Obj, Olurin behind Daniel ordeal— PPN

BY BOSUN OLATUNJI, Abeokuta
A  strong  indication has emerged  that the embattled ex-governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who is in the custody of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged financial misappropriation, has so many   troubles to contend with as Ogun state House of Assembly has vowed to ensure he is brought to book, over alleged illegalities he perpetrated in land matters.

Apart from the  alleged fraud  perpetrated  in lands deals  during his tenure, there was  a strong indication that the incumbent government might also forward  a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC), after it completes the  auditing of the state’s account. The state governor, Ibikunle Amosun had hinted that contrary to the

declaration  made by  Daniel that he left   N59 billion debt, the audit experts have discovered  double amount of the money he declared, and might be compelled to report him to the appropriate authorities.

The  Chairman, House committee  on land matters, Remmy Hassan,  who spoke with newsmen, shortly before Daniel  was arrested by operatives of EFCC, had  given  a hint that  following the discovery made during their investigation into the lands sales, the committee  might be compelled to summon him.

He said that, since Danile was no  more covered by immunity, he might be summoned by the assembly and after the completion of the inquiry, the House might forward its  recommendation to the  executive which was expected to  do the needful.

Daniel, who  was arrested  on Thursday by operatives of Economic  and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in his Asoludero  home in Sagamu, shortly after he  hurriedly left Ikenne, the venue of Pan Yoruba Conference, had been   governor of the state for eight years and was said to have misappropriated N58 billion

Meanwhile, more reactions  have continued coming , over Daniel’s arrest,by EFCC,  his party ;   Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) described the arrest as a manipulation by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to former Local Government Chairman, Ikenne, and a chieftain of  the party ,Kayode Adebayo,  Daniel’s detention is a  part of the game of   Obasanjo  and certain political adversaries to humiliate the former governor.

The party however  expressed optimism that Daniel would survive his ordeal before the anti-graft commission, while  cautioning  political opponents against  celebration  over the current condition of the former governor,  he said  all the corruption allegations levelled against  the party leader and founder  were politically motivated and unfounded.”

He said the EFCC arrest was not strange, pointing out that the agency was only reacting to the pressure being mounted by Obasanjo and certain vested interests in the state to hound Daniel.

While pointing accusing finger  to the former  Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun  Adetunji  Olurin (rtd), for being one of the masterminds of the arrest of Daniel, saying that, in the build-up to the last April general elections, he had threatened to jail Daniel.

According to him ““EFCC is only reacting to the pressure because you will recall that Olurin, the lieutenant of Chief Obasanjo, said they would get him jailed when he was campaigning for office that never was. So, it is still part of the game; they just want to humiliate him but we believe in him.

“We are solidly behind him. It’s no blow at all. I worked with him and I believe him; he’s a leader we should all embrace. His administration should be a study for any serious government in this country. He was able to lift

Ogun State from where it was in 2003 to where he left it in 2011.

“There is nothing to steal in Ogun State. Ogun State is a poor state ranking 27th on the fiscal distribution of the federal allocation. That makes it a very poor state. So, what is there to steal? And when you measure what Daniel has achieved in Ogun State with what is accruing to Ogun State, you would have to give him kudos.

“We were together with him yesterday (Thursday) afternoon and he (Daniel) volunteered himself to visit the EFCC; at least I’m a witness to that. I want to say EFCC must be reacting to pressure being put on it by certain interests in Ogun State, particularly Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.