FILE: Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun
Elegbede Abiodun
• He says he supported political success of Daniel when he contested for the governorship in 2003.
The governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday said he was instrumental to the emergence of Otunba Gbenga Daniel as governor of the state in 2003, as well as to his election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in 2023 as the senator representing Ogun East.
Governor Abiodun, according to a viral video, reportedly disclosed this at the stakeholders meeting of the ruling party held at his Iperu Remo private residence on Tuesday night
This is just as the governor, also at the meeting, unfolded his intention to contest for the Ogun East Senate seat in 2027, pledging to offer the best representation ever in the senatorial district.
Abiodun said that he has given so much support to aid the political success of Daniel, either when he contested for the governorship in 2003 or 20 years later, when he decided to go to the Senate, and that he never believed that what the former governor would use to pay him back was negative publicity and media attacks.
He explained that having lost the governorship ticket to Daniel on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2003, he practically handed over his structure to the former governor to boost his victory at the polls.
The governor said that, but for his intervention and pleading with the former deputy governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, and the then incumbent senator, Lekan Mustapha, to step down their Senate ambitions in 2023, it might have been difficult for Daniel to have been a member of the national assembly.
Abiodun said, “I was here when Sen Amosun became the governor, I was here when Otunba Gbenga Daniel became the governor, and I actually contested against him in 2003, and when he emerged from the primaries, I was the first to congratulate him and handed over all my structures to him..
“And we know what we have done for each other over the years. I know how my relationship with Governor Daniel was when I assumed office; I held his hand to reintegrate him into the party; these are facts.
“I know what I did for Governor Daniel to become a senator. This is not something that I have ever said publicly, but these are facts. Prince Segun Adesegun and Sen Lekan Mustapha were the front-runners in that election.
“I know what my intervention was before the two of them agreed to step down for Otunba Daniel to eventually emerge as the party’s candidate. If Senator Daniel now feels that the only way he wants to repay my years of support is to be sponsoring negative publicity and media attacks against me, I leave him to his conscience.”
Abiodun, while addressing the meeting, promised to provide the people of Ogun East with quality representation in the Senate.
He said, “When you gave me the mandate of Ogun State, I have never disappointed you. I want to assure you that I will offer Ogun East the best representation ever in the history of the Red Chamber. I promise you I will offer the district the best representation.
“I will not be a back bencher. I will not be the kind of person who gets there just to look. I will offer good representation to the good people of Ogun East, so help me God.”
This declaration comes hours after the incumbent, Senator Gbenga Daniel, picked up the nomination and expression of interest forms to seek reelection to the upper legislative house.
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