The Ogun State Government has dismissed allegations levelled against Governor Dapo Abiodun by the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Gbenga Daniel, describing them as “hastily concocted falsehoods” from a desperate politician seeking political relevance after allegedly betraying his party.
Daniel, while speaking during his Midterm Assessment and Empowerment Tour in Ijebu Ode, had accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of neglecting Ijebuland, frustrating federal projects facilitated by him, causing the state to lose the proposed Dangote Refinery project initially planned for Ogun, and opposing the establishment of a naval base in Abigi.
Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, the Ogun State Government, through the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Governor, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, described the allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
Akinmade said it was unfortunate that Daniel had resorted to what he termed “cheap lies and propaganda” after realizing that his political ambition for 2027 had suffered a setback.
According to him, the people of Ogun State, particularly in Ijebuland, are witnesses to the achievements of the Abiodun administration, noting that several abandoned and deplorable roads inherited from previous administrations had been rehabilitated.
“Daniel is just a desperate politician who believes his only remaining weapon is propaganda and blackmail. Everybody in the state, especially in Ijebuland, appreciates the modest achievements of Governor Dapo Abiodun. Most of the deplorable roads left behind by Daniel have now been fixed, while about 29 major road projects have been completed in Ijebu Ode alone,” Akinmade said.
The government also faulted Daniel’s comparison of state allocations during his tenure as governor and the current administration, arguing that he ignored prevailing economic realities and the sharp depreciation of the naira.
“It is interesting that Daniel, who left office in 2011 when the exchange rate hovered around N150 to N170 per dollar, is now boasting that he would have executed more projects if he had received the allocations Governor Abiodun currently receives, at a time the dollar exchanges for over N1,370. In his desperation to attack the governor, he ignored basic economic realities,” the statement added.
On the allegation that Governor Abiodun frustrated the Dangote Refinery project in Ogun State, the government described the claim as false and contrary to publicly available facts.
Akinmade referenced comments made by the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, during a visit to the governor’s office in Abeokuta, where he reportedly praised the administration’s investor-friendly policies and business climate.
According to the statement, Dangote had recounted how investments in Ogun State suffered setbacks under a previous administration but expressed satisfaction with the current administration’s support for investors.
The government further stated that the ongoing expansion of cement plants in Itori and Ibeshe by the Dangote Group demonstrates renewed investor confidence in Ogun State under the Abiodun administration.
Akinmade also dismissed Daniel’s claim that he could defeat Governor Abiodun politically, saying the senator was “entitled to his illusions.”
He recalled that Daniel emerged as the APC senatorial candidate for Ogun East in 2023 through a consensus arrangement facilitated by Governor Abiodun, who persuaded other aspirants, including the incumbent senator at the time, to step down for him.
The statement further accused Daniel of anti-party activities during the 2023 governorship election and subsequent political contests in the state.
“The leadership and stakeholders of the APC in Ogun East became uncomfortable with Daniel’s repeated anti-party activities, including openly supporting opposition elements during the 2023 governorship election and other elections in the state,” Akinmade stated.
He also accused the senator of disregarding party structures and due process, alleging that Daniel often acted independently without proper consultation with relevant government agencies and party leaders.
Akinmade cited a recent APC stakeholders’ meeting in Ijebu Ode, alleging that Daniel attempted to create tension by arriving with supporters and a media crew.
“The party took a collective decision, but he believes he is bigger than the party. When Governor Abiodun was adopted as the consensus candidate for Ogun East, major stakeholders from the ward, local government, and state levels were present. So why is he now fighting the same party that gave him its ticket?” he queried.
The Ogun State Government maintained that Governor Abiodun remains focused on governance and delivering developmental projects across the state, despite what it described as distractions from political opponents.
