17th September, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, western Nigeria, Wednesday declared that the former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is not a citizen of the state, saying he and officials of his administration looted the state’s treasury when he was in power between 2003 and 2011.
He vowed to expose Daniel further at the appropriate time.
The governor, who defied a heavy rain to continue with his local government assessment tour, maintained that he was among those that assisted Daniel to claim Sagamu citizenship to enable him contest the governorship seat of Ogun State in 2003.
Amosun could not betray his bitterness against Daniel on the second day of the tour which took him to Odeda Local Government following the allegations levelled against his administration by Daniel when he was at Odeda two weeks ago.
Daniel had accused Amosun of selling off all the farmlands in the area to other states.
According to Daniel at the Labour Party summit in Odeda, “when I came into power in 2003, the first place we visited was Odeda and we recognised that agriculture is the mainstay here. We, therefore, established 13 farm settlements. Today, we are sorry that this present government has started selling our farmlands to other neighbouring states.
“He is busy constructing roads and bridges and Alabata road which we did when we came in 2003. When I was coming today, I tried to check on the road. The road was very bad. I want to ask you people of Odeda, what has Amosun done for you here? He has been constructing bridges all over and nothing was done here for you. He has neglected you.
“The most interesting business after agriculture is quarry. During our time, we ensured that one indigenous citizen was there to monitor things, but now, it has been taken over by other people.”
While reacting to the accusation, Amosun described Daniel as a prodigal son who sold off all the patrimonies of the state under the guise of a fake concession agreement.
He mentioned Apoje farm settlement which Amosun said was sold to a former commissioner in Lagos State, Prince Ademola Adeniji Adele at a ridiculous rate.
According to the governor, “when they came into power, the farmlands were over sixty. When we came in, we met only five. They are rogues, thieves and bastards. God will punish them all. Our forefathers will never forgive them and the generations coming will also curse them. They thought we are like them but we are not. We are not bastards from Isoko.
“They came to us then. We are the ones they ran to and we helped them to get where they are claiming today as their home. Although it isn’t time for political campaign, I will not hesitate to respond to Daniel’s allegations which he levelled against me and my administration here in the same Odeda Local Government.
“He is envious of our achievements and successes recorded within the past few years. We need to let them know that we are not thieves like them and I make bold to say that OGD and his people are thieves. They will not be able to stand and campaign for votes here in Odeda by the time I start exposing them. They are treasury looters. If not for the type of country we are, they ought to have covered their faces in shame rather than boasting around the town.”
Contrary to the claim by the former governor that he left $10m in the account of the property at Ikenne, Amosun explained that it was only a million USD that was left in the state’s treasury.
“They said they sold Ikenne plantation to a foreign company at the rate of N10 billion naira. When we came in, we saw that they lied. They later came out to say it was just 10 million dollars. We met only one million there. We are not thieves like them. We are bonafide sons of the soil and will never do things that will destroy the future of our children.
“They are not happy because all the properties they stole, we have retrieved them. The hotel, farms, money and others have been collected back. We are not thieves and rogues like them. We will do what is needful.
“They said we didn’t do anything here. When we came in, we planned to commence work on this road, but we were stopped by the Federal Government which claimed it had commenced work on it. Here it is now, nothing is being done here. When we started the work, I promised you it will be stopped at Bakatari town.
“Also, the best farm centre will be located here in Alagbagba and in two months’ time, I will be campaigning here in Alagbagba and I promise you, all the people of Odeda that in two weeks’ time, we will start work on the road from Olodo to Alagbagba,” Amosun assured.
Meanwhile, the local government tour continues Thursday as the train moves to Ogun Waterside Local Government.