Some Ogun indigenes working to stop Ijebu State creation – Daniel

Former Ogun State Governor and senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has alleged that some indigenes of the state are collaborating with outsiders to frustrate the agitation for the creation of Ijebu-Remo State out of the present Ogun State.

Daniel, who is sponsoring the bill for the creation of the new state at the National Assembly, said the conspiracy could derail years of collective struggle and the dreams of the late Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who championed the cause until his death in July.

Speaking on Sunday during the Community Midterm Assessment Tour of the BATOGD Movement for Ijebu East Local Government held at Ijebu Imusin, the senator warned that unless the people unite, the long-awaited statehood bid could suffer the same fate as the Dangote Refinery project, which was relocated to Lagos after his tenure as governor.

“From what I have gathered, each geopolitical zone may not get more than one new state.

In the South-West, we have competition from our Ibadan brothers, who are also demanding their own state. Our only advantage is that, of all the provinces created in 1923, only the Ijebu Province—which comprises nine local governments—has yet to become a state,” Daniel said.

He expressed concern that “some of our people, perhaps because of temporary benefits, are working with outsiders to sabotage this dream,” adding, “We are short of calling them bastards.”

The former governor stressed that the proposed Ijebu-Remo State, with its capital in Ijebu land, would not only correct historical imbalance but also accelerate regional development and political representation.

Drawing a comparison with his earlier experience, Daniel said:“I raised an alarm when I heard that the Dangote Refinery, which I facilitated to Ogun State as governor, was being moved to Lagos, but no one listened until the multi-billion-dollar investment was lost. I pray our state creation effort will not go the same way. By God’s grace and with President Tinubu’s continuity beyond 2027, Ijebu-Remo State will become a reality.”

Daniel also linked the creation of the new state with his re-election to the Senate and President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid, urging the people to remain united behind both causes.

He described any opposition to Tinubu’s administration as “idle talk borne out of hypocrisy,” insisting that the President is “building a viable nation and taking courageous steps to retool the economy and secure Nigeria’s future.”

Highlighting ongoing federal support for local development, Daniel revealed that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, had pledged to explore the vast bitumen deposits in Ijebu East. He noted that revenue from the mining sector had surged from N6bn to N38bn in just one year under Tinubu, attributing the growth to transparency and accountability.

The senator also listed his community interventions, including the provision of solar-powered boreholes, interest-free microcredit schemes, skills acquisition training, and distribution of start-up kits to small business owners. Over 4,000 residents, he said, had benefited from free eye-care services, surgeries, and medical treatments.

Daniel further called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to develop the Ogun seaport project he initiated while in office, just as the governor successfully completed the Gateway International Airport, which also began under his administration (2003–2011).

The event featured the distribution of empowerment tools such as motorcycles, sewing machines, deep freezers, knapsack sprayers, fertilisers, and free medical services to residents of Ijebu East.(Punch)