Ogun State Government has described the comments made by the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Gbenga Daniel, against Governor Dapo Abiodun over the ongoing 260-metre rehabilitation of Paddy Arikawe Oye-Igbimo Road in Sagamu as reckless and misleading.

The state government said that rather than stirring controversy and seeking cheap popularity, Daniel should learn to respect due process.

In a statement by Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Kayode Akinmade, the state government accused Daniel of deliberately distorting facts, inciting the public with false claims, and using the media to promote discord and confusion in the state.

Akinmade said that contrary to Daniel’s allegations of obstruction, the only directive given by the state government was for the contractor handling the project to regularise its operations by following laid-down procedures.

“Only a mind bent on mischief will describe adherence to due process as obstruction. The same contractor has since accepted the government’s recommendations, which makes Daniel’s claims even more misleading.”

The governor’s aide questioned why Daniel remains the only federal lawmaker in Ogun State constantly embroiled in disputes over constituency projects, noting that others have executed projects without encountering resistance from the government.

“A genuine statesman would comply with established processes rather than attempt to impose shoddy and unsafe engineering works on the people.”

Akinmade further recalled that Daniel’s past confrontations with the law, including his refusal to present documents for property in Sagamu during a routine verification exercise, adding that such disregard for due process is unbecoming of a former governor and now a senator.

He said that while Daniel might continue his “media war,” the Ogun State government, under Governor Dapo Abiodun, would never compromise the rule of law or endanger the public simply to satisfy the whims of a single individual.

It would be recalled that Daniel had, at the weekend, during his ongoing midterm community assessment and review tour of the BATOGD Movement in Ijebu North East Local Council, said that hostility and petty politics must not be allowed to short-change the citizens.

The former governor said a fundamental part of his role as senator is lawmaking, and crucially, to facilitate the location of federal projects in the constituency.

According to him, the process of awarding contracts and executing these projects is the responsibility of various federal agencies, often in cooperation with state agencies.

“What we expect, and indeed require, from the state government is cooperation, not hostility. Petty politics must never be allowed to short-change our people.

“The Paddy Arikawe Road in Sagamu, which is currently a subject of controversy, was first opened up and tarred with drainage by Ogun State Road Management Agency (OGROMA) in 2004, over 20 years ago.

“Sadly, since then, no significant repairs or maintenance had been carried out until we managed to include it as a palliative measure in our limited constituency projects. The primary responsibility for that road lies with the local and state governments.

The plank of my message to our state government is that we need encouragement, and not discouragement, to bring more development,” Daniel stated.