Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel has raised an alarm that Ogun State risks losing federal funding allocated for the rehabilitation of key roads in Ijebu North if the state government fails to lift the controversial “stop work order” currently imposed on the project.
Daniel issued the warning on Sunday, November 30, 2025, during the Midterm Community Assessment and Review Tour of the BATOGD Movement held in Ijebu North Local Government.
Addressing traditional rulers, party leaders, and residents, the former governor said the rehabilitation of the Itanrin and General Hospital roads—projects facilitated through federal agencies under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—were being deliberately frustrated by the Ogun State Government due to political grievances.
According to him, the projects, fully funded by federal allocations, were designed to bring relief to the people of Ijebu North, but have now been halted for reasons he described as “petty” and “anti-people.”
“A ‘stop work order’ has been issued by the Local Government Chairman, who we understand is under immense pressure,” Daniel said.
“If by December 2025 this stop work order is not revoked, the federal funding for these roads will be lost. It will be returned to the treasury.”
Daniel questioned the logic of the state government’s obstruction, warning that such actions amounted to fighting the very people the government claims to serve.
“The question this government is not asking itself is: why choose to fight the people? Why create an anti-people narrative?” he asked. “There is a calibrated annoyance growing internally against this administration, and it is entirely of its own making.”
The Senator, who reiterated that the role of a National Assembly member is facilitation, not execution, explained that federal contractors were being wrongly labelled as “OGD’s contractors,” leading to a politically motivated clampdown on developmental projects.
He added that the situation has created an unsettling reputation for Ogun State in Abuja, where federal contractors now fear engaging in state-based projects.
“It is now the common gist in Abuja: ‘If it’s Ogun State, and you don’t know the Governor, you are playing with a stop work order,’” he noted.
Daniel appealed directly to traditional rulers and community leaders to intervene by engaging the Governor to reverse the order and allow work to continue in the interest of residents.
“Please, talk to the Governor on behalf of our people. Let him allow the people’s road to be rehabilitated,” he pleaded. “To single out and sabotage these two federal interventions because of personal grievances is the height of political pettiness. It must stop.”
The former governor contrasted the current administration’s approach with his record in office, recalling several equitable development projects executed during his tenure, including the establishment of the Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic in Ijebu-Igbo and multi-campus expansions of Olabisi Onabanjo University.
He reaffirmed his commitment to attracting more projects to Ijebu North and Ogun East, saying the BATOGD Movement remains focused on development rather than political distractions.
“We will not be deterred by political witch-hunts. We will continue to work for you,” Daniel declared. “But we must ensure this project is not lost. Federal funds do not wait forever. December is the deadline.”
He urged stakeholders to act swiftly, warning that failure to intervene would result in the people of Ijebu North bearing the brunt of what he described as a “personal vendetta turned policy.”
The event concluded with assurances from community members and traditional leaders of their willingness to engage the state government toward resolving the impasse.
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.
