Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his immediate predecessor
in office, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Wednesday engaged in war of words
over the latter’s state of origin.
Amosun, who was on a working tour of Odeda Local Government area of
the state, had while addressing a crowd of party supporters, claimed
that Daniel was not a native of Ogun State, but of Isoko extraction in
Delta State.
He added that he was one of those who helped the former governor acquire the nativity of Sagamu.
But in a swift reaction, Daniel said such a remark was an insult on
the entire good people of the historical town of Sagamu, where he hails
from, as well as a taboo and effrontery on its traditional institutions.
Gov. Amosun was reacting to the allegations levelled against his
administration by the ex-governor during a summit held at Odeda, in
Odeda Local Government by the Labour Party a fortnight ago.
Daniel had accused Amosun of selling-off all the farmlands in the area to other states.
He had said, “When I came into power in 2003, the first place we
visited was Odeda and we recognised that agriculture is the main stream
here; we therefore established 13 farm settlements.
“Today, we are sorry that this present government has started selling our farmlands to other neighbouring states.
“He is busy constructing roads and bridges and Alabata road, which we
did when we came in 2003, when I was coming today, I tried to check on
the road, the road was very bad. I want to ask you people of Odeda: what
has Amosun done for you here? He has been constructing bridges all over
and nothing was done here for you, he neglected you”.
In his reaction, Amosun maintained that he assisted Daniel to claim
Sagamu indigeneship when he wanted to contest the governorship seat of
the state in 2003.
The governor described Daniel as a prodigal son, who sold off all the properties of the state under fake concession agreements.
He particularly mentioned Apoje Farm Settlement, which he said the
former governor had sold to a former commissioner in Lagos State, at a
ridiculous amount.
He said, “When they came into power, the farmlands were over 60. When
we came in, it remains only five. They are rogues, thieves and bastard.
God will punish them all. Our forefathers will never forgive them and
the generations coming will also curse them. They thought we are like
them; we are not. We are not a bastard from Isoko”.
Daniel, who reacted to the claim through his media aide, Mr. Ayo
Giwa, said, “The statement that Otunba Gbenga Daniel is not from Sagamu
is an insult on the entire good people of the historical town of Sagamu
as well as a taboo and effrontery on the traditional institutions in the
land, especially the thrones of the Akarigbo of Remoland as well as the
Ewusi of Makun in Remo Kingdom.
“Precisely on Saturday February 23, 2002, Otunba Gbenga Daniel was
made the Aare Asoludero of Makun Sagamu with traditional rites performed
by the late Ewusi, Oba Efuwape Ogunsowo, Inanuwa II. To all intents and
purposes, Oba Ogunsowo declared that Otunba Daniel was a freeborn of
Makun in Sagamu and of the Ojelobaye family origin”.
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