December 02, (THEWILL) — The Ogun State government has dismissed the allegation that it stopped the constituency projects being executed by Gbenga Daniel, the senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, out of spite.
It declared that Daniel’s projects in some areas were halted because they were substandard and did not meet Federal Government specifications, adding that the government has a constitutional right to ensure that projects are carried out appropriately and in consonance with standards.
The government, which made this declaration in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon Kayode Akinmade, on Monday, said the contractors doing works that do not conform to the Federal Ministry of Works’ specifications were instructed to provide approved specifications and drawings for the road projects that had been awarded to them.
He said that the government would enable the Ogun Ministry of Works to do proper monitoring of the projects, adding, “Those contractors who complied have since been given the go-ahead to continue with the road projects.
“At the same time, a designated engineer from the Ogun State Ministry of Works is assigned to conduct routine supervision to enforce compliance with the specifications.”
Akinmade said that the former governor’s suspension was a party affair, adding that the Dapo Abiodun-led administration could not re-admit the Ogun East senator into the Ogun APC fold when it did not suspend him in the first place.
He advised Daniel to exert his energy and media efforts on proving his innocence to the party, rather than blaming everybody but himself.
Akinmade said, “It was not the Ogun State Government that suspended Senator Gbenga Daniel; it was the party, APC, in his ward, and the State Working Committee then ratified the suspension.
“Before then, the party gave him ample opportunity to defend himself, but he shunned the summons.
“That he is launching media attacks on the State Government rather than facing the party that gave him a ticket to contest the election, and against which he committed punishable acts, is illogical.
“It shows that he has no regard for the party or its leadership, and no sense of accountability or responsibility. He is just chasing shadows, blaming everyone but himself because of his huge ego”, Akinmade said.
On the alleged persecution of the senator by Governor Abiodun, he said that the senator’s claims are laughable.
The SA said that Daniel had consistently talked and acted as if he was still in charge of affairs as Governor of Ogun State, adding that the senator wanted everyone to kowtow to him no matter what he did.
He said, “Daniel claims that the Government stopped his constituency project, a project meant to be executed with federal funds, simply because he was asked to follow due process. Is he the only federal lawmaker in Ogun State? Is he the only one executing constituency projects?
“Why is he the only former governor constantly at war against law and logic in Ogun State, and always staging a pity party using a pliant media whenever he is tasked with taking responsibility for his actions?
“In Ogun State today, there is peace and stability, unlike his crisis-ridden tenure when he was constantly at war with everyone in the State, including members of the state House of Assembly and the state’s representatives in the National Assembly. Daniel just can’t deal with not being in a position to manipulate things to his advantage.
“He cannot be bigger than the party that gave him a ticket for the Senate. He should sort out his issues with the party if he still has any shred of conscience or integrity.”
Akinmade stressed that the state government had better things to do than constantly respond to Daniel’s tantrums.
Seun Shotunde, THEWILL
