Governor Dapo Abiodun’s latest media offensive against Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) has been described by political observers as a desperate campaign of calumny aimed at deflecting attention from his own past.
His media aide, Kayode “Kassim Adeseyitan” Akinmade, recently attempted to blame OGD for a viral social media post that raised troubling questions about the governor’s history. Instead of addressing the issues, Akinmade chose the path of scapegoating, pointing fingers at Daniel for events that occurred long before the two men ever crossed paths.
The viral post, now widely circulated, poses critical questions Governor Abiodun has yet to answer. Among them: Was he truly associated with the infamous “Abacha Boys,” linked to the late military dictator’s brutal regime? What role, if any, did he play in assassination plots against NADECO leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Remi Tinubu? How deeply was he implicated in the long-standing $3 million bribery and fraud allegations? And why did Ogun State lose the multi-billion-naira Dangote Refinery project during his tenure as Chairman of the Olokola Free Trade Zone? These questions, pro-democracy activists argue, go to the heart of Abiodun’s credibility as a leader.
Instead of responding directly, the governor’s camp has turned its arsenal against Daniel, reviving unsubstantiated claims of “suspension” and “subversive activities.” Critics note that the so-called suspension exists only in press statements and social media chatter, with no formal process ever initiated. Likewise, accusations that OGD undermined the recent by-election campaign ignore the fact that Abiodun deliberately sidelined the senator from the campaign committee. To many, this reflects not Daniel’s disloyalty but Abiodun’s “emperorship mindset” and intolerance of independent voices within his party.
Analysts argue that Governor Abiodun’s fixation on Daniel betrays both fear and unpopularity. Despite benefitting repeatedly from the philanthropy of business mogul Sir Kessington Adebutu, Abiodun has now turned to scapegoating the elder statesman as well. The governor’s electoral weakness, evident in his failure to win convincingly in his own district during the 2023 elections, further underscores his vulnerability.
As critics conclude, Ogun people are increasingly weary of “kindergarten propaganda,” and no amount of political theatre will erase the questions about the governor’s past or the people’s growing demand for accountability.
