The face-off between the Ogun State Government and the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Gbenga Daniel, has deepened following an alleged ‘stop work’ order on a road reconstruction project in Sagamu.
Naija News understands that Daniel, a former Governor of the state, had, through his media aide, Steve Oloyede, lampooned the state government, stating that the directive from the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure was politically motivated.
Reacting swiftly to his claims, the Ogun State Government dismissed the allegation, describing it as “egregious falsehood.”
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, the government explained that the contractor handling the road, Minim and Tonye Nigeria Limited, was only directed to obtain the necessary clearance since the road in question is under state jurisdiction.
According to the statement, Governor Abiodun had earlier scheduled the road for repairs. Upon discovering the contractor’s activities, the government requested that proper procedures be followed to prevent duplication.
Permit Requirement
The statement added that the letter issued by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Yusuf L.O., merely asked the contractor to suspend work until the required permit was obtained.
It read, “No one can carry out any repair work on a road without obtaining the necessary permission, which is why a state government intent on repairing any federal road must first obtain the Federal Government’s permission.”
The Ogun government recalled that it had previously been unable to repair the Abeokuta-Sango Ota road until approval was granted by the then Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola.
It accused critics of deliberate mischief, stating, “If not for outright mischief carried out on behalf of their drowning principal, how can anyone equate asking a contractor to obtain necessary approval before working on a state road to stopping the project because of alleged political hostility?”
Following Due Process
The government further pointed out that in a letter dated February 1, 2025, a former federal lawmaker, Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga, had properly sought approval to construct four rural roads in the state: Sokanmade Road, Ewuga; Oko and Ada Road, Simawa; Ita Maro to Ilara Road; and Alhaja Ogunsanya Street, Irolu.
“This is the normal route to take,” the statement stressed, insisting that due process must always be followed before any road work begins.
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