Former Ogun State Governor and Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of political intolerance and “witch-hunting,” claiming the governor is unwilling to run an inclusive government. Daniel made the allegations during his Midterm Assessment Tour in Ijebu-Igbo, stating that the situation in Ogun State has deteriorated into a “three-man closed government” where voices outside a small circle are ostracized, victimized, or persecuted for offering constructive counsel.
Daniel’s comments come after his purported indefinite suspension by the APC Ward 4 in Sagamu, which was nullified by the party’s National Working Committee. He insisted that the suspension was not due to anti-party activities but rather the result of the governor’s intolerance of dissent. The senator warned that traditional rulers and leaders of thought should prevail on Abiodun to halt the repeated stop-work orders on Federal Government-facilitated constituency projects meant for Ogun East, which he claimed were being sabotaged by the state government.
Daniel cited the rehabilitation of Itanrin Road and the General Hospital Road in Ijebu-Igbo as examples of projects that were facilitated by his office but had been stalled due to the state government’s actions. He alleged that the state government assumed the contractors were associated with him and therefore moved to frustrate the projects. The senator appealed to traditional rulers and other stakeholders to intervene, allowing residents to benefit from projects facilitated through the federal government.
In response, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the Governor, Kayode Akinmade, dismissed Daniel’s claims as an attempt to escape accountability for alleged anti-party activities. Akinmade questioned why Daniel failed to appear before the Ward 4 disciplinary panel if he believed he was innocent. The state government also insisted that proper procedures and approvals must be obtained for constituency projects, as done by other federal lawmakers from the state.
Despite the National Working Committee’s letter affirming Daniel’s membership in the party, APC Ward 4 in Sagamu maintained that his suspension stands, arguing that the national body lacks the power to overturn disciplinary actions initiated at the ward level. The ward secretary, Aduroja Oluwole, stated that Daniel was suspended for refusing to appear before a panel constituted to investigate the allegations against him. The ongoing dispute highlights the deepening rift between Daniel and Abiodun, with significant implications for the political landscape in Ogun State.