...both have not been friends
Media Aide to the Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD), Steve Oliyide, has said that neither the power of incumbency nor the position of Gov. Dapo Abiodun will stop Senator Gbenga Daniel from seeking re-election in 2027.
Speaking during a radio program Political Forum,monitored by Newslife Reporter on Saturday, anchored by veteran broadcast journalist Dele Ayodo, Mr. Oliyide said, "It is the people of the Senatorial zone whom Senator Daniel has heavily worked for who will decide in his favor. Senator Daniel is a first-time Senator, elected barely two years ago. He has touched almost all the lives of people in Ogun East, a first-time Senator who sponsored 19 bills and 3 motions."
On the relationship between OGD and Gov. Dapo Abiodun, Steve Oliyide said:
"Contrary to public perception, Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and the Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, are not friends."
Oliyide, also disclosed this during the programme.
"I'm not going to agree that they're friends. This is usually a position that is taken by people for convenience when discussing these two men in public. Let me trace the relationship to 2003. You will remember that Prince Dapo Abiodun was a member of the PDP; he ran in the primaries with Otunba Gbenga Daniel in 2003. What is happening today has its roots in the event of the 2003 PDP primary elections.
There were 16 aspirants, but OGD won. The bitterness of that contest came from the sentiment that OGD is not from Remo; he is from Ijebu. How could he come and take the Remo slot? There was supposed to be an arrangement that included the late Dr. Doyin Okupe, Yemi Adefulu, Col. Shoda, and some other names.
"So, the agitation was, 'How can somebody who's a core Ijebu come to take the Remo's slot?' Prince Dapo Abiodun came a distant second in that contest. I believe he has not purged himself of the bitterness from that defeat.
OGD was coming from the Afenifere/AD stock. It was the claim of 'no vacancy' from incumbent Gov. Segun Osoba's camp that made OGD cross over to PDP. By the time he (OGD) arrived, most of the aspirants already had godfathers; the leaders of PDP of that time already had a candidate.
OGD realized that it was difficult getting the support of these leaders, so he began a word-to-word tour, took his campaign to the people, got to everywhere, and met with the voters directly. So, it was a bottom-up support that he had.
"So, when the leaders said they were going that way, the voters said, 'No, we know where we are going.' Before you know it, some of the leaders also changed their minds and supported OGD. Initially, the assumption was that he would not be able to cross the 50% mark, which would have resulted in going for a re-run, and they would have backed Dapo Abiodun as a Remo man who came second.
"But OGD surprised them by crossing the 50% mark, so there was no room for any re-run. I believe that the pain of that defeat is what's still playing out. Now that Prince Dapo Abiodun is the governor, he believes that this is the time to revenge."
On the suspension saga of OGD, Steve Oliyide said:
"The Senator is very much still in APC. Under no circumstance will anybody push him out. The media and the public are merely reacting to a social media post of an individual who calls himself the director of APC media.".
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