Political tensions flare as government cites urban renewal; Daniel’s camp alleges persecution
A fresh political storm is brewing in Ogun State following the issuance of contravention, quit, and demolition notices on key properties linked to former governor and current Ogun East Senator, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
The affected properties — Asoludero Court, Sagamu; Conference Hotels Limited, Sagamu; and its annex — were served notices dated August 8, 2025, under the provisions of the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022.
Daniel’s Camp: “A Calculated Vendetta”
In a strongly worded statement, the OGD Media Office described the move as “malicious and vindictive abuse of power,” accusing Governor Dapo Abiodun of weaponising state institutions to settle political scores.
Spokesperson Steve Oliyide alleged that the administration bypassed due process by issuing contravention and quit notices simultaneously, with an immediate threat of demolition. He argued that the targeted buildings were constructed long before the cited law was enacted — with Asoludero Court dating back to 2004, Conference Hotels to 2013, and the annex to 2015.
“This is a calculated vendetta,” Oliyide said, likening the action to the controversial 2023 demolition of DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu-Ode, owned by Daniel’s wife, a case still in court.
The statement called on the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society, and human rights groups to resist what it termed “a naked abuse of office” and vowed a legal challenge against the government’s action.
Government Response: “Nobody is Above the Law”
Reacting to the allegations, Ogun State’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, dismissed the persecution claims as “barefaced lies,” describing the notices as part of a routine, state-wide urban renewal and development audit.
Akinmade explained that Sagamu GRA — where Daniel’s residence is located — is undergoing a statutory audit to verify the permit status of all buildings, including houses, schools, and commercial properties. He stressed that multiple property owners, not just Daniel, have been served similar notices.
“This is not about politics,” Akinmade said. “The GRA is a government-designed estate subject to regulatory oversight in perpetuity. All that is required is for the senator, like others, to present his planning permit and land title for verification.”
He maintained that the exercise is a lawful process that also existed during Daniel’s tenure as governor, urging the former governor to comply rather than “resort to cheap blackmail.”
Political Undercurrents
The row comes amid already tense relations between the two political heavyweights. While the government insists the move is a matter of due process, Daniel’s camp sees it as part of a broader pattern of political targeting.
With both sides digging in, the dispute is set to play out not only in the media but potentially in the courts — further heightening political temperatures in Ogun State as 2027 approaches.
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