22nd July, 2014
Funsho Balogun
In an extensive and no-holds-barred interaction session with journalists at Kresta Laurel Complex, Maryland on Tuesday, Gbenga Daniels, former Ogun state governor said the ousting of incumbent governor Ibikunle Amosun, is top on his list of priorities.
Daniels, who was governor of the state for eight years (2003 – 2011) revealed that he has no intention of vying for any political office but rather has his sight on ensuring that Amosun does not return for a second term. He said the governor got his priorities wrong by expending the resources of the state on road and bridge projects at high costs that cannot be justified.
The former governor, who claimed that no new roads were opened up, also said many of the projects he initiated were either discontinued or completely abandoned by the present administration, he said projects included the Deep Sea port and Cargo Airport projects.
“Ogun State would have benefited enormously from these facilities if the present governor had continued from where we stopped by directing the resources of the state towards actualising the projects.”
While admitting that he is fully behind President Goodluck Jonathan towards returning for a second term, courtesy of his sparkling performance, the former governor also declared that he was ready for any alliance, particularly a People’s Democratic Party, PDP and Labour Party alliance, for the purpose of changing the present Amosun-led administration.
Daniels also said: “Amosun lost focus due to his intense concentration on obliterating the legacies of my administration, to the detriment and welfare of the people of Ogun state, who deserve better,” he said.
The former governor, who claimed that he did not steal a dime from Ogun state’s funds during his tenure also said the incumbent governor would find it difficult to explain the hundreds of billions he borrowed, noting that, thus far there is nothing on ground that can generate funds to pay back.