The political sparring between Governor Dapo Abiodun and former Governor Gbenga Daniel escalated on Sunday as Daniel accused Abiodun of intolerance and orchestrating a witch-hunt, rooted in the governor’s alleged aversion to inclusive governance.

Daniel made the remarks during a visit by his Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Otunba Gbenga Daniel political group to Ijebu Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government Area for the continuation of his Midterm Assessment Tour as Senator representing Ogun East.

According to Daniel, Abiodun operates a “three-man closed government where no one outside the tiny cabal can offer counsel without being ostracised, victimised, and marked for persecution.”

Daniel said, “It is the norm worldwide that after elections, governance is administered for all—for those who voted for you and those who did not. But since 2019 in Ogun State, the opposite is the case. Governance is administered strictly for a select few, while those perceived to be against the government are treated as outcasts. Threat of sack, demolition notices—these are weapons deployed against traditional rulers, community leaders, and even teachers, simply for interacting with those who have dared to offer constructive criticism. This is not governance; it is a cult, run with dictatorial instincts, treating our commonwealth as a personal estate.”

But Abiodun’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, dismissed Daniel’s allegations as baseless and an attempt to deflect the anti-party allegations levelled against him in Ward 4, Sabo, Sagamu.

Akinmade said, “If Senator Daniel knew he was not guilty of the anti-party allegation, why did he not go to defend himself before the investigation panel set up by his ward? Why has he now found it convenient to defend himself in the newspapers? The former governor is playing to the gallery and should be ignored.”

He added that the state government was not opposed to developmental projects but insisted Daniel must follow due process and obtain necessary clearances, noting that other senators, such as Solomon Adeola and Shuaib Salisu, always complied.

Akinmade further argued that Daniel, not Abiodun, should be accused of intolerance, citing how Daniel treated members of the state and national assembly during his tenure as governor.

Daniel said he ran into trouble with Abiodun because he dared to offer counsel where he deemed necessary.

“As a former governor and as your senator, I have a duty to speak truth to power,” he said. “I have tried, on several occasions, to counsel this governor privately on these issues. The reward for my private counsel was public ostracisation and removal from party and government activities. I have, therefore, held my peace, focusing on my work in Abuja. But when that work is sabotaged, silence is no longer an option.”

The former governor claimed that Abiodun was behind his purported suspension by the Ogun APC over alleged anti-party activities, describing it as part of the governor’s unwillingness to accommodate voices outside his inner circle.

“Let me be clear: there were no anti-party activities from me or any member of the BATOGD Movement before, during, or after any election. Our record is clean, our loyalty to the party and the President is unwavering. The problem is not about party discipline; it is about one man’s inability to tolerate inclusive governance.”

Daniel alleged that Abiodun consistently issued stop-work orders on constituency projects he facilitated for the senatorial district, including rehabilitation of the Itanrin and General Hospital roads.

“They erroneously believe the federal contractors are ‘OGD’s contractors’ and, in line with their agenda of removing anything associated with me, the projects must be frustrated. A ‘stop work order’ has been issued by the Local Government Chairman under immense pressure. The government is not asking why these projects are being blocked. If this order remains beyond December 2025, federal funding will be lost,” he warned.

He highlighted other interventions, including motorised boreholes, solar streetlights in Ago-Iwoye and Ijebu-Igbo, sponsoring bills for a Federal Medical Centre in Ijebu Ode, and free eye surgeries for over 4,000 people, noting that such initiatives were being undermined.

Daniel urged traditional rulers and leaders to prevail on the governor to stop issuing halt orders on constituency projects, warning that these actions were shortchanging the people and delaying development.

Daniel reaffirmed that the BATOGD Movement remains committed to the development of Ogun East and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He expressed gratitude to the APC National Working Committee and President Tinubu for intervening in the party crisis, citing a recent letter by National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru affirming his party membership.

He added that he is ready to defend his innocence before any investigation panel, appealing for the intervention of traditional rulers and well-meaning leaders to resolve the impasse.

It will be recalled that following an inquiry by MJS Law Firm, Basiru stated that the NWC had yet to deliberate on Daniel’s suspension, confirming him as a bona fide member of the party.

The APC in Ward 4, Sabo, Sagamu, however, insisted the suspension remained in force, arguing that the NWC lacked authority to override disciplinary actions at ward, local government, state, or zonal levels, citing Daniel’s alleged refusal to honour invitations to defend himself.