. State Govt’s action sparks fresh crisis, rekindles age-long animosity between Gov Abiodun, ex-gov Daniel
. It’s politically motivated vendetta, thuggish, ex-gov’s media aide alleges
. Daniel should submit himself to law – Gov Abiodun’s spokesman
A fresh crisis has hit Ogun State as the Government has served a quit and demolition notice on the private residence and hotels belonging to former governor Gbenga Daniel, who is also the incumbent Senator representing Ogun East.
The notice is now behind the fresh crisis brewing between Governor Dapo Abiodun and Senator Daniel, who have since been engaged in a bitter political rivalry that began during the run-up to the 2023 general elections.
Also, the current crisis has blown open barely two years after the state government demolished Daniel’s property in Ijebu-Ode, N1billion DATKEM plaza, belonging to his wife and former first lady of the state, Yeye Olufunke Daniel. The property was demolished after a notice by the state government in September 2023.
On Friday, Ogun State Government officials served a Notice of Contravention, Quit Notice, and threats of demolition on Daniel’s residence and hotel.
The notice cited a lack of a planning permit and inadequate building setbacks of the affected properties.
Ex-governor Daniel’s properties affected include Asoludero Court, his private residence in Sagamu; Conference Hotel Limited, Sagamu, and its adjoining annex, all reportedly marked for demolition within three days, if the alleged violations are not rectified.
According to the state government, as stipulated by the provisions of the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022, Daniel’s affected buildings are in contravention of development regulations and risk demolition if he fails to comply within the stipulated period.
Daniel, in a statement by his media aide, Steve Oliyide, condemned the state government’s action, alleging that it’s a politically motivated vendetta being orchestrated by Governor Abiodun.
The statement partly read, “We strongly condemn this latest act of political persecution by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“This is a clear demonstration of the governor’s malicious and vindictive abuse of power, hiding behind a newly enacted law retroactively to target a political opponent.”
It further described the state government’s move as “ludicrous,” citing that the affected buildings – Asoludero Court (built in 2004), Conference Hotel (2013), and the annex (2015) – predated the 2022 planning law the government is relying on for the demolition threat.
The statement also criticised the procedural handling of the notices, stating that the issuance of contravention and quit notices simultaneously with an immediate demolition threat is “not only illegal but a thuggish tactic designed to intimidate and inflict damage.”
The statement, however, urged security agencies, human rights organisations, and legal institutions to intervene and prevent the government’s move to demolish the ex-governor’s properties.
But in a swift reaction, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Kayode Akinmade, explained that the government did not embark on any untoward action against Daniel.
Akinmade described the notice as a “statutory and due process requirement” in the ongoing development audit exercise currently being carried out simultaneously both in Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu GRAs.
He stated, “Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s building happens to be within the Sagamu GRA and among those that were served notices as required under the Town Planning Law and Regulation of Ogun State. Many other structures were also similarly served. The exercise is a continuous one until the objective of government for the exercise is achieved. This process is not new. It had been in existence and operated even during his tenure as Governor of the State.
“The GRA is a government designed and allocated estate and it is subject to regulatory and oversight functions of government in perpetuity.
“All Otunba Gbenga Daniel needs to do, like every other person’s in similar situation that have been served with such notices in that neighbourhood, is to present his planning permit and land title to the relevant government Agency office for verification within the time specified in the notices rather than resorting to cheap blackmail. There are no exemptions under the law except as permitted by that Law.”
Governor Abiodun’s spokesman advised ex-gov Daniel to submit himself to law, saying no one is bigger than the state.
Akinmade stressed, “Nobody is bigger than the State. Senator Gbenga Daniel is distinguished no doubt, but he is not bigger than Ogun State.
“He should submit himself unreservedly to the same laws he once swore twice to uphold. He should refrain from elevating every issue of his contact with government institutions to a personal vendetta by Governor Abiodun, who obviously holds him in high esteem.”
