Ogun Ex Governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel Breaks Silence Over Seized National Assets/Ogun/Guangdong FTZ

The Media Office of His Excellency, Senator Otunba Engr Gbenga Daniel, FNSE, FAEng, has issued a statement clarifying his position on the ongoing dispute between the Federal Government of Nigeria/Ogun State Government and a Chinese firm over the termination of a management contract at the Ogun/Guangdong Free Trade Zone.

The statement emphasizes that Otunba Daniel’s administration was not involved in the discussions leading to the dispute, nor did it have any proprietary interest in the agreement establishing the FTZ. The matter before the courts and arbitration is solely related to the termination of a management contract.

As a patriotic elder statesman and serving Senator, Otunba Daniel has chosen not to engage in media comments on the issue, instead opting to support the Federal Government in finding a diplomatic solution. He is committed to assisting President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in resolving the matter, using available records to strengthen Nigeria’s arguments in court.

“Rather than engaging on media comments, the most reasonable course of action that Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel would rather engage in is helping Nigeria, through the President and Commander-in-Chief, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to finding a diplomatic solution to the issue at hand with available records that could assist the Federal Government in pursuing its course at the arbitration and before the courts. He cannot do this on the pages of the newspapers and on other media which may also compromise the strength of Nigeria’s arguments in the courts.”

“We need to also appreciate that this matter is before various courts in several countries and it is subjudice for anyone to speak on them.”

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The statement also notes that the Ogun/Guangdong Free Trade Zone project remains operational, with several Nigerian companies and individuals employed there. Otunba Daniel’s efforts in establishing the FTZ have had a significant impact on the local community, including road construction, schools, scholarships, and sponsorship for academic pursuits.

At the time of his handover in 2011, about 56 companies were at various stages of operations, construction and showing interests in the Free Trade Zone and through which various life impacting developments (including but not limited to the construction of roads, schools for the local community, scholarship and sponsorship of many Nigerians for academic pursuit etc) have taken place in the Igbesa area, which was an otherwise rural community before the establishment of the Free Trade Zone.

According to the information from the office of the former governor of Ogun State, Senator Gbenga Daniel; “there are so many incorrect reports and misrepresentation of facts on Timelines of activities relating to the establishment and Operations of the Free Trade Zone in circulation especially on the social media.”

“We sincerely appreciate all efforts at reaching out for Otunba Daniel’s side of the story as we also seek the understanding of all those who called to appreciate his study silence to be able to assist the President on the way out of this testy time and situation.”

The Media Office appeals to the media to partner with the government in finding a productive solution to the dispute, emphasizing that it is not a time to play politics with national assets and integrity.