Former Ogun governor and Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of deliberately obstructing and sabotaging federal government intervention projects in the state.

Daniel made the allegation on Sunday during the Midterm Community Assessment and Review Tour of the BATOGD Movement in Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state.

Addressing traditional rulers, party leaders and residents, the former governor said he was compelled to speak openly because “silence is no longer an option” after what he described as repeated attempts to sabotage federal government’s efforts meant for his constituents.

Citing the latest alleged attempt by the state government to obstruct federal road rehabilitation projects he facilitated for Ijebu North, Daniel named the two affected projects as the rehabilitation of Itanrin Road and General Hospital Road, both being executed by federal agencies.

Daily Trust reports that the allegation is coming barely two months after Daniel and Abiodun clashed over a stop-work order on a road project facilitated by the Senator in Sagamu LGA.

In September, the Ogun State Government issued a stop-work order to the contractor handling the construction of the Paddy Arikawe Oye Igbimo road in Sagamu.

According to the government, the order was issued because the contractor failed to obtain the necessary approvals and permits from the state government before commencing the project.

But Daniel’s camp countered the narrative, saying the Abiodun-led government is hellbent on frustrating the federal lawmaker’s intervention projects in his constituency.

Daily Trust also reports that both political leaders are currently at daggers drawn over the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC’s) ticket for the Ogun East ahead of the 2027 election.

Speaking on the crisis, Daniel said he had made several attempts to counsel the governor privately.

“As a former Governor of this state for eight years, and as your Senator, I have a duty to speak truth to power. I have tried, on several occasions, to counsel this Governor privately on these very issues.

“The reward for my private counsel was public ostracisation and removal from party and government activities. I have, therefore, held my peace, choosing to focus on my work in Abuja for the benefit of our people. But when that very work is now being sabotaged, silence is no longer an option,” he said.

According to him, the affected roads are part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and as a National Assembly member, his role is facilitation.

He accused the state government of misrepresenting the projects as his personal initiatives.

“They erroneously believe the federal contractors are ‘OGD’s contractors,’ and in line with their agenda of removing anything associated with me, the project must be frustrated,” he alleged.

Daniel revealed that the Ijebu North Local Government Chairman had issued a stop-work order on the Itanrin and General Hospital Road projects.

“We understand he (the chairman) is under immense pressure.

“But the question is: why choose to fight the people? Why sabotage their roads?”, Daniel asked.

He, however, warned that the consequences could be severe, saying “If by December 2025 this stop-work order is not revoked, the federal funding for these roads will be lost.

“It will be returned to the treasury. How then can we, in good conscience, continue to earmark projects for Ijebu North?”

Daniel appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders to intervene.

“Please talk to the Governor on behalf of our people,” he urged.

Daniel praised the APC National Working Committee and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for stepping into the internal crisis within the Ogun State chapter of the party.

He described the intervention as principled and timely, adding that it has “restored a measure of sanity” to the party.

He dismissed as baseless the recent “suspension” announced by individuals he described as “two or three aides of the Governor,” insisting that neither he nor the BATOGD Movement had ever engaged in anti-party activities.

“Our record is clean, and our loyalty to the President and the party is unwavering,” he declared.

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, revealed that over ?700 million had been disbursed to tertiary institutions in Ogun East to support applicants of the student loan scheme.

Sawyerr encouraged more students from the senatorial district and other parts of the state to apply, emphasizing that “the fund is real; it’s not audio money.”

The Special Adviser to Governor Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, has not responded to our correspondent’s request to comment on Daniel’s allegation. (Daily Trust)

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