the founding fathers of the PDP but an elder statesman who has made tremendous contributions to the development of the party, therefore, there is no way Otunba Daniel would have disrespected him let alone confront him openly.

    “Report of confrontation with Chief Bode George in any way is only a figment of the author’s imagination and never took place.

    “The focus of the stakeholders across the South West presently is rebuilding the party and reconciling members and factions alike. Achieving a united and vibrant opposition with proper repositioning to offer better alternative to the people in 2019 is the mission at hand.

    “When the time comes, the post of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party will be a collective decision of members of the party in accordance with the constitution of our great party, the PDP.

    “We call on the public to kindly disregard this ‘sponsored’ report as the incidence cited does not reflect any reality in matters particular.”

     

  • Assassination: Daniel lying against me, says Kashamu

    Assassination: Daniel lying against me, says Kashamu

    The senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu, has said he has no hand in the attack on the Abuja home of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.

    Kashamu, in a letter to Inspector-General of Police Idris Ibrahim, said “the less than clever attempt to link me with the alleged attack on Daniel’s residence is politically-motivated”.

    He accused Daniel of raising the allegation to subvert due process and the rule of law in Ogun State “where he seeks to foist an illegal caretaker committee on the PDP in the state despite the subsisting and binding court judgment, which expressly states that the  Adebayo Dayo-led State Exco – which I belong to – should remain in office till 2020.”

    Kashamu said there was no better proof the petition was politically-motivated than his reference to the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s national leadership crisis.

    He said: “The authentic PDP Exco in Ogun State, under the leadership of Dayo, has a final judgment and orders in its favour that are yet to be appealed, set aside or upturned. What is more, the orders and judgment are binding on the Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which were parties in the suit.

    ”This cock-and-bull story of an attack is part of Daniel’s desperate bid to seek relevance, revive his dimming political career and hijack the structure of PDP in Ogun State.

    “He merely wants to turn the heat on his perceived political opponent and perpetuate the illegal caretaker in Ogun State. He is afraid some genuine and concerned party members could resist the brazen illegality and disregard for the rule of law, which his actions represent being the arrowhead of the illegal caretaker committee despite being aware of the existence of the democratically-elected and the judicially approved Ogun State PDP Exco.

    ”It might interest you to note that as law-abiding citizens, instead of raising false alarm like Daniel, the Adebayo Dayo-led State Exco had written two letters dated August 14 and 15, 2017, to your office wherein your attention was drawn to the illegal acts of Daniel and his collaborators and how they could threaten the peace and lead to chaos in Ogun State, if not checked. A careful perusal of the two petitions and the attached documents would give you an insight into the undercurrents of this unfounded alarm.

    ”It was, therefore, a surprise to me when at 7p.m. on Friday, August 25, 2017, my attention was drawn to the fact that Daniel, a known pathological liar wrote a petition against me and that the document was being circulated on the social media by his cyber team,” he said.

  • Maitama Sule, untiring, remarkable politician – Daniel

    Maitama Sule, untiring, remarkable politician – Daniel

    The former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba (Engr.) Gbenga Daniel has described late Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule as a remarkable politician, an untiring leader and one of the last titans of modern-day Nigeria.

    In his condolence message signed by Ayo Giwa, Media Officer to the former Governor, Daniel expressed grief on the death of the elder statesman whose demise, he stated, was a great loss to his family, the good people of Kano State and the entire nation considering his immense contributions to the political history of Nigeria.

    “He was a notable diplomat, political strategist, proficient administrator and an outstanding statesman whose life was that of continuous service and commitment to the well-being of the people. His demise was a great loss to the nation especially the Northern Region which he represented and defended with an undying passion till the end”.

    While describing death as an inevitable end, he noted that late Maitama Sule lived a highly courageous and dedicated life in the service of the people and his death ends a glorious chapter in Nigeria’s democratic process.

    The former governor then prayed Almighty Allah to grant the soul of the late politician eternal rest, as he enjoined the people of Kano State to accept the death in good faith.

  • Taekwondo scribe urges sponsorship of athletes to improve Nigeria’s rating

    Taiwo Oriss, Secretary, Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria (TFN), says regular sponsorship of athletes to local and international competitions can help Nigeria become one of the top Taekwondo nations in the world.

    Oriss, who made the assertion on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said taekwondoists should get better through participation in competitions round the year.

    “Athletes get better by participating in competitions within and outside the country and the federation alone cannot fund such; there is need for improved corporate and individual sponsorship.

    “Taekwondoists are not only prepared for competitions by the federation, they also go for competitions on the bill of corporate or individual sponsors, and we hope to see more of that.

    “Some sponsors also organise competitions, they work with the federation for proper regulation and organisation of such events. All these help to develop the game,” he said.

    He thanked the sponsors of taekwondo competitions in the country and the Grandmasters for their sustained support for the game.

    However, the federation’s scribe while commending athletes urged them to better their game for the nation to become a global force in Taekwondo.

    “Nigeria has yet to be among the first 50 nations in taekwondo in spite of abundance of human resources in the country that could make the country a taekwondo great.

    “Although, our physically challenged women are currently among the first five nations in the world which is okay for the nation, but can still be the first.

    “Our disabled men are currently number 11 in the world which means they will have to engage in qualifiers in order to go for world tournaments.

    “But they could avoid qualifiers if they could be among the first five like their female counterparts, they will automatically qualify for international competitions,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that TFN had fixed March 22 to March 25 for a training course for Taekwondo referees in the country in Lagos.

    “Referees and Coaches need to keep abreast with the updated rules of World Taekwondo Federation so that athletes and other stakeholders can be in line with global best practice.

    “Taekwondo is an international sport and the rules are constantly updated to keep the stakeholders abreast of such development.

    “The current leadership of TFN considered it wise to organise the course so that referees and other officials of the game can be abreast of latest rules of the sport,’’ he said.

    Oriss added that referees would be graded at the end of the course based on their proficiency.

    “At the end of the course, participants will be graded based on their performance in Dan-1, Dan 2,3,4,5 and Dan 6,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that Dan ranking system is used by many Japanese organisations and Korean martial arts to indicate the level of one’s ability within a certain subject matter.

    NAN also reports that local and international competitions in Taekwondo had been lined up for the rest of the year.

    NAN reports that Chika Chukwumerije and former Gov. Gbenga Daniel are among the individual sponsors of Taekwondo in the country.

    Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, characterised by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques.

    Taekwondo was developed during the 1940s and 1950s by various martial artists by incorporating elements of Karate and Chinese Martial Arts with indigenous Korean martial arts traditions.

    These traditions include the Taekkyeon, Subak and Gwonbeop.

    The oldest governing body for taekwondo is the Korean Taekwondo Association (KTA), formed in 1959 through a collaborative effort by representatives from the nine original Kwans or martial arts schools, in Korea.

     

  • Gbenga Daniel not willing to play second fiddle

    There is a saying that two suns cannot exist in the same sky; nor indeed two moons. This saying is a testament to the tendency of those in power to want all the accolades and attention exclusively to themselves, whether they deserve it or not. So, what happens when two or three of this type of men are gathered under the same “roof”? This scenario recently played out at the wedding of Wesco Bet boss, Adewale Oshinubi. The event went on smoothly at the Adeola Odutola Hall, Degun Junction, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, until the politicians, not the celebrants, became the centre of attention.

    Former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, was already at the event, lapping up quiet adulations from fans. Also there was Lekan Mustapha who had his own praise-singers gravitating to him. But things really kicked off when Senator Buruji Kashamu breezed into the event.

    Immediately the Ijebu-Igbo-born senator entered the venue, there was a chorus of loud hailing as he completely overshadowed all the other dignitaries at the event, like a large boulder putting smaller rocks in the shade. Even fuji musician, Kolade Onanuga, who was at the bandstand, abandoned every other person and started singing the praises of Kashamu, who is currently facing an extradition case.

    Unsurprisingly, Gbenga Daniel was unable to stomach being overshadowed by someone with such a tainted record, and he swiftly stormed out of the event barely five minutes or so after Kashamu’s arrival on the scene. No one seemed to notice his absence though, as Kashamu remained the centre of attention all through the event.

  • Ogun PDP: More trouble as party expels Daniel, Adebutu, others

    Ogun PDP: More trouble as party expels Daniel, Adebutu, others

    The crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) worsened yesterday as the party expelled former Governor Gbenga Daniel, House of Representatives member, Hon. Ladi Adebutu and factional chairman, Sikirullai Ogundele, from its fold. Also expelled is the factional state Secretary, Tolu Bankole.

    The party said the decision to expel Daniel, Adebutu, Ogundele and other was predicated on the need to rescue the state chapter of the PDP from total collapse, following alleged anti – party activities of the trio in their determination to continually undermine and destroy the PDP in Ogun state..

    Addressing reporters at the State Secretariat of PDP on IBB Boulevard, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the Chairman, Engr. Bayo Dayo, said they couldn’t continue  to fold their hands and allow the quartet to pull down the house before relocating to another political party.

    Dayo declared that the expulsion is “subject to no appeal or consideration as the four people are incurably cancerous to the PDP” and that the party “is better off without them.”

    “The State Executive Committee have examined their actions and concluded that it is continually inimical to the sustenance and progress of the PDP in Ogun state. We shall not allow them to destroy our party before migrating to another one. Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, Sikirulai Ogundele and Tolu Bankole are guilty of acts of insubordination, willful undermining of the party and antiparty activities.

    “They are hereby expelled from the party and they cease to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun state and the entire Federation,” Dayo said.

    According to him, the executives shall continue to instill discipline in the party while working to also reposition it for future electoral success.

    It should be recalled that the faction of the party where Sikirullai Ogundele is the Chairman, had last Friday  suspended Engr. Bayo Dayo, Senator Buruji Kashamu, Zonal Secretary, Chief Pegba Otemolu and others from Ogun PDP, alleging anti – party activities of the trio as reason for the suspension.

  • Ogun PDP crisis: Party expels Daniel, Adebutu, others

    Ogun PDP crisis: Party expels Daniel, Adebutu, others

    Crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened on Saturday as the party expelled former Governor Gbenga Daniel, House of Representatives member, Hon. Ladi Adebutu and factional chairman, Sikirullai Ogundele, from its fold.

    Also expelled is the factional state Secretary, Tolu Bankole.

    The party said the decision to expel Daniel, Adebutu, Ogundele and other was predicated on the need to rescue the state chapter from total collapse, following the alleged anti – party activities of the trio to “continually undermine and destroy” it.

    Addressing reporters at the State Secretariat of PDP on IBB Boulevard, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the Chairman, Engr. Bayo Dayo, said they couldn’t continue  to fold their hands and allow the quartet to pull down the house before relocating to another political party.

    Dayo declared that the expulsion is “subject to no appeal or consideration as the four people are incurably cancerous to the PDP” and that they “are better off without them.”

    “The State Executive Committee have examined their actions and concluded that it is continually inimical to the sustenance and progress of the PDP in Ogun state.

    “We shall not allow them to destroy our party before migrating to another one.

    “Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, Sikirulai Ogundele and Tolu Bankole are guilty of acts of insubordination, the willful undermining of the party and antiparty activities.

    “They are hereby EXPELLED from the party and cease to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun state and the entire Federation,” Dayo said.

    According to him, the Executives shall continue to instil discipline in the party while working to also reposition it for future electoral success.

    It should be recalled that the faction of the party where Sikirullai Ogundele is the Chairman, had last Friday  suspended Engr. Bayo Dayo, Senator Buruji Kashamu, Zonal Secretary, Chief Pegba Otemolu and others from Ogun PDP, alleging anti – party activities of the trio as the reason for the suspension.

  • Gbenga Daniel’s 60th birthday beckons

    The high society is set to celebrate former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as he clocks 60 in a few days time.

    An elaborate birthday party is said to be in the offing for Daniel, popularly known as OGD.

    Yet some people say the former governor may not roll out the drums, given that his wife’s 50th birthday was a low-key affair.

    They believe that since Yeye Olufunke Daniel had a private dinner in their London home, it will not come as a surprise if the man of means decides to follow in his wife’s footsteps and go for a low-key celebration.

  • PDP: Former governors hold reconcilliatory meeting

    PDP: Former governors hold reconcilliatory meeting

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday started a reconciliation process with former governors of the party.

    The opposition party’s reconciliation process is aimed at regaining power in 2019.

    According to the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff, at a meeting with the former PDP governors, the move is to foster unity among members.

    Since the party lost control of the seat of the Federal Government in the 2015 general elections, the PDP has been trying to restructure.

    The party has embarked on a series of reconciliatory meetings since its new Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sherif assumed office.

    Present at the meeting were former Governors of Ogun state, Gbenga Daniel, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Ibrahim Shema of Kastina State, Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State, and Gabriel Suswam of Benue States, as well as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

  • The public lies of Daniel, Ogundokun, others – Soyinka

    The public lies of Daniel, Ogundokun, others – Soyinka

    Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has accused former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel and a publisher; Chief Abiola Ogundokun, of being “public liars.”
    The allegations are contained in pages 81 and 82 of his latest book, InterInventions, which was formally presented to the public at the weekend in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, by Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state.
    He revealed that Daniel lied to him about his relationship with the publisher of the Conscience Magazine, Chief Abiola Ogundokun.
    He stated further that the ex – governor also lied about his(Daniel) own side of the account of the alleged threat by him( Daniel) to dethrone the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, over perceived offensive comments by the monarch.
    On Ogundokun whom he described as “two – legged parasite” and an alleged “fugitive from the United States,” Soyinka claimed the publisher dedicated the maiden edition of his magazine, Conscience International, to the subject ” WS” in bids to disseminate desperate lie.
    Recalling one of his encounters with Daniel, Soyinka stated: “Like calls to like. Gbenga Daniel’s reputation as a public liar was affirmed to me in his own testimony right in my sitting room in Abeokuta. He had called – with his press crew, ambulance, security detail, party chairman and entire cabinet in tow – to explain his side of a conflict that brought Abeokuta close to conflagration as he lashed out against the Egba King, the Alake, and threatened to dethrone him.
    “This governor lied, and lied, and lied! He lied over what the Alake had said – Daniel was not to know that I had obtained a full transcript of the ‘offensive’ statement attributed to the Alake monarch, so it was a great fun to watch him lie his head off.
    “Even when he picked up his mobile phone to ask some disembodied voice for the corroboration of some irrelevant performance statistics, he still lied over the answer he transmitted back to me.
    “I asked this governor why on earth he kept company with a verminous character like (Abiola) Ogundokun – and he lied that Ogundokun was no where close to his environment.
    “Ogundokun had offered his services, he conceded, but he had sent him off to his colleague in Oyo state, who then sent him back saying that he could find no use for him. After which, Daniel stated, he lost complete track of him! Or was it the other way round?
    “No matter, he assured me that Ogundokun had not served him in any capacity, invoking mortal and immortal witnesses. Gbenga Daniel lied again. (Again, the reader is invited to read the Ogundokun pages in the narrative by the insider, Wale Adedayo).
    “Daniel’s recent invocation of my son who was made Commissioner of Health under the administration of his successor is of course typical of the despicable antics of practised blackmailers.
    “The children of critics are not supposed to have careers of their own, on their own merit, but such must be attributed to quid pro quo returns for the political stances of their parents.
    “That another child, a daughter, worked for the undisputed champion of this lying contest right through his ignoble tenure, is of course totally irrelevant. Such cheap, unoriginal diversionary tactics!
    “The real issue – abuse of power amounting to treasonable conduct, with the complicity of presidential might, remains unanswered. The criminal courts however must be answered, and there we shall leave Gbenga Daniel to attend to his charges of corruption.
    “Why did Gbenga Daniel lie over Ogundokun? One answer could be – Guilt, over the ‘Special Duties’ to which Chief Ogundokun was assigned? A need to disown a potential embarrassment in the best tradition of ‘ Use and Dump’?”
    “…It is a notorious fact that Daniel deployed Ogundokun on several errands, many of which will not bear scrutiny. Ogundokun has always made himself available for hire to the most noxious of Nigerian rulers, both at the central and state levels, most notably the infamous rogue and murderer – General Sani Abacha.
    ” Sponsored by that regime specically to vilify and discredit the opposition, Ogundokun launched his glossy journal Conscience International, avidly promoted by his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thomas Ikimi, its maiden edition dedicated mostly to the subject of WS.
    “This was openly displayed for sale in magazine booths in London, during the struggle. Ogundokun continued his career of smut disseminator even after the death of that monster – indeed defiantly intensified his activities all through the hearing of the Truth and Reconciliation Panel which sat in Abuja, chaired by Justice Oputa.
    “Sued to court for defamation, Ogundokun’s lawyers deployed all technical delays to avoid judgement day, even profiting from election tribunals that saw the transfer of judges to hearings in other states.
    “Ogundokun’s libel case is still listed, to commence de novo – even as this is being written. Perhaps it will finally re – commence after my funeral.”
    Other top Nigerians also mentioned in Soyinka’s InterInventions which is also sub – titled, ‘A Personal Odyssey in The Republic of Liars,’ include, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Military Head of States, General Yakubu Gowon, one author; Chinweizu, former Foreign Affairs Minister during General Sani Abacha’s regime and Chief Thomas Ikimi