The Ogun State government has firmly dismissed allegations by Senator Gbenga Daniel that recent demolition and evacuation notices served on his properties in Sagamu were politically driven. In a statement issued Saturday by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, authorities labeled the senator’s accusations as “blatant distortions of facts,” asserting that the actions were part of a standard urban development review.
According to the statement, the notices were issued across the Sagamu Government Reserved Area (GRA)—a state-regulated residential zone—as part of an ongoing audit to verify compliance with town planning laws. The exercise, officials stressed, targets all structures, including homes, schools, and commercial buildings, to ensure proper documentation and adherence to zoning regulations. “This is a statutory requirement, not a targeted action,” the government clarified, emphasizing that similar audits occurred during Daniel’s own tenure as Ogun governor from 2003 to 2011.
Authorities expressed disappointment over Daniel’s decision to publicly frame the process as a political vendetta rather than engaging with the regulatory process. They urged the senator to submit his property permits and land titles for review, as required of all affected residents. “No one is exempt from these laws,” the statement read, adding that Governor Abiodun holds Daniel in “high regard” and has no personal grievances against him.
The government rejected claims of selective enforcement, noting that the Sagamu GRA has historically undergone such reviews to maintain orderly development. Officials questioned why Daniel, as a former governor familiar with administrative protocols, did not seek clarification from planning agencies before leveling public accusations. “Labeling routine governance as persecution undermines public trust,” the statement asserted, criticizing the senator’s approach as contrary to “true statesmanship.”
While acknowledging Daniel’s status as a respected figure, the government underscored that compliance with urban regulations is mandatory for all residents, regardless of political standing. “If his properties meet all requirements, he has nothing to fear,” officials concluded, urging transparency and cautioning against conflating administrative procedures with political conflict. The dispute highlights tensions between public accountability and perceptions of institutional fairness in Nigeria’s governance landscape, with implications for how regulatory actions are interpreted amid ongoing political rivalries.
