Oladapo Sofowora
The duo of former governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel known as OGD and incumbent governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun are close friends of decades ago. During the tenure of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun when he wanted to install a successor against the mandate of Dapo Abiodun, despite OGD being in the opposition, he worked assiduously for the emergence of his friends as Governor of Ogun state. It was a very big political fight as different factions within and outside the All Progressive Congress APC teamed up to truncated the emergence of Gov. Amosun’s stooge; Hon. Akinlade Adekunle, candidate of Allied Peoples Movement APM.
After the pools, we gathered that; OGD was rewarded for his commitment to using his resources to ensure Governor Dapo emerged Governor. “He was given slots for his people for political appointment and also his Conference hotel that was under locked key during the 8 years tenure of Senator Amosun was handed over to him for business.” These among other things we gathered that Daniel benefitted from the Dapo Abiodun administration which led him to dump the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP to the ruling APC. After Daniel decamped, the APC family applauded his movement. They rejoiced and jubilated that the PDP lost a big fish like Daniel leaving Hon. Ladi Adebutu as the only opposition in Ogun.
According to sources, Daniel’s defection to the APC was borne out of his selfish desire to follow Amosun’s footstep by getting the APC senatorial ticket for Ogun East. A senatorial district where Gov. Dapo Abiodun hails from. According to political pundit, Gbenga Daniel is from Sagamu and Governor Dapo is from Iperu under the same Remo Federal constituency. “Since the history of Ogun East, all senator representing the district are from Ijebu-Igbo and Ijebu-ode because they have block votes from that district that no guber candidate will joke with.”
We also gathered that OGD’s senatorial ambition is currently tearing the party apart as members of APC claimed that a decampee cannot come from PDP to fight for their ticket. “Ogun East APC elders are not happy with the recent development. Daniel cannot come and call the shot for us in APC. We have people who have suffered for the party just to clinch the ticket to represent the district at the Senate but the party told them to wait for their turn. Now Daniel is coming to cause division in the party. We will resist him at all cost.” A party chieftain disclosed.
Currently, Governor Dapo Abiodun is in a tight corner as he does not want to lose anybody because of his second-term ambition. Senator Amosun will be returning for Ogun central, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi would be coming to battle Senator Tolu Odebiyi for the Ogun West ticket and Senator Lekan Mustapha would also want to retain his seat in the red chambers. Dapo Abiodun from Remo needs votes from the Ijebu voters and his own people in Remo will definitely vote for him which is where Daniel is from. “With the situation of things; Governor Dapo will be looking to sacrifice OGD’s Senatorial Ambition to get the block vote from the Ijebu’s for his reelection. Senator Yayi’s structure will be ready to work again for his re-election as he will also work for Yayi to get the Ogun West ticket.” A close source told CITYSPY.
Governor Dapo as the leader of the party in the state is doing everything possible to make sure Gbenga Daniel shelves his ambition as he has promised to further include him in his government during his second tenure. “With Governor Dapo’s body language, he is diplomatically conveying a message to Daniel to forgo his ambition. A Governor and Senator cannot emerge from the same constituency. It’s good to share everything equal for an all-inclusive government so votes from the district will not be divided because of clashed interests. Governor Dapo is currently reconciling with aggrieved members so as to make his reelection process smooth.”
CITYSPY gathered that; consultation is ongoing for Otunba Gbenga Daniel on his senatorial ambition. With stiff opposition from APC chieftains, it seems OGD might likely defect back to the PDP or another party if he wants his ambition to see the light of the day as Ogun APC is not ready to give him the ticket or else votes from the district will be shared which is not a welcoming idea for Governor Dapo Abiodun. As the election draws nearer, more political intrigues will trail the Ogun state political landscape anytime soon.
