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By Taiwo Nodiru.
Otunba (Engr) Justus Olugbenga Daniel popularly refer to as 'OGD' in the business, social and political circles is an household name within and outside Nigeria.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel is a legendary, a great icon and a rare gem who is always succeeding in all his human endeavors.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel being a very successful Engineer is the founder and Chairman Kresta Laurel Limited, Lagos, an engineering firm specialising in elevator, power system, overhead traveling cranes and hoist which has remained a leader in it's area of competence.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, a visionary leader and an administrator per excellence had the privilege of governing Ogun State successfully between the years 2003 and 2011.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel is the first Executive Governor of Ogun State that spent two terms of eight years interrupted.
The era of Otunba Gbenga Daniel as the Executive Governor of Ogun State was great, purposeful, impactful and so rewarding as the bar of governance of the Gateway State was moved from the knee to overhead level.
Ogun State witnessed rapid and tremendous economic, social and unprecedented infrastructural developments across it's length and breath under the watch of Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel recorded all round excellent in every sphere of governance - Education, Agriculture, Health, Sports , physical infrastructure, Industry, employment generation, empowerment scheme, youth development, economic etc
Among the evergreen legacies of Otunba Gbenga Daniel as Ogun State Governor are :
- Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun.
- NYSC permanent orientation Camp, Sagamu.
- ICT Polytechnics at Ijebu Igbo, Itori and Sapade.
- International Stadium at Ijebu Ode, Sagamu and Ilaro.
- Gateway international Trailer Park, Ogere.
- The first ever dualization of Sagamu - Abeokuta and Lalubu. road Abeokuta.
- The very standard and magnificent State Secretariat, Okemosan, Abeokuta.
- The Sagamu International Market.
- The OGD Workers Estate, Laderin Abeokuta and many other Housing Estates across Ogun State.
- The OPIC Building, Okelewo, Abeokuta.
-: The establishment of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps - TRACE
- Host of others too numerous to mention due to time and space constraints.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel who so much believes in human capital developments created many employment opportunities for the teeming youths and unemployed graduates. OGD doubled the Ogun State workforce and miraculously maintained and sustained them throughout his tenures as the Executive Governor of Ogun State.
Many of the civil servants employed by Governor Daniel are now very senior officers in their various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel carried out massive recruitment of qualified Teachers into the state public primary and secondary schools. Those Teachers are up till today refered to as "OGD Teachers'. They are always proud and ever ready to associate with their benefactor - OGD.
The sets of pensioners who retired during the regime of Governor Daniel always have cause to rejoice and appreciate God over what Governor Daniel did in their lives as all their retirement benefits were paid to the last kobo by OGD. As a matter of fact, those civil servants who retired after OGD successful administration regretted and wished to have retired voluntarily during OGD administration as many of them up till now are fasting and praying for their retirement benefits to be fully paid.
Civil servants promotion were coming as at when due with it's attached benefits, leave bonuses and smooth workers cooperative system unlike the present experience.
Politically speaking, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is very unique and extraordinary. OGD believes in what's wort doing at all is wort doing well.
OGD is not a late starter in everything that he chooses to do.
He who fail to plan early, plan to fail.
In 2002/2003 during the OGD Governorship electioneering campaign, Otunba Gbenga Daniel moved round the entire two hundred and thirty six (236) electoral wards across the length and breath of Ogun State to meet /interact directly with the electorates. Very uncommon. No wonder that he defeated the then incumbent Governor. OGD won the 2003 governorship election with a very high margin and convincingly.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel employed the same political tactics in 2022 /2023 as he came out early ( a year before the 2023 general election) to commence his Ogun east senatorial campaign with Ward - Ward tour / local government rallies cum empowerments programs.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel at sixty -six years last year still moved round the entire one hundred and three electoral wards across the length and breath of Ogun east to interface personally and directly with the electorates. OGD is so energetic.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel recorded maximum votes of over one hundred and fifteen thousand (115,000) and today, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is the Senator elect of Ogun east senatorial district to the glory of God.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel as an Engineer is not a lazy or just a common cosmetics politician that believes only in fashion parade or the comforts of the office.
Distance, bad roads, unfriendly weather are not sufficient enough to discourage OGD from reaching his determined destinations.
Even as Executive Governor of Ogun State ( 2003 - 2011), OGD was always available and assessable to everybody not minding their class or status. Many civil servants and members of the public always confirm that OGD would always reply any text messages sent to his official lines before signing out for the day. OGD shortest response is " consider it done" once the request is genuine.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel academic records are straight and uncontroversial. OGD is an engineering graduate from the University of Lagos and later proceeded to obtain Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the same UNILAG and subsequently attended the Lagos Business School for an executive programme. OGD is a distinguished Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel is the Otunba Obalofin of Ijebu Land and the Arole of Remo Land amongst his numerous chieftaincy tittles .
Behind every successful man like Otunba Gbenga Daniel is a very wonderful, charming, beautiful, elegant and successful woman in the person of Her Excellency, YEYE Olufunke Daniel, the former fFrstrst Lady of Ogun State.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel is happily married and blessed with wonderful children who are doing very well in their various chosen carriers.
Happy 67th birthday to the Senator of the people, Otunba Gbenga Daniel wishing him more grace and many happy returns.
Prince Taiwo Nodiru writes from Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu, Ogun State.
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