Ogun Politics at Crossroads: Progressive Alliance Revives June 12 Debate, Declares Gbenga Daniel the True Progressive Over Abiodun

Otunba Gbenga Daniel was visibly involved in the democratic struggle, financing pro-democracy groups and fostering unity among warring factions of Yoruba socio-political organizations, the group says.

The political temperature in Ogun State has risen sharply following a frontal attack by the Ogun State Progressive Alliance on Governor Dapo Abiodun. The group, in a strongly worded statement, accused the governor of lacking democratic credentials and an authentic progressive pedigree, while projecting Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel as the state’s “true face of progressivism.”

At the center of the controversy is a heated historical argument rooted in Nigeria’s democratic journey. The Alliance insists that while Abiodun’s political beginnings were linked to the late General Sani Abacha’s military regime—an administration remembered for its crackdown on activists and journalists—Daniel was visibly involved in the democratic struggle, financing pro-democracy groups and fostering unity among warring factions of Yoruba socio-political organizations.

The June 12 Struggle: A Defining Test of Progressivism

The June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely believed to have been won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, is regarded as Nigeria’s freest and fairest poll. Its annulment by the military government set off a chain of resistance led by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), human rights activists, civil society groups, and prominent Yoruba leaders.

While many politicians and businessmen aligned themselves with the struggle, others were accused of working with the Abacha regime, which sought to suppress dissent. The Progressive Alliance has now reignited that debate in Ogun politics, alleging that Governor Abiodun’s role in those years disqualifies him from laying claim to progressive ideals.

“Where was Dapo Abiodun during the June 12 struggle to now claim he’s a progressive?” asked the Alliance chairman, Comrade Solomon Adegunle.

In contrast, the group paints Gbenga Daniel in heroic light, crediting him with offering both financial and material support to Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political group that championed the June 12 cause. Daniel is also remembered for mediating between rival factions of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), whose internal divisions often threatened to destabilize the democratic movement in the South-West.

Daniel’s Political Trajectory: From Afenifere Ally to Ogun’s “Afenifere PDP”

Gbenga Daniel’s rise in Ogun politics is marked by strategic alliances and bold reforms. Initially close to leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the early 2000s after younger politicians were reportedly shut out by the AD establishment. According to the Progressive Alliance, his defection was not only pragmatic but also blessed by then-Lagos Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, himself a product of the June 12 struggle.

Daniel’s tenure as Ogun State governor from 2003 to 2011 was characterized by ambitious infrastructural projects, investments in education, and efforts to industrialize the state. His administration attracted investors to Ogun’s corridors bordering Lagos and implemented grassroots development programs that endeared him to many communities.

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His policies earned him the nickname “Afenifere PDP”—a paradoxical but telling label that underscored his ability to fuse progressive Yoruba ideals with PDP’s national platform. Even after leaving office, Daniel has remained a towering figure in Ogun politics, later returning to the mainstream fold as a senator under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abiodun’s Leadership Under Scrutiny

Governor Dapo Abiodun, who assumed office in 2019 and secured a second term in 2023, is now facing mounting scrutiny. While his administration has made strides in infrastructure, housing, and technology-driven governance, it has not been without controversies.

The Progressive Alliance accuses him of weaponizing propaganda against political rivals, particularly Daniel, to divert public attention from his government’s alleged scandals. Critics within Ogun have also pointed to concerns over transparency, rising debt, and questions surrounding the inclusiveness of his policies.

“Abiodun is only tarnishing Otunba Daniel to distract from his administration’s failures. Ogun people are not deceived. They recognize propaganda and desperation when they see it,” the Alliance’s secretary, Musefiu Oladimeji, declared.

While the governor’s supporters dismiss such criticisms as politically motivated attacks designed to weaken his hold ahead of 2027, the resurfacing of the June 12 debate poses symbolic challenges. Progressivism in the South-West has historically been tied to the struggle for democracy, justice, and social welfare. Any perception of being “anti-June 12” could erode credibility among grassroots voters.

The Stakes for 2027

The latest feud underscores broader tensions within the Ogun political space, where loyalty to progressive ideals remains a potent electoral weapon. With 2027 elections drawing closer, the contest over who represents the true progressive tradition—Abiodun as sitting governor and APC stalwart, or Daniel as a former governor and influential senator—could reshape alignments across party lines.

Political observers note that Daniel still commands loyalty across Ogun’s three senatorial districts and retains deep ties with the Yoruba socio-political establishment. Abiodun, on the other hand, carries the advantage of incumbency, federal party structures, and a strong business network.

For Ogun citizens, however, the central question may not lie in who wore the progressive badge in the 1990s, but who can deliver tangible development, transparency, and stability in the present.

Conclusion: History Meets Politics

The Progressive Alliance’s broadside against Governor Abiodun has reignited old wounds from Nigeria’s turbulent democratic struggle. By contrasting Abiodun’s alleged ties to Abacha with Daniel’s pro-democracy credentials, the group has reframed Ogun politics around history, ideology, and authenticity.

Yet, as 2027 approaches, it remains to be seen whether voters will be swayed more by historical narratives or by present-day governance realities. What is clear, however, is that the battle for the progressive soul of Ogun State has only just begun.