The political atmosphere in Ogun East Senatorial District intensified on Tuesday as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Otunba Gbenga Daniel (BATOGD) Campaign Organisation openly questioned Governor Dapo Abiodun’s political legacy in Ijebuland ahead of the anticipated 2027 Senate contest within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the centre of the growing debate were allegations of infrastructural neglect, weakened grassroots political structures, unresolved concerns over the Dangote Refinery project, silence on the agitation for Ijebu State creation, and claims of increasing disconnect between the governor and the people of Ogun East.
The issues were raised during the Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Otunba Gbenga Daniel Midterm Assessment and Empowerment Tour held at the Obalofin Court residence of former Ogun State Governor and Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, in Ijebu Ode.
The event also featured remarks and campaign documents circulated by the Director General of the BATOGD Campaign Organisation, retired General Okunowo, who accused Governor Abiodun’s administration of presiding over what he described as one of the most divisive political eras in Ogun APC history.
According to excerpts from the campaign document distributed at the gathering, the organisation questioned whether the governor could “convincingly speak for party unity” after years of alleged internal division and weakening of party cohesion within Ogun East.
The document further alleged that many citizens increasingly view the current administration as distant from the grassroots and overly driven by elite political calculations rather than emotional connection with ordinary people.
“For many citizens, Dapo Abiodun’s administration increasingly symbolizes distance from the grassroots, elite favoritism, and political calculation without emotional connection to the people,” part of the document stated.
The campaign organisation also warned against what it described as the normalization of political silence and lack of accountability, insisting that leadership must remain answerable to the people regardless of incumbency power.
“It is not about hatred. It is about accountability. It is not about tribal sentiment. It is about political memory,” the statement added.
The BATOGD campaign further questioned Governor Abiodun’s stance on the agitation for the creation of Ijebu State and Ijebu-Remo State, asking whether the governor had openly and sincerely committed himself to the actualisation of the long-standing aspiration.
The document equally referenced lingering political conversations surrounding the late Awujale of Ijebuland and allegations of neglect toward traditional institutions and structures within Ogun East.
The organisation argued that while media campaigns and political branding may temporarily dominate public discourse, history ultimately judges leaders based on their connection with the people and the impact of their administration on ordinary citizens.
The political intervention by the BATOGD organisation came as Senator Gbenga Daniel himself launched a direct criticism of Governor Abiodun’s developmental record in Ijebuland.
Addressing APC members and supporters at the gathering, Daniel alleged that despite the massive increase in federal allocations accruing to Ogun State following fuel subsidy removal, Ijebuland has little visible development to justify the financial inflow.
According to the former governor, Ogun State now receives significantly more federal allocations than previous administrations managed, yet many communities in Ogun East remain underdeveloped.
“We need to thank President Bola Tinubu for increasing the amount of federal allocation going to the state by four times,” Daniel said.
“For our eight years in office, we had access to about N330 billion, but today the state operates a budget of over N1.6 trillion. The amount we received in eight years is what the state now receives within a few months, yet there is very little to show for it across Ijebuland.”
Daniel further accused Governor Abiodun of allegedly frustrating or refusing to support several federal projects he facilitated for Ogun East Senatorial District.
He specifically cited the ongoing naval base project in Abigi, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, saying the initiative faced enormous difficulties before commencement.
“When I became Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, we facilitated the naval base project at Abigi because Ogun State deserved it, but we went through serious challenges before the project could take off,” he alleged.
The senator also referenced the Federal Medical Centre project in Ijebu Ode, maintaining that the project would have progressed much faster with stronger collaboration from the Ogun State Government.
“In Ijebu Ode today, we still do not have a standard hospital, which is why I facilitated the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre, but the support expected from the state government was not there,” Daniel claimed.
The former governor also revisited the controversial relocation of the Dangote Refinery project from Ogun State to Lagos, alleging that Governor Abiodun played a major role in the loss of what he described as a lifetime economic opportunity for Ijebuland.
“By the time we left office in 2011, substantial work had already been completed regarding the Dangote Refinery project originally planned for Ogun Waterside,” he said.
“After reconciling with Senator Ibikunle Amosun, he told me to ask our current governor what happened because he represented the government during the negotiations.”
Daniel insisted that the people of Ijebuland deserve explanations regarding how such a strategic investment left Ogun State for Lagos.
He also accused Governor Abiodun of failing to support the agitation for Ijebu State creation, describing the governor’s alleged silence on the matter as disappointing.
The former governor further alleged that infrastructure established during his administration, including the Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic in Ijebu Igbo and the Ijebu Ode International Stadium, had suffered neglect under the current administration despite increased government revenues.
Daniel maintained that he remains politically relevant and capable of defeating Governor Abiodun in the APC Ogun East Senatorial primary election if the process is free and fair.
“I am fully aware of the enormous powers of incumbency, but in a transparent and fair primary election, I will defeat the governor overwhelmingly,” he declared.
“You can see the turnout here and hear what people are saying publicly. That shows many people believe these concerns are genuine.”
He urged APC members across Ogun East to remain politically active, obtain their membership cards, and support leaders they believe would remain accountable and accessible after elections rather than abandoning the grassroots.
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