The National Association of Ogun State Students has stated that former governor of the state, Senator Gbenga Daniel, should take responsibility for the negative press his administration received during his eight-year tenure as governor.
Daniel, who currently represents Ogun East Senatorial District, served as governor from 2003 to 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The student body also urged the former governor to stop distracting the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun by stirring unnecessary sentiments through press interviews.
NAOSS made this call in a statement signed by its National President, Kehinde Thomas, on Monday and made available to journalists in Abeokuta.
The statement criticized Daniel for blaming the media for underreporting the achievements of his administration, asserting that Daniel has himself to blame for any misfortunes during his tenure due to the political conflicts he engaged in while in office.
Daniel had complained in a press interview that his administration suffered a media blackout, which resulted in poor coverage of its accomplishments. He also claimed that the foundation of many projects, including the Agro-Cargo Airport, initiated by the current administration of Governor Abiodun, was laid by his government between 2003 and 2011.
However, the Ogun State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress criticized Daniel over his recent comments on ongoing projects in Ogun.
In response to Daniel’s statements, NAOSS said the former governor should commend Abiodun for advancing the airport project, which had been stalled for over a decade before 2019. The student body described Daniel’s comments as a distraction for a performing governor and an attempt to find excuses for his administration’s failure to complete the project despite significant financial investment.
Thomas noted that unlike Daniel’s tenure, which was marked by political conflict and thuggery, Governor Abiodun has promoted political inclusiveness, tolerance, fairness, equity, justice, and even distribution of projects across the state’s three senatorial districts. He urged Daniel to acknowledge the political maturity demonstrated by Abiodun, who has broken the cycle of political intolerance and harsh treatment seen in previous administrations.
“Governor Abiodun has demonstrated better political maturity by breaking the cycle of political intolerance and harsh treatment exhibited by Senator Daniel towards his predecessor in office and the eight years of humiliation he equally suffered in the hands of his successor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun,” Thomas said.
Thomas reminded the people of Ogun State of the harsh treatment Daniel inflicted on his predecessor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and the subsequent political humiliation Daniel faced from his successor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. He cautioned against the political alliance between Daniel and Amosun, labeling it a marriage of convenience aimed at distracting Governor Abiodun’s administration.
“Our people are not fools and they cannot be hoodwinked by the political marriage of inconvenience between the hitherto political foes, all to distract the administration of Governor Abiodun,” Thomas stated.
He concluded by urging the people of Ogun State to support Governor Abiodun, who has managed to lower the political temperature in the state despite provocations.
