Ogun State, Senator Gbenga Daniel and His Place in Our Political History: Before the Obfuscators Undo Us
The recent barrages of unwarranted campaign of calumny against the person of Otunba Gbenga Daniel is quite unfortunate. OGD as popularly known is a astute intellectual who distinguished himself in business and professional career before age 40. He has served as two term governor of Ogun State prior to his recent election and inauguration as a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Sponsored attacks by ill-informed individuals against a gentleman who has sacrificed immensely for the collective struggle of a generation should not be ignored by men of good will who are in the know of what OGD truly represents and the truth being assailed by those eager to misrepresent facts.
OGD is a thoroughbred progressive per excellence, a man whose life is manifestly dedicated to the service to his people and fatherland.The character assassins at the beck and call of the incumbent Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun will only be making huge fools of themselves if they dare compare the progressive pedigree of OGD with the uninspiring reputation of their paymaster tainted by controversies of fake credentials and conviction on account of credit card theft in the US. A man of dubious badges of character; unfitting for the honour of Omoluabi in the Yoruba culture should learn to behave with utmost regard for icons of pride like OGD.
Some of us can testify as living witnesses to OGD’s role in the struggle for democracy. OGD stood to be counted when the battle against military dictatorship was at its peak. OGD is one of the heroes whose efforts and sacrifices birthed the democracy which Prince Dapo Abiodun has now become a major beneficiary.OGD did not only put his business interest at risk as one of the key financials of the struggle against the military, he was one of those in-house strategists that became pillars of the many barricades of the struggle. Nobody ever accused OGD of betrayal when it was most fashionable and may be “profitable” to do so!
And where was Prince Dapo Abiodun in the radar of progressive struggle either at home or abroad? It is on record that OGD earned a place as a frontrunner of support for Afenifere in the formative stages of the post-military era progressive party in the southwest.
OGD had good reasons to leave the Alliance for Democracy (AD) when it was becoming unreasonable to ignore agitation of his followers who pitched tent with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He subsequently won election to become the governor of Ogun state and left no one in doubts about his commitment to the doctrine of late Sage Obafemi Awolowo as represented by the Afenifere of yore. Civil society organisations and self determination groups across board were beneficiaries of his moral and financial contributions long before he launched the ambition of becoming the governor of Ogun State.
As a member of ALAJOBI, a subset of Afenifere under the leadership of Mr. Dare Babarinsa, OGD alongside other cadres of the movement, sacrificed time and resources. He participated actively in mobilising critical stakeholders across Yoruba land in the quest to fashion a workable document on the basis of promoting a workable agenda for the development of Yoruba land.OGD’s role in keeping the peace in the southwest at a time some so-called political leaders were seen exploiting the crises cannot easily be forgotten by leaders of self determination groups.
Accusation of betrayal against OGD by those that lack knowledge of the struggle for democracy should be deemed laughable! The claim that OGD did not support the presidential bid of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu goes to show how much of revisionism and deliberate obfusfication at play. OGD’s role before and during Asiwaju’s first term election as governor of Lagos State is in public domain and some of us are major participants back then. It is unfortunate that those that lack credible information are trying albeit futilely to impress those who invest energy and passion in their small minds. How could these modern day jesters possibly know that OGD contributed huge monetary and material resources in ensuring Asiwaju Bola Tinubu won the 1999 governorship election in Lagos State.
Of course, Asiwaju knew those who betrayed him and spared no opportunity in publicly denouncing them in the wake of campaigns for the primaries in 2022. How did Prince Dapo Abiodun get the fitting characterisation of Eleyi of Ogun State if not for his betrayal!
The point to be made however is that insulting a laundry man should not be the turf of a man who is known for bed-wetting (arinrin alagbafọ, kosi lẹ̀nun a tọ̀ọ̀’le). The records are there for all to see using whatever benchmark, between OGD’s four years as governor compared to the wasteful for years that just ended with much agony upon the good people of Ogun State.As the Yoruba would say “Arifin alatọsi kosi lẹ̀nun Okobo (an eunuch dare not denigrate a man infected with venereal disease).
Regrettably, the robust politics of idea for which Ogun State is reputed including the beauty of intellectual engagement of the OGD years are being gradually rubbished by the clueless obfuscator with the motley crowd of court jesters lacking the courage to stand for the truth for the sake of prosperity
Signed:
Kola Are.
Fr. Executive Director, Coalition of Oodua Self Determination Groups (COSEG)
