₦airaland Forum

Not for politics. Not for policy. But for a promised handshake that never happened.
In 2002/2003, a young engineer arrived on the Ogun political scene, and everybody was buzzing. I didn't understand politics then, but I understood energy. This man had it. Fresh. Confident. Well dressed. Sharp smile. In today's language, he came with AURA. And when his beautiful wife stepped out beside him? Awon Ara Adugbo could not stop talking.

They said he was running for Governor. They said he would beat the incumbent. They said Ogun State was about to change.

I was just a teenager, but somehow, this man raised the bar for what I believed one human being could represent to another. I admired his posters, his pictures, his confidence, his presence. I wanted him to win.

He did.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel became Governor of Ogun State at a defining moment of my life. Around that same time, I lost my father. And somehow, without knowing it, he stepped in.

Through his government's educational programmes, my school fees were paid. Relief came to my mother. Hope returned to our home.
Then came the promise that sealed my young heart: "If you do well at JETS, you'll have a special reception with the Governor and the First Lady."

"I wanted to meet the man who gave me hope when I needed it most. I wanted to see, touch, and say thank you."
What I will meet Mr. AURA himself? And Yeye Olufunke Daniel? We die there!

I won National JETS.

I'm still waiting….

No reception. No handshake. No moment.

We were told he would meet us on Children's Day in 2005. He was busy.

I cried that day.

Not because of politics. Not because of entitlement. But because I wanted to meet the man who gave me hope when I needed it most. I wanted to see, touch, and say thank you to the person who made me believe that possibility was real.

Years later, life played its jokes.
As President of the UNILAG Engineering Society, after a 5-year ban, I resumed office and met over ₦1 million sitting in a frozen account. I was excited.
When I checked the records, the donation was from an alumnus and former faculty exco member.
Mr. AURA.
Years later again, my wife walked into a fashion store in Ikeja with my son. A woman admired her, shook my son's hand, gave him sweets. When I arrived to pick them up, I asked, "Who was that?"
My wife replied, "She just left."
It was Yeye Olufunke Daniel.
She was on her way out of her store when she noticed my wife and son.
So now they have met Yeye. And Mr. Aura is still owing me my handshake and reception.
"He is the Ogun State I know and appreciate. A state that invested in a young boy. A state that made him believe."
Despite all this makeup, I haven't forgiven him.
Because he owes me one final thing.


But as we celebrate Ogun State at 50, I must say this:
Mr. Aura is the Ogun State I know and appreciate. A state that invested in a young boy. A state that made him believe. A state that quietly shaped his future.
If I can do for even one child what Ogun State did for me, then I would have paid it forward properly.

This is the reason behind the ADÉWÁLÉ Student Conference and Scholarship program.
Mr. AURA… Thanks for your leadership and for inspiring a generation.
I'm still available for my handshake.
Happy 50th Anniversary, Ogun State.

Source:

https://applesbite.com/ive-not-forgiven-otunba-gbenga-daniel-michael-adewale-adesanya/

The political jobbers only care about their stomach.

Same OGD tenure that touts was behaving anyhow across the state. Ologbowon, Ozogula, Sugar

Make una no dey do because of una stomach and be insensitive

OGD defeated Osoba not because he was popular or all what you wrote above. It was internal issue within Egba and Owu that cost Osoba his reelection. Even though he spent only four years, those who spent 8 years are struggling with Osoba's projects.

I saw one video just some months ago of a road constructed during Osoba in Ijebu area and still standing gidigba

It is well with you and mr aura

Oh please try and forgive… but what’s the economic value of your forgiveness ?

helinues:
The political jobbers only care about their stomach.

Same OGD tenure that touts was behaving anyhow across the state. Ologbowon, Ozogula, Sugar

Make una no dey do because of una stomach and be insensitive

OGD defeated Osoba not because he was popular or all what you wrote above. It was internal issue within Egba and Owu that cost Osoba his reelection. Even though he spent only four years, those who spent 8 years are struggling with Osoba's projects.

I saw one video just some months ago of a road constructed during Osoba in Ijebu area and still standing gidigba

You Wer they talk you they among stomach Infrastructure gang...

Kharol1234:
You Wer they talk you they among stomach Infrastructure gang...

Even with pidgin, it's still incomprehensible.

Poor you

Mxxxxxxxxmmmmmmmmmmmmm

helinues:
The political jobbers only care about their stomach.

Same OGD tenure that touts was behaving anyhow across the state. Ologbowon, Ozogula, Sugar

Make una no dey do because of una stomach and be insensitive

OGD defeated Osoba not because he was popular or all what you wrote above. It was internal issue within Egba and Owu that cost Osoba his reelection. Even though he spent only four years, those who spent 8 years are struggling with Osoba's projects.

I saw one video just some months ago of a road constructed during Osoba in Ijebu area and still standing gidigba

Osoba tried yes....but Gbenga Daniel's first term was a very sound and good one. He paid people's waec fees, funded schools....launched many supporting plans. OGROMA..OGEGEP
.OGEPA..etc..and i think TRACE.. It allowed state citizens to get jobs then..unlike these ones who prefer contracting jobs out to outsiders..while But you're also partly right about the thuggery and hooliganism issues. It is just that these issues came up in his 2nd term.

The rumours had it that he joined a cult...and was also running drugs...but no-one really knows. Amosun that came in after him was taking state executives to shrines to swear allegiance and take occultic oaths.

I dont stay in ogun anymore so I'm not updated about what ds current one is doing.. but I heard hes not too good or too bad. May God help nigerian states

Two truths can coexist.

No Administration is perfect. However, OGD was a sound and visionary leader. He provided cheap housing for civil servants, focused on education, created jobs, built the new secretariat, stable power project, saved collapsing institutions like gateway hotels, Olumo Rock, and others.

bestofnollywood:
But as we celebrate Ogun State at 50, I must say this:
Mr. Aura is the Ogun State I know and appreciate. A state that invested in a young boy. A state that made him believe. A state that quietly shaped his future.
If I can do for even one child what Ogun State did for me, then I would have paid it forward properly.

This is the reason behind the ADÉWÁLÉ Student Conference and Scholarship program.

How do we know from all this dogo turenchi if Daniel did better than Tinubu in the education of all children in his eight years as governor?

Did Daniel employ as many as the 19,500 teachers that Makinde employed in five years?

Did Daniel achieve more than 5% schools owned by government? Or was it less than 5% as Lagos progreThieves have done in 27 years of lootocracy

timbabng:
No Administration is perfect.

However, OGD was a sound and visionary leader.

Why not provide details of how he was a sound and visionary leader that impacted Ogun people much more than Onabanjo did in the provision of services and utilities

Ogun State is just like Ego State, from one wack leader to another

I'm not from Ogun but from the information that I've gathered, the current administration remains the worst that have governed the state in the past. Ogun is supposed to be competing with Lagos owing proximity or even beat Lagos in every ramifications. Nigeria and poor leadership na 5 & 6.

anonimi:
Why not provide details of how he was a sound and visionary leader that impacted Ogun people much more than Onabanjo did in the provision of services and utilities

I updated my response with the information below. I believe this is NOT about OGD vs Onabanjo. So let's focus on what you like or dislike about OGD.

timbabng:
No Administration is perfect. However, OGD was a sound and visionary leader. He provided cheap housing for civil servants, focused on education, created jobs, built the new secretariat, stable power project, saved collapsing institutions like gateway hotels, Olumo Rock, and others.

timbabng:
I updated my response with the information below. I believe this is NOT about OGD vs Onabanjo. So let's focus on what you like or dislike about OGD.

How much improvement occured in relevant ratios on education to show that he focused on education?

Number of public schools to private schools ratio.
Enrolment in public schools to private schools ratio.
Teacher to students ratio in public schools.
Library seat to students ratio

Etc, etc.

PDP Tools for looting and destroying

edogu:
I'm not from Ogun but from the information that I've gathered, the current administration remains the worst that have governed the state in the past.

Ogun is supposed to be competing with Lagos owing proximity or even beat Lagos in every ramifications. Nigeria and poor leadership na 5 & 6.

Is Ogun state not competing already with Lagos for the waterless trophy of detty, smelly cities



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5v-F81hNTs

helinues:
The political jobbers only care about their stomach.

Same OGD tenure that touts was behaving anyhow across the state. Ologbowon, Ozogula, Sugar

Make una no dey do because of una stomach and be insensitive

OGD defeated Osoba not because he was popular or all what you wrote above. It was internal issue within Egba and Owu that cost Osoba his reelection. Even though he spent only four years, those who spent 8 years are struggling with Osoba's projects.

I saw one video just some months ago of a road constructed during Osoba in Ijebu area and still standing gidigba

Anybody you called a political jobber must be a very very miserable person.

You, calling somebody a political jobber?


Wonders of all time!


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

kafeii123:
Osoba tried yes....but Gbenga Daniel's first term was a.very sound and good one. He paid people's waec fees....launched many supporting plans. But you're also partly right about the thuggery and hooliganism issues. It isnjust thatnthese issues came up in his 2nd term.

The rumours ass that he joined a cult...and always running drugs...but no-one really knows. Amosun that came in after him was taking state executives to shrines to swear allegiance and take occultic oaths.

I dont stay in ogun anymore so I'm not updated about what ds current one is doing.. but i heard hes not too good or too bad. May Godbhelp nigerian states

Two truthra can coexist.

OGD, Amosun and DA only tried even though below expectations. Ogun state have not been having luck with good governor

Osoba's losing his reelection wasn't about underperformance, it was mostly reckless talk and lopsided appointments

edogu:
I'm not from Ogun but from the information that I've gathered, the current administration remains the worst that have governed the state in the past. Ogun is supposed to be competing with Lagos owing proximity or even beat Lagos in every ramifications. Nigeria and poor leadership na 5 & 6.

Na lie. DA has performed than OGD even though it's still rated below

You have no idea about the future economy potential of Ogun state in the next 10 years considering the number of investors that DA has attracted to the state. Ogun state people have high expectations, even as poor as how DA is, he's still amongst the top 5 best governor in Nigeria currently.

The bad road that people want to be blaming DA for, why did Amosun leave so many uncompleted road projects across the state. Which should be the new government priority about completing the abandoned roads or build new one.

Btw, which major road did OGD build?

helinues:
The political jobbers only care about their stomach.

Same OGD tenure that touts was behaving anyhow across the state. Ologbowon, Ozogula, Sugar

Make una no dey do because of una stomach and be insensitive

OGD defeated Osoba not because he was popular or all what you wrote above. It was internal issue within Egba and Owu that cost Osoba his reelection. Even though he spent only four years, those who spent 8 years are struggling with Osoba's projects.

I saw one video just some months ago of a road constructed during Osoba in Ijebu area and still standing gidigba

It is unfortunate you missed the writer's point. When you have been where he was at the time the government of Ogun state under Gbenga Daniel help you will understand. This is the reason some of us older generation with similar circumstance when we were kids will forever appreciate Obafemi Awolowo and the UPN governors under him. The question often come to my mind. If not for Awo's free education, what would have become of me?

Personally, I remember Gbenga Daniel to be a terrible governor albeit from a distance. However, you will always appreciate someone who gave you a lifting hand when you are down no matter how bad they are. That is the point of the article

edogu:
I'm not from Ogun but from the information that I've gathered, the current administration remains the worst that have governed the state in the past. Ogun is supposed to be competing with Lagos owing proximity or even beat Lagos in every ramifications. Nigeria and poor leadership na 5 & 6.

Ogun (hqtrs of SK mining) should even beat Lagos in all ramifications as how nah? Lagos was a former capital city built by the sweat of all Nigerians. How does small Ogun state compete with that just because of proximity?

helinues:
The political jobbers only care about their stomach.

Same OGD tenure that touts was behaving anyhow across the state. Ologbowon, Ozogula, Sugar

Make una no dey do because of una stomach and be insensitive

OGD defeated Osoba not because he was popular or all what you wrote above. It was internal issue within Egba and Owu that cost Osoba his reelection. Even though he spent only four years, those who spent 8 years are struggling with Osoba's projects.

I saw one video just some months ago of a road constructed during Osoba in Ijebu area and still standing gidigba

Was the road constructed with his personal money?

The dark spot of his administration especially at the twilight.

Those guys were uncontrollable and it was as though he commissioned them or just sat unconcerned.

He was not also having it easy with opposition from every corner, OBJ, Dimeji, Iyabo, Osoba PDP, assembly, LG Chairmen etc.

Despite these, OGD still stands taller than the rest of them in human development capacity.

helinues:
The political jobbers only care about their stomach.

Same OGD tenure that touts was behaving anyhow across the state. Ologbowon, Ozogula, Sugar

Make una no dey do because of una stomach and be insensitive

OGD defeated Osoba not because he was popular or all what you wrote above. It was internal issue within Egba and Owu that cost Osoba his reelection. Even though he spent only four years, those who spent 8 years are struggling with Osoba's projects.

I saw one video just some months ago of a road constructed during Osoba in Ijebu area and still standing gidigba

helinues:
Even with pidgin, it's still incomprehensible.

Poor you

Na me say make you no sabi pidgin poor you stomach infrastructure gang.

This one is also one of the disappointments that Ogun State suffered.

Bad leaders back-to-back kill Ogun State.

In all honesty, There probably has never been a Governor like Daniel on Nigerian political landscape. Ogun state moved so rapidly- longest road constructed in Nigeria(500km plus ahead of distant 2nd, Yar'adua of Kastina who constructed 380km+) , Most Industrialised (quoting Jonathan) with the conception of Sagamu Industrial layout, Sports revolution (4 stadia), 10 Tertiary institutions with luxurious transportation, all markets remodelled, all hospitals remodelled, etc

Then he conceived 4 Free Trade Zones, Refinery (That Amosun cancelled), Airport city (That Amosun canceled), Olokola Deep sea port (that Dangote has now applied to revive). Ogun state had overtaken Oyo Fiscal Economy, it was on the verge of trumping Lagos before Amosun entered with his vendetta of cancellations.

Daniel was so unbeatable that ALL political actors teamed up against him. We're talking of a man who controlled ALL political positions to the last councilor. Kashamu was the CASH backing, Obasanjo, the Presidential influence, Bankole, the legislative accomplice, not to mention the Kuyes, Olurins, etc. Every politician was against him. They vowed to spend 20 Billion, jail him and they prosecuted him to Supreme Court, enlisted Punch to propagate unending scandals.

People/ public began to run with the paid- propaganda that Daniel was corrupt, a murderer, failed governor, etc. He visited punch to make peace but he revealed Punch was trying to eat from both sides of the plate. He suffered from the same Tinubu- styled instigated Media persecution Jonathan too suffered.

Beyond the veil of Media/ Political persecution, Daniel can only be mentioned in the same breath with 2 politicians in the history of Nigeria- Obafemi Awolowo and Bola Tinubu.

helinues:
OGD, Amosun and DA only tried even though below expectations. Ogun state have not been having luck with good governor

Osoba's losing his reelection wasn't about underperformance, it was mostly reckless talk and lopsided appointments

I dont remember what made Osoba lose...but I remember hearing that Obasanjo helping OGD out then by going to pay an unscheduled visit to the Osoba's house early morning on election day. So incapacitating him from actively working with his machineries in town that day. However, there's the fact that the Ijebus wanted their own shot at the governorship and with osoba's underestimating, things got out of hand for him.

I believe its time the Yewa/Aworis go for the shot tho. Amosun was owu/egba...old and DA are ijebu/remos (not sure) ...I hear yayi had a chance too now..make see how dem wan run am..they shd sha not assassinate themselves this time again. Funsho Williams is still fresh in memory

kafeii123:
I dont remember what made Osoba lose...but I remember hearing that Obasanjo helping OGD out then by going to pay an unscheduled visit to the Osoba's house early morning on election day. So incapacitating him from actively working with his machineries in town that day. However, there's the fact that the Ijebus wanted their own shot at the governorship and with osoba's underestimating, things got out of hand for him.

I believe its time the Yewa/Aworis go for the shot tho. Amosun was owu/egba...old and DA are ijebu/remos (not sure) ...I hear yayi had a chance too now..make see how dem wan run am..they shd sha not assassinate themselves this time again. Funsho Williams is still fresh in memory

Obj tricked Osoba..He asked him for the then Ad in the state to support his reelection in federal in exchange for Osoba's reelection

The commissioner of Police in the state that Obj assured Osoba would some tricks, he was transferred to Abuja on the eve of election by road. Deliberate from Obj. That's what brought Osoba to Obj's house on election day.

As for the Yewa, unfortunately they are not united in their zone . Apart from Yayi, others might still show up from the region aspiring for the governorship position. That's how they missed their golden opportunity when Amosun supported Akinlade after his tenure and GNI still contested that election when someone from Remo is fully supported by his people

helinues:
Obj tricked Osoba..He asked him for the then Ad in the state to support his reelection in federal in exchange for Osoba's reelection

The commissioner of Police in the state that Obj assured Osoba would some tricks, he was transferred to Abuja on the eve of election by road. Deliberate from Obj. That's what brought Osoba to Obj's house on election day.

As for the Yewa, unfortunately they are not united in their zone . Apart from Yayi, others might still show up from the region aspiring for the governorship position. That's how they missed their golden opportunity when Amosun supported Akinlade after his tenure and GNI still contested that election when someone from Remo is fully supported by his people

Well..let's hope the Yewas will be united this time. Yayi is their most prominent son currently, better to support him.

In the end, may the person who'll make ogun better win.

Ogun needs more local govts. Manyof the current ones are so big.. Abeokuta North for instance shd be at least two local govts. Ditto Ifo and co.

Maybe the ijebus will get their desired state alongside the ibadan.

kafeii123:
Well..let's hope the Yewas will be united this time. Yayi is their most prominent son currently, better to support him.

In the end, may the person who'll make ogun better win.

Ogun needs more local govts. Manyof the current ones are so big.. Abeokuta North for instance shd be at least two local govts. Ditto Ifo and co.

Maybe the ijebus will get their desired state alongside the ibadan.

The question people are not asking about Yayi is, what precisely did he do as a former house of Rep and a current senator whether in Lagos state or Ogun West?

Prominent son in what way? Because he's affiliated with president Tinubu or what?

The Ijebu and Remo supposed to be playing same politics like Egba and Owu but Remo have been cheating the Ijebu for decades. They are yet to produce a governor or deputy governor. Meanwhile, Yewa have produced 2 deputy governors

helinues:
The question people are not asking about Yayi is, what precisely did he do as a former house of Rep and a current senator whether in Lagos state or Ogun West?

Prominent son in what way? Because he's affiliated with president Tinubu or what?

The Ijebu and Remo supposed to be playing same politics like Egba and Owu but Remo have been cheating the Ijebu for decades. They are yet to produce a governor or deputy governor. Meanwhile, Yewa have produced 2 deputy governors

People have been saying this..but me in just consider Remo and Ijebu as one basically.

Amd as for Yayi..I dont know him directly really..but...what option do his people have?...if none...then they ahd rather support him..or let ds term go..whilst working towards d next one