When Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) returned to Ijebu North-East at the weekend, it was more than an empowerment tour. The former governor used the occasion to restate the people’s dream of an Ijebu-Remo State and to make a heartfelt plea to Governor Dapo Abiodun: put politics aside, and urgently give the people better roads.
The event, part of the BATOGD Initiative Movement’s Midterm Community Assessment and Review Tour, held at Equity Hotel and Suites, Ijebu-Ode, combined empowerment, reflection, and policy advocacy. Residents once again went home with motorcycles, generators, sewing machines, and other tools to boost local enterprise—continuing a tradition that has already benefited more than a thousand people across Ogun East.
It was not just a gathering of party faithful. The hall brimmed with community spirit, as traditional rulers including Oba Odusanya Oduneye, the Olu of Odosenlu Alaro, and other monarchs from Ijebu towns joined political leaders and grassroots stakeholders to lend weight to the occasion.
Amid the celebrations, Senator Daniel turned attention to a cause close to the heart of his people: the agitation for Ijebu-Remo State. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving hope to the demand and urged Ijebu and Remo indigenes, both at home and abroad, to keep faith.
“Ijebu remains one of the old provinces without statehood. My appeal is to all Ijebu and Remo indigenes, at home and abroad, not to relent in thanking Mr. President in advance. Ijebu-Remo State is a must—we must all achieve it together,” Daniel declared, drawing applause.
From statehood, the senator moved to the daily struggles of his constituents. In Erunwon, he raised the issue of infrastructure with a tone more pleading than political.
Daniel listed eleven key roads in urgent need of rehabilitation, among them Atan–Ododeyo–Ilumerin Road (15km), Ogidi Junction–Imomo Road (7km), and Odosenbora–Omu Road (8km). These, he said, are not just routes but lifelines for farmers, traders, students, and local businesses.
“The condition of our road infrastructure is dire. Rehabilitation can no longer be delayed. We beg the State Government to pity the plight of our people and give room for progress. These roads are the arteries of our local economy. Their repair will ease movement, boost commerce, and restore hope,” he pleaded.
Daniel also sought to calm tensions around constituency projects—especially the Paddy Arikawe-Oye Igbimo Road in Sagamu, which was recently halted by the state government over design issues.
Explaining his role, he reminded the audience that senators facilitate federal projects but do not award or execute them. He urged cooperation between state and federal authorities so that development does not become a casualty of politics.
“My job ends with facilitation; execution is the duty of federal agencies, often in partnership with the state. What we seek from the state is encouragement, not hostility. Petty politics must never short-change our people,” Daniel appealed.
Education also took the spotlight. Daniel hailed the upgrade of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, into a Federal University of Education as a monumental achievement under President Tinubu. But he cautioned that the main campus’s landmass of 151 hectares is far below the standard requirement of 10,000 hectares.
To solve this, he revealed a proposal for four satellite campuses within a 30km radius of Ijagun. Beyond expanding access, Daniel tied the initiative to history and sentiment.
“This initiative is strategically important, and it holds a special significance. Unbeknownst to many, the family roots of our esteemed First Lady, Her Excellency Senator Mrs. Remi Tinubu, are firmly planted here in Ijebu North East. Establishing these campuses is the least we can do in her honour,” he said.
From empowerment to state creation, road rehabilitation to education, Daniel’s message in Ijebu North-East was consistent: governance should be people-focused, cooperative, and driven by progress, not politics.
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