POLITICS: 2023 ELECTIONS: OGUN EAST: How History, Ancestry Gives Gbenga Daniel Added Advantage

POLITICS: 2023 ELECTIONS: OGUN EAST: How History, Ancestry Gives Gbenga Daniel Added Advantage

Save Our Nation (SON)

March 20, 2022

Few weeks ago when former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga rolled out the drums of his Foundation’s (GFF) empowerment programme and commissioned the Gateway Movement Office in Omu Ajose Ijebu, he appears to have set the stage for a new political calculus in the contest for the Ogun East senatorial district.

Some pundits speculate he might be planning to shift political base and run as an Ijebu man. 

Of course OGD is blessed on all sides of contest. Facts of History  and ancestry also supported his claims to being a total Remo-Ijebu man. And this is complemented by his efforts and performance while he served as a Governor of Ogun State for eight years. As a Governor, OGD touched practically everywhere in Ogun State evenly and massively. This gives him the one great advantage to legitimate claim to several locations.

For instance, OGD built his first Country Home in Ijebu Ode in 1991, (that is over 30 years ago) and it was in that same house (Otunba Obalofin’s Court) in Ijebu Ode where he rolled out and handed over several Highlander Jeeps for Coordinators of his Gateway Movement few weeks ago. 

The Otunba Obalofin traditional title which was conferred on OGD by the Awujale of Ijebuland, HRM Oba (Dr.) S.K. Adetona, CFR is from his maternal ancestry of the Jadiara ruling house, which is part of the larger Fusengbuwa ruling house in Ijebu where the likes of Olori Omoba Olasubomi Balogun also comes from. Which means by this OGD can legitimately lay claim to the *Ijebu ancestry*.

It is also in the public domain that OGD’s mother, Princess Olaitan (nee Mabadeje) is from Omu in Odogbolu Local Government with networks through IBIDO, Igbile, Jobore to Irete known as Omu Ajose community up till Ibefun, all in *Odogbolu in Ijebuland.*

From his father’s root in Makun Agbele which is now part of Sagamu local government, *OGD is a core Remo man*. The same Makun in Sagamu is also networked with *Makun Omi in Ijebu waterside.*

By accident of birth, History and ancestry OGD can be considered one of the luckiest politician of Ogun East extraction; a thorough bred Ogun East personality who can legitimately lay claim to no fewer than four out of the nine local governments within the Senatorial district. 

However beyond these facts of history  the issues of quality representation at the National Assembly are by far more serious in Ogun state than those artificial lines of division. It is clear OGD comes to the table with records of performance, social and political networks that could attract developments to the whole of Ogun East.