For some time now, Chief Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State who presently represents Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Gbenga Daniel, has loaded the internet with claims that Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State is after him. As evidence, he cites the contravention notices placed on his properties in Sagamu GRA by the Ogun State Government, which recently undertook an audit exercise across the state that affected all landlords in the affected GRAs. The exercise was conducted without incident across the state, but Daniel raised a ruckus, and his voice has been amplified by various analysts who have followed the same pattern across national dailies. The claim, quite simply, is that the dispute between the duo is all about 2027 and nothing else, although the authors have provided no proof.
But what if the analysts are wrong? An old Latin proverb says: “Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur (“What is asserted gratuitously may be denied gratuitously”). And so let’s ignore politics for a moment. The distinguished senator is yet to obey a court order mandating him to present his papers to the government in line with the request made to him and other residents in Sagamu GRA. Why not, then, simply present these documents and thereby defeat any argument that the Ogun State Government may bring up? That terrific step would silence any opposition by the Ogun State Government and show that the distinguished senator has been right all along!
Daniel indeed has a golden opportunity to make history. The critical question is, what does having landed property in GRA require? Do you need government allocation papers and a survey plan and a building plan approved by the government? And after building, are you required to be paying land use charge to the government? If these questions are all in the affirmative, then let’s shut down the suggestion that as a former governor, Daniel has the right to seize government land and build on it without approval, and without paying a dime into the state’s coffers.
Presenting building papers isn’t rocket science. It’s super easy to do. Distinguished Senator, Sir, since the Ogun State government is after you, why not bring out your papers as directed by the court of law? Perhaps you have done so already and officials of the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning aren’t willing to vet them. Then, a Press Conference or even an advertorial would do marvelously. Certainly, governance can’t go on holiday because of politics. It’s incredibly easy to shout prosecution, but presenting those papers would enable us all to put this crisis behind us, wouldn’t it?
Checks at any state Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning would show what is required to build houses in a GRA or even private land. But the distinguished senator is not providing any papers: all that he is doing is crying vendetta. Even journalists can interview him, demand his papers, and help him fight his cause.The court of law directed Daniel to take advantage of the two-week extension given by the Ogun State government to present his documents. That extension has expired, yet he has presented no papers. Could the Senator be hiding something??
Those saying “this is all because Gov Abiodun wants to contest the senatorial seat” seem to be saying that seat it is Daniel’s birthright. That means that the seat was not occupied by someone previously, and that Daniel is the only person in the senatorial district. It means that because he is a former governor, no one else can be interested in the seat. Fantastic.
It’s also clear that his status as a former governor is a licence to work against his party. The extremely distinguished senator allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to his supporters ahead of the August 16, 2025 Remo Federal Constituency by-election in Ogun State, asking them to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He then asked his supporters to repeat the political coup of March 2023 wherein they worked against the re-election bid of Governor Abiodun after having allegedly struck a deal worth billions with the camp of the PDP governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu. The gambit failed in 2023, and in the recent Remo election, which the APC candidate, Mrs Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji, won by a wide margin. And when the Ogun APC moved against him, it was justly described by his supporters as
2027 politicking and “political persecution”. The senator should have been given an award for undercutting APC. Just what is bad in a supposed chieftain of a political party striking a criminal deal with the opposition to undercut his own party?
Somebody was removed for Daniel to become senator and strangely, that person never cried foul. Even Dapo Abiodun had contested and won the senatorial election under UNDP in 1998 but was not sworn in. Again, in1999, Biyi Durojaiye, defeated Abiodun, who had consistently contested election in Ogun East and never cried foul against any government. But Daniel is a former governor: he has his right to his noise. Even if there is evidence that he worked against the party, people should have kept quiet because he is Gbenga Daniel. Being an ex-governor is a licence to flout building regulations and court orders. Let us build a society where those who have might will continually diminish our collective values. Somehow, Daniel’s billboards suddenly surface at the PDP secretariat in Iperu, with the inscription, “Vote for Gbenga Daniel for Senate.” What an affirmation of his membership of Ogun APC!
The lawmaker with whom Daniel was suspended has apologized to the party and sought another opportunity to make his case. Rather than getting hack writers to polish his already damaged image, Senator Daniel should present the contrary facts at his disposal. He should tell the truth and shame the devil
It’s time to lay the crisis to rest. The distinguished senator should present his papers. Or go and perfect his documents if he is in default. Mere verification shouldn’t be a problem now, should it?
