The political rift between Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and his predecessor, Gbenga Daniel, has deepened, with both camps trading fresh claims over political loyalty ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abiodun on Thursday accused Daniel of appearing to have moved away from the mainstream of the All Progressives Congress with a stylish support for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2027 governorship election, Ladi Adebutu.

Daniel’s loyalists, however, dismissed the claims, insisting that the former governor’s political family, to which Adebutu belongs, remained firmly behind him.

Abiodun, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said he was advised against supporting Daniel to go to the Senate in 2023 because of concerns that he might eventually turn against him.

He reportedly stated this while receiving some members of Daniel’s political family and the late Buruji Kashamu’s political group into the mainstream of the APC in Abeokuta.

The governor was said to have described the decision of the loyalists to return to the mainstream of the party as a significant step towards strengthening the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abiodun, who revisited the political developments of 2023 during the meeting, revealed that he was advised against supporting Daniel’s emergence as the APC senatorial candidate because of concerns that the former governor might eventually go against him.

The governor was quoted as saying, “Despite the warnings, he supported Daniel because he respected him as a former governor and his belief that political disagreements should not diminish the respect accorded former occupants of the office.

“I just decided that we should honour him because one day, I will also become a former governor.”

The governor further recalled an occasion at which, according to him, Daniel expressed uncertainty over who would emerge as the next governor of Ogun State despite one of the contestants being a member of his political party.

“Now the gloves are off. He is the same person that we heard in an audio saying he had taken someone to court,” Abiodun added.

The governor equally expressed concern over the recent relaunch of Daniel Foundation, where the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, was a special guest of honour.

Abiodun said the development appeared to suggest that the former governor had chosen to operate outside the mainstream of the APC, despite his status as a respected political figure in Ogun State.

He noted that his relationship with Daniel had always been guided by respect for the office of governor and the responsibilities that come with being a former governor.

“You know OGD is my leader because he was governor before me. I joined Ogun State politics way before him. Without a doubt, I was a senator-elect in the state in 1996/1997,” Abiodun said.

The governor recalled his political journey, including his emergence as a senator-elect, saying his experiences had taught him that political influence and power were privileges from God that must be exercised responsibly.

“You don’t begin to act as if you are God. You don’t begin to play as if you are an emperor. God gives us power and looks at how we use it.

“If you utilise it very well, God will leave it with you for a long time to continue to wield it. If you abuse it, God will take it away from you and give it to somebody else,” he said.

Receiving the groups at a meeting held at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, Abiodun commended their decision to align with the APC and work together for the success of the party and its candidates across Ogun East senatorial district.

He said political actors who share common interests should be able to speak with one voice, particularly in an election year, rather than dissipate their energy working for different political parties.

The governor assured the new entrants into the APC that they would not regret their decision, promising that his administration would continue to promote unity, inclusiveness and cohesion within the party.

He also disclosed that significant developments concerning Ogun State’s anticipated emergence as an oil-producing state and the proposed deep-sea port would be announced before the end of the year.

Speaking at the meeting, the governor’s Senior Consultant on Political Matters, Tunde Adesanya, said the delegation was at the meeting to formally reaffirm its loyalty to the APC and its commitment to Abiodun.

Adesanya, who previously served as the coordinator of Daniel in Odogbolu Local Government before his removal over his alignment with the APC mainstream, said the group had decided to identify fully with the party.

Also speaking, Mr Oladipupo Owoduni said the meeting was convened to bring together political stakeholders committed to the APC, Abiodun and all the party’s candidates.

He dismissed reports suggesting that members of the group would support candidates of other political parties, insisting that their commitment remained firmly with the APC.

Owoduni disclosed that the group had commenced the “Operation 5 Direct” mobilisation programme, aimed at securing victory for President Bola Tinubu, Abiodun in his senatorial bid, Solomon Adeola in the governorship election, as well as APC candidates for the House of Representatives and Ogun State House of Assembly in Ogun East.

The OGD Loyal Coordinators Forum, in a statement signed by the trio of Kolade Segun-Okeowo, Yekeen Adesanya and Jide Onadeko, however, said the loyalists of the former governor remained united and unperturbed by the report of some individuals who were said to have returned to the mainstream of the ruling party under the governor recently.

The forum said those who visited the governor acted in their personal capacity and “did so without the mandate, consultation, or approval of the larger OGD political family across Ogun East and beyond and do not speak for us, and their decision cannot be interpreted as the position of OGD loyalists.”

The forum pledged that its loyalty to Daniel remained unwavering, as it remained committed to his leadership and ideals.

It said, “We are prepared to stay with him and to continue working with him to strengthen our party, the APC, and to deliver democratic dividends to the people of Ogun East and Ogun State.

“We reject misrepresentation. Politics of integrity demands clarity of loyalty. Attempts to present a handful of individuals as representing an entire political family are misleading and do not reflect the reality on the ground.

“The OGD movement is intact, organised, and focused.”

It, therefore, urged party members, stakeholders and the general public to disregard the impression that OGD loyalists had collectively abandoned their principal, saying, “That is not true.”

Also reacting, the media aide to Daniel, Steve Oliyide, said there was never a relaunch of any foundation but a reunion of the old and new members of the Gateway Front Foundation, founded by the former governor, to plan for its 25th anniversary.

Oliyide said, “There was no ‘relaunch’ of the Foundation yet, but a reunion of old and new members of the Gateway Front Foundation to plan for its 25th anniversary. I am not sure if there was ever any need for a special guest of honour at such an event.

“Hon Ladi Adebutu is also an old member of the foundation, except that the writer is asking that an old member of over 20 years should be excused from an event in which he played a significant role simply because of his political ambition to please some other people.”

In an earlier statement, the media office of the former governor had equally distanced the senator from the purported circulating audio, describing it as manipulated and doctored material deliberately fabricated to mislead the public and malign Daniel.

The statement read, “The OGD Media Office has been inundated with enquiries regarding a purportedly leaked private conversation allegedly involving His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and a respected elder statesman.

“For the record, this office became aware of the existence of the audio over six weeks ago, following attempts by its purveyors to deploy the maliciously doctored recording as an instrument of political blackmail, coercion, intimidation, and other criminal ends.

“The audio in circulation is a manipulated and deliberately doctored material, calculated to mislead the public, malign the reputation of His Excellency, and advance a premeditated political agenda.

“Accordingly, the appropriate law enforcement agencies have been formally invited to investigate the source of the recording, those responsible for its manipulation and dissemination, and the criminal motives behind its circulation.

“In addition, our legal team has been instructed to pursue all available civil and criminal remedies against every individual or group connected with this orchestrated campaign of calumny, defamation, malicious falsehood, and cybercrime. These shenanigans must stop in our body politics.”

Recall that the political relationship between Abiodun and Daniel had been strained, particularly over the 2027 Senate ticket for Ogun East.

While Daniel, who currently occupies the seat, is interested in seeking another term, the governor, who will be finishing his second term by May, also desires to be the next senator representing Ogun East.

The ruling party later adopted Abiodun as its 2027 consensus candidate, and he was subsequently announced as the winner of the party’s primary for the senatorial seat. (The PUNCH)

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