The Ogun State Government has refuted allegations by Senator Gbenga Daniel that recent quit and demolition notices served on some of his properties were politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, the government described the senator’s claims as “a barefaced lie,” insisting the action was part of a routine town planning exercise.
“Senator Daniel and his media handlers have developed a pattern of attributing political undertones to standard administrative procedures, perhaps to conceal certain facts or to deploy underhand tactics for their own agenda,” the statement read.
The government clarified that the notices were served on several properties in the Sagamu Government Reserved Area (GRA), where Daniel’s buildings are situated, as part of an ongoing development audit under the Ogun State Town Planning Law. The exercise, according to the statement, covers residential, commercial, and institutional buildings and is a statutory requirement.
“This is not a new initiative,” the government noted, adding that similar audits were conducted during Daniel’s tenure as governor. “The GRA is a planned estate under continuous state regulation, and its developments must comply with approved planning standards.”
Authorities advised the former governor to simply present his planning permits and land titles to the relevant agency for verification within the stipulated time, as required of all affected property owners, instead of politicising the matter.
The statement stressed that the law applies equally to everyone, without exemptions, and expressed disappointment that Daniel chose to make public accusations without first verifying the facts.
“It is unbefitting for a former governor and current senator to cast such aspersions merely for political gain. Senator Gbenga Daniel is respected, but he is not above the law. He should abide by the same regulations he once enforced and refrain from interpreting routine administrative actions as personal vendettas,” the government said.
The statement concluded that if the senator’s buildings comply with the required regulations, there is no cause for concern, reiterating that Governor Dapo Abiodun holds him in high regard and has no personal issues with him.