Ogun East 2027: Gbenga Daniel Says Dapo Abiodun Has Little to Show for Trillion-Naira State Budgets.

Ogun East 2027: Gbenga Daniel Says Dapo Abiodun Has Little to Show for Trillion-Naira State Budgets.

By Segun Omo Ojikutu 

Former governor of Ogun State and Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Tuesday intensified political pressure on Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, ahead of the 2027 Ogun East Senate race, accusing him of failing to deliver meaningful development across Ijebuland despite massive increases in federal allocations to the state.

Daniel also declared that he remains fully prepared to challenge and defeat Governor Abiodun in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election, provided the contest is conducted fairly and transparently.

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The former governor made the remarks during the Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Otunba Gbenga Daniel Midterm Assessment and Empowerment Tour held at Obalofin Court, his residence in Ijebu Ode, where party leaders, members, and supporters gathered for political engagement.

At the event, Daniel argued that Ogun East Senatorial District, which consists of six local government areas, has witnessed little infrastructural and economic transformation under the current administration despite what he described as unprecedented financial inflows into Ogun State following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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“We need to thank President Bola Tinubu for increasing the amount of federal allocation going to the state by four times,” Daniel said.

“For our eight years in government, we had access to about N330 billion, but today the state operates a budget of over N1.6 trillion. What we received in eight years is what the state now receives within a few months, yet there is little to show for it in Ijebuland.”

He maintained that since Governor Abiodun has indicated interest in contesting for the Senate after completing his tenure as governor, the people of Ogun East have every right to examine his performance critically.

“Since the governor has decided to go to the Senate after eight years in office, he has the constitutional right to contest, but we also have the responsibility to ask questions,” he stated.

Daniel further accused the governor of failing to provide adequate support for major federal government projects facilitated for Ogun East Senatorial District.

He cited the naval base project in Abigi, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, explaining that the project faced serious obstacles before it eventually commenced.

“When I became Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, we facilitated the naval base project because Ogun State deserved it. The project is ongoing today, but we went through serious difficulties before it could commence,” he said.

He also referenced the Federal Medical Centre project in Ijebu Ode, insisting that stronger cooperation from the state government would have accelerated its progress.

“In Ijebu Ode today, we still do not have a standard hospital. That was why I facilitated the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre, but the support expected from the state government was not there,” Daniel alleged.

The senator also revisited the controversial relocation of the Dangote Refinery project from Ogun State to Lagos, accusing Governor Abiodun of playing a major role in the loss of what he described as a historic economic opportunity for Ijebuland.

According to him, substantial groundwork had already been completed on the refinery project before his administration left office in 2011.

“By the time we left office, significant work had already been done on the Dangote Refinery project that was originally planned for Ogun Waterside,” Daniel said.

“After reconciling with Senator Ibikunle Amosun, he told me to ask our current governor what happened because he represented the government during the negotiations.”

Daniel said the people of Ijebuland deserve a full explanation regarding how such a major investment eventually moved to Lagos.

He also accused Governor Abiodun of failing to support the agitation for the creation of Ijebu State, describing the governor’s silence on the issue as disappointing to many residents of Ogun East.

In addition, he alleged that major institutions established during his administration, including Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic in Ijebu Igbo and the Ijebu Ode International Stadium, have suffered infrastructural decay under the current administration despite improved state revenues.

Daniel insisted that growing dissatisfaction across Ogun East should not be ignored, stressing that he remains confident of victory in any free and transparent APC primary.

“I am aware of the enormous powers of incumbency, but if there is a free and fair primary election, I will defeat the governor overwhelmingly,” he declared.

“You can see the turnout here and hear what people are saying publicly. That tells you many people believe these concerns are genuine.”

Earlier, the Director General of the BATOGD Campaign Organisation, retired General Okunowo, also questioned Governor Abiodun’s claim to party unity and grassroots trust, arguing that many APC loyalists in Ogun East remain dissatisfied with the administration’s political handling of the region.

Okunowo said many citizens increasingly see the current administration as distant from grassroots realities and too influenced by elite political interest.

“For many citizens, Dapo Abiodun’s administration increasingly symbolizes distance from the grassroots, elite favoritism, and political calculation without emotional connection to the people,” he said.

He also raised concerns over the governor’s silence on the agitation for Ijebu State and Ijebu-Remo State creation, insisting that political leadership should not be disconnected from long-standing regional aspirations.

“This is not about hatred. It is about accountability. It is not about tribal sentiment. It is about political memory,” Okunowo stated.

Daniel concluded by urging APC members across Ogun East to remain politically active, protect their membership rights, and support leaders they believe would remain accountable to the grassroots after elections.

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