![[Explainer] Ogun State Strikes Oil But Gbenga Daniel Got There Two Decades Before Dapo Abiodun](https://applesbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Gbenga-Daniel-1.jpg)
President Tinubu has been praised for his tenacious policies aimed at advancing Nigeria’s economic development.
The senator representing Ogun East district at the Senate, Senator Gbenga Daniel, made the assertion today while addressing a meeting of traditional rulers in Ijebuland at the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland.
The meeting, which was intended to unify the position of the Remos and Ijebus on the creation of a state out of the former Ijebu province, was attended by leaders and traditional rulers across Ijebuland.
While addressing the gathering, Senator Daniel exemplified the policies of President Tinubu as a direct vigour of what the former premier of the western region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, did during his time and the challenges he faced from naysayers.
“Our late Sage, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, had his own fair share of experience while at the crossroads of choosing between what he considered right and doing nothing. The path of honour he chose was to follow his convictions without minding the mundane sentiments and criticisms.
“Pa Awolowo, we were told, thought the people of Ikenne drinking Uren River was unhealthy, and he decided to bring pipe-borne water to the community, but the people, we gathered, refused to drink the tap water because some people tried to exploit their ignorance to say there were too many chemicals in the water.
“We also read about his Free Education Policy in the Western Region, with several attempts made to shoot down this lofty development goal through vile propaganda, maliciously claiming the Policy was targeted at the people’s economic survival. They reasoned that the Free Education policy was driven towards taking the children who had hitherto assisted their parents away from their farm. Decades later, however, this great initiative has proven to be the most futuristic development policy ever embarked upon by any political leaders and administration, not only in Nigeria, but arguably in the whole of Africa, if not in the entire world.”
In comparison, Senator Daniel praised President Tinubu for his continuous push for crucial reforms despite the backlash.
“Our current president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been despised and wilfully criticised for having the courage to confront and take some very difficult decisions which initially can be painful, but the courage which he exhibited in leadership, especially in taking the difficult decisions has not gone unnoticed even by some of his greatest adversaries and critics,” he said.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
