Former Ogun State governor and Senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, has launched a blistering attack on Governor Dapo Abiodun, accusing him of neglecting Ijebu land despite the massive increase in federal allocations accruing to the state since the removal of fuel subsidy.
Daniel, who spoke during the BATOGD Midterm Assessment and Empowerment Tour of Ijebu Ode Local Government held at his Obalofin Court residence in Ijebu Ode on Tuesday, declared that now that Governor Abiodun has openly shown interest in contesting for the Ogun East Senatorial seat after his tenure, it has become necessary to scrutinise his performance and impact on the people of Ijebu land.
The former governor said there was “little to show” across the six local governments in Ijebu axis despite what he described as unprecedented federal inflows into Ogun State under the current administration.
“Since the governor has decided to go to the Senate after his eight years in office, he has the right, but we cannot afford not to begin to ask questions,” Daniel declared before party supporters and political loyalists gathered at the event.
He alleged that Governor Abiodun consistently failed to support critical federal projects he facilitated to Ogun East, including the ongoing naval base project in Abigi and the proposed Federal Medical Centre in Ijebu Ode.
“When I got to the Senate, I was made the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, and we went to work. We said that there is a need to facilitate a naval base in the state. The project is currently ongoing at Abigi, but not without opposition from the governor; we went through hell to get the project started,” he said.
“In Ijebu Ode, we don’t have a standard hospital, and I have been able to facilitate the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in Ijebu Ode, but the project should have witnessed more progress than it has if there had been support from the governor.”
Daniel also revived the controversial debate surrounding the loss of the multibillion-dollar Dangote Refinery project to Lagos State, alleging that Governor Abiodun played a major role in the collapse of negotiations that would have seen the refinery located in Ogun Waterside area of Ijebu land.
“By the time we were leaving office in 2011, we had finished the work on the Dangote Refinery, which was supposed to be in Ijebu land; however, after we left office, the refinery was lost to Lagos,” Daniel said.
“I had thought that my successor, Sen Ibikunle Amosun, was the brain behind everything, but after we both reconciled, Sen Amosun told me to ask my brother, that is our governor, how the refinery was lost under his nose, because he was the one who represented Gov Amosun during the negotiation.”
“We now begin to ask the governor why he allowed the Ijebus to lose this lifetime opportunity.”
The senator further accused the Abiodun administration of failing to support the agitation for the creation of Ijebu State and neglecting major institutions established during his administration, including the Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic in Ijebu Igbo and the Ijebu Ode International Stadium.
Daniel argued that the poor condition of these facilities contrasted sharply with the enormous increase in Ogun State’s revenue profile under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“We need to thank President Bola Tinubu for increasing the amount of federal allocation going to the state by four times,” he said.
“For our eight years, we only had access to N330bn, but the state for this year alone has a budget of N1.6 trillion. If we are to do little calculations, it means that the N330bn we received in eight years is what the state now receives every four months, but is there anything to show for it in Ijebu land? Your guess is as good as mine.”
Daniel, however, insisted he was prepared for a political showdown with Governor Abiodun over the Ogun East Senate ticket ahead of the 2027 elections, boasting that he would defeat the governor overwhelmingly if the primary election is free and fair.
“I am aware of the enormous power of the incumbent, but in a free and fair election, I will certainly defeat the governor overwhelmingly,” he stated confidently.
“You can see the party members that have turned out for this event, and when you hear what people are saying on the street, then you will know that what we are saying is the truth.”
The former governor urged APC members across Ogun East to remain vigilant, obtain their membership cards and support aspirants they believe would not abandon them after securing electoral victory, setting the stage for what could become one of the fiercest political battles in Ogun State ahead of 2027.
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