Eight months after agents of the Ogun state government destroyed his wife’s mega-money property – DATKEM Plaza -, Senator Gbenga Daniel has broken his silence about the development.
“I think the way I normally describe when all this shenanigans go on is what we read in the Bible: Father forgive them for they know not what they do. That really is my summary” the Senator representing Ogun East stated in an interview shared on social media today, May 19, 2024.
DATKEM Plaza, a 5-storey building owned by Olufunke Daniel, the wife of the former Governor of Ogun state was demolished in different parts by the Ogun state government in the wee hours of Sunday, September 11, 2023.
Senator Daniel’s camp alleged persecution on the premise that the action was carried out in the face of political differences with Governor Dapo.
Governor Dapo Abiodun on Monday, September 12, 2023, declared that the demolition of the property was carried out because the ‘building contravened state laws” and accused the owners of believing “they are above the law”.
The Government later sealed up the property while Senator Daniel and his team went to seek redress in court.
Speaking openly about the incident for the first time, Daniel told his interviewers “Well, you know, after I left as governor, Ibikunle Amosun became Governor. For eight years, he was there and finally Dapo Abiodun is governor. So which means that I had been Governor eight clear years before Dapo became governor. So I think I can describe myself as an elder statesman and that is why I have not passed any comment and I am still not going to pass any comment. All I know is that part of what has destroyed our polity is when people personalise issues.
” If you look at my trajectory, I have never spoken about personal issues because I think that there are bigger problems that need to be resolved and the expectations of the society, when they put us there, are more than talking about personal issues. It is unfortunate that the plaza that was destroyed belongs to my wife and a number of us felt that even if there are disagreements, we should not extend it to our children or our family, because at the end of the day, it’s a tenured position and people who find themselves in different angles may reunite tomorrow. I have had this personal experience in my political life and like people say, when you want to dig a pit for a political enemy, don’t dig it too deep because you may be the one who will finally fall into it. (Laughs). I think the way I normally describe when all this shenanigans go on is what we read in the Bible: Father forgive them for they know not what they do. That really is my summary.”
Senator Daniel was interviewed by the Nation Newspaper’s deputy editor, Yomi Odunuga, and the National Assembly correspondent, Sanni Onogu.
Although the case seeking redress against the demolition of DATAKEM by Ogun state government is still in court, a ruling that returned the property to the Senator’s wife was made this week.
