Confronting A Monster

By Mathias Oko
Monday, September 08, 2003

Gbenga Daniel, Ogun State governor, is fighting in all directions to put the state on good grounds for development

It was supposed to be a grand house reception in hon-our of Gbenga Daniel, governor of

Ogun State, at the Nite Shift Coliseum, Ikeja, Lagos, but he ended up being put on the hot seat for about one and a half hours of interactive session. The guests, as well as journalists at the event turned it to a question and answer session.

There, participants sought clarification on a wide-range of issues bordering on his developmental plans for the people of Ogun State. Daniel took advantage of the occasion to address a number of issues including the poor state of finances, which is the lot of most states in the country.

The governor said he met a very bad situation but was quick in adding that he would not allow that scenario to deter him. "With the state's potentials, its financial position would improve. If the assets of the state were placed against the liabilities, you would find out that Ogun State is better than several others," he stated.

Despite the huge presence of human and material resources, the state has been confronted with serious unemployment problem in the past. But there is now a ray of hope for the people as the governor has taken steps to address it. In his determination to meet this aspiration, he swung into actions and launched a poverty alleviation programme known as Ogun State Employment Generation Programme, OGEGEP, which will offer 50,000 jobs to indigenes of the state. Daniel told his audience that the programme was doing well. According to him, thousand of youths, including street urchins popularly known as area boys were already engaged in various vocational training in the area of agriculture that would not only reduce unemployment, but curb criminal activities in the state.

The governor said he was set to move the state to a high pedestal as he has put the machinery in place to boost its dwindling economic activities. The production of cement is now getting a boost with the commissioning of a new plant at the Ewekoro Cement Factory. He said a large chunk of limestone deposit in most parts of the state would serve as the main stay for the cement factory in Shagamu, and the proposed one in Ibesi, all in Ogun State.

Daniel is also poised to fight fraud in the state as he has already discovered that the state loses N50 million to ghost workers monthly. "A machinery has also been put in place to fish out personnel who indulge in these fraudulent practices," he said.

He, however, implored intellectuals and professionals to go into politics as one of the ways to correct the mistakes of past political leaders. "If politics is left in the hands of charlatans and mediocres, they would not only impose bad laws on the intellectuals but would also set the nation back in terms of developments," the governor said. He observed that the bane of development in the country was the poor management and lack of accountability among leaders. He assured the audience that he would entertain constructive criticisms from his people as they were in the best position to assess him at the end of his stewardship.

The event which was well attended, had prominent personalities including senior members of the NiteShift Club, committee of friends, and journalists. They include Salimot Badru, deputy governor of Ogun State; Alex Akinyele, chairman, Newswatch board of directors; Ray Ekpu, chief executive officer, CEO, Newswatch and Mathew Eshalomi, president of the boys in the platinum level.

Ken-Calebs Olumese, the governor of NiteShift, said the event was an opportunity that had rekindled the hope of the people of Ogun State as it has afforded them the opportunity to share the blueprint of the governor's developmental programme.

The high point of the occasion was the formal induction of the governor as Guv'nor of the club by senior members of the club. He was also presented with a souvenir.

The session was marked with funfair as the Coliseum shifters dance band along with Tunde and Wunmi Obe, thrilled the audience with sentimental and Afro-beat music.