No special treatment, Ogun Govt tells Gbenga Daniel in property demolition dispute

The Ogun State Government has urged former governor and serving senator for Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, to comply with planning regulations and desist from making what it described as “politically motivated allegations” over the state’s urban renewal drive.

The government’s position was conveyed in a statement issued by Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Kayode Akinmade, in response to Daniel’s claims that the state plans to demolish his Asoludero residence and Conference Hotel in Sagamu, Sagamu Local Government Area.

Daniel had alleged that the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022 which the government is citing as its legal basis was enacted after his properties were lawfully built.

He described the proposed demolition as politically driven and a “blatant disregard for due process and the rule of law.”

However, Akinmade insisted that Daniel was not being singled out and that the state’s actions form part of a broader, lawful redevelopment effort across Ogun’s towns and cities.

“The Ogun State Government is not engaged in any untoward move against Otunba Gbenga Daniel in any way,” Akinmade stated.

“This administration is committed to holistic development, building new communities like affordable housing estates and pursuing urban renewal projects, starting with Ibara GRA in Abeokuta and now extending to Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode GRAs.”

According to Akinmade, the initiative includes a comprehensive audit of all existing developments including residential homes, schools, hospitals, and commercial buildings to verify their planning permit and land title status. This, he said, is a statutory requirement that must be met before any government intervention in those areas.

Daniel’s properties, located within the Sagamu GRA, reportedly fell within the scope of the audit, and notices were served in accordance with the Town Planning Law and regulations of Ogun State. “Many other property owners in the same neighbourhood were also served,” Akinmade noted.

The governor’s spokesman added that Daniel was given a specific timeframe to present his documents for verification but “rather than comply, he resorted to cheap blackmail.”

He stressed that the government’s development audit is being carried out simultaneously in Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode, with the aim of ensuring that all structures comply with established urban planning standards.

The dispute has highlighted tensions between the current administration and the former governor, both of whom are influential figures in Ogun politics.

While the government insists its actions are purely regulatory and developmental, Daniel maintains they are politically motivated.