Former Governor of Ogun State and senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has emphasised the importance of continuity in governance, saying that sustaining viable projects initiated by previous administrations is key to national development.
Daniel stated this on Sunday during the BATOGD Movement Midterm Community Assessment and Review Tour held in Ilisan-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.
The former governor recalled that many people mocked him when he initiated the Gateway International Airport project in 2005, dismissing it as a scam and a white elephant venture.
He, however, expressed delight that the recently inaugurated facility has now become a reality under Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“Standing here in Ilisan, it warms my heart to see the Gateway International Airport in Remo—an idea we conceptualised and started years ago—now a world-class facility under Governor Dapo Abiodun,” Daniel said.
“Development is not a competition; it is a relay race. When one governor passes the baton, another must run with it. Real leadership is not about who gets the credit but about who gets the job done.”
Daniel and Abiodun have recently been enmeshed in a political feud, with the Abiodun government’s move to demolish Daniel’s house and hotels.
The ex-governor was also recently suspended from the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state amid rumours that Abiodun, who will complete his two terms as governor in 2027, is eyeing the Senate seat currently occupied by Daniel.
However, while speaking on Sunday, Daniel commended Abiodun’s courage in ensuring the project’s completion, stressing that without such commitment to continuity, the project might have remained abandoned like many others across the country.
He urged political leaders to shun unnecessary rivalry and focus on delivering results that benefit the people.
The senator also used the occasion to urge residents to rally behind President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027, noting that the President’s economic reforms—such as fuel subsidy removal, naira unification, the introduction of student loans, and massive infrastructure renewal—reflect his determination to build a prosperous nation.
“President Tinubu has shown courage and focus in reforming the economy. It is now our duty, especially in the Southwest, to support him to record a landslide victory in 2027,” he added.
Speaking on his activities in the Senate, Daniel said the BATOGD Movement tour was aimed at assessing the impact of his representation and identifying further opportunities for socio-economic development in local communities.
He listed some of his constituency projects to include solar-powered motorised boreholes in Ogere, solar street lights in Ilisan, and an ongoing ultra-modern skills acquisition centre in Ilisan-Remo to empower youths with modern vocational skills.
Daniel also disclosed plans to revive a major livestock and dairy farm project in Ikenne-Remo, which he initiated during his tenure as governor but which stalled due to funding challenges.
The project, he said, has the potential to generate over 10,000 jobs and promote agro-industrial development.
On regional development, the senator reaffirmed his commitment to the creation of Ijebu-Remo State, urging residents of Ogun East to remain united in pursuit of the goal.
He noted that his continued representation in the Senate would be crucial to achieving this aspiration.
“If we must realise the dream of Ijebu-Remo State, continuity in representation is vital. The dream might suffer a setback if we don’t sustain our collective voice till 2031,” he said.
Daniel also inspected the Federal Government Strategic Grain Reserve in Ikenne, pledging to ensure that the multi-billion-naira facility becomes fully functional for food security and job creation rather than serving as a dormant monument.
The event featured the distribution of empowerment tools, including sewing machines, motorcycles, freezers, and grinding machines to residents of the local government.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Ilisan Development Association, Otunba Wemmy Osude, commended Daniel’s foresight in initiating the Gateway International Airport project and applauded Governor Abiodun for completing it, describing the facility as “a project that has transformed the economy of Remo and Ogun State at large.”
Osude urged the senator to continue his developmental efforts and sustain his people-focused representation.
Experts have repeatedly warned that project abandonment remains one of Nigeria’s major governance failures.
According to the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria, abandoned projects in the country are worth over N17tn, while a 2011 presidential committee reported that about 63 per cent of government projects since independence had been abandoned.
The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors estimates the total number at about 56,000 projects nationwide.
