Dividends of Democracy: Amosun marginalized Ijebu zone, Daniel insists

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel has alleged that the Senator Ibikunle Amosun led government in Ogun State has marginalized the people of Ijebuland saying he has destroyed some of the economic legacies that would boost the economy of the senatorial districts.

Daniel, who dropped the hint at the Labour Party (LP) rally held in Ijebu Ode at the weekend, said the people of Ijebuland will never forgive Amosun for destroying some of the legacies that could boost the economy of the area which include abandoning of Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ode Omi, Ogun Waterside local government area of the state.

The former governor also expressed his disappointment over the state of many infrastructures in Ijebuland and by extent in Ogun East Senatorial District, saying that about 80% of roads in the zone are impassable.

“Today, we are in Ijebu Ode; the headquarters of Ijebuland and political head of the Ogun East Senatorial District. I am very unhappy today because the government in Abeokuta has destroyed the future of Ijebu people.

“They have come here to build one and half bridges alone in the last three and half years and nothing again to show dividends of democracy in the area. Do you know the bad thing they have done for Ijebu, they have destroyed many good things that would have been a pride and economic boost for the Ijebu people.

“All Ijebu sons and daughters that are serving in this government should cover their faces in shame that in their life time, this government has destroyed everything in their domain”, Daniel said.

The LP chieftain queried why the present government has abandoned many projects started by his administration, which were planned for the area, disclosing that, it is the hatred of the governor that caused it all.

Daniel said, “today, Chevron Nigeria Limited; the largest oil producing company in the world has withdrawn from the Olokola Free Trade Zone, the same thing with British Gas as well as Dangote. Why did Dangote backed out from the area? I am very angry because I know what efforts we made before we brought those companies to that place”.

“Before I left government in 2011, I have secured Dangote company to build refinery at the OKLNG in Ogun Waterside local government area of the state. We gave them the land; let us ask this government why Dangote withdrew. Dangote wanted us to construct a road from the area to Ode Omi down to Makun to link Ore-Ijebu Ode-Sagamu Express road.

“We have already completed the plan work and it was to cost us about five billion naira then. I know if this government wants to cost the same project now, they may say it will cost around N26 billion naira. We requested for money then, they said we want to collect bond and because of that, you vote for them and today, the project has been ignored.

He maintained that Ijebu has the potentials to be like Apapa in Lagos, adding that, that was his dream then, before the deceptive government of APC came into power in 2011.

He said, “The generation yet unborn will never forgive this administration. Some of you here may not know, but our elders here can tell you, Apapa in Lagos was like that Ode Omi before. Nothing was working there then. We all know what is going on there now in terms of business. That is the potential we have in Ijebuland. That was what we planned to build in Ode Omi.

The former governor called on the people of the area to massively turn out during the election period to vote the government out, adding that, all Ijebu sons and daughters in the present administration should cover their faces in shame.

Daniel however charged every citizens of the area to rally round the party to flush away the government of the All Progressives Congress, APC, which he described as anti Ijebu’s government.