Ex-govenor Daniel accuses Dapo Abiodun of planning to demolish his properties

The no love lost relationship between ex-governor, now Senator, representing the Ogun East Senatorial District of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Governor Dapo Abiodun has again been reignited with the former accusing the latter of planning to demolish his properties in Sagamu.

In a statement titled “Political Persecution as Governor Abiodun Issues Quit, Demolition Notices on Daniel’s Properties in Ogun State”, released through his media aide, Steve Oliyide, Daniel accused the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration of political persecution.

The Ogun State government had, in a letter dated 8th August, 2025, through the State Planning and Development Authority, issued notices on three of Daniel’s properties, alleging construction of a building suspected to be without a planning permit and without proper setback. The affected properties include a private residence of Daniel, popularly called Asoludero Court, Conference Hotel Limited, and Conference Hotel Annexe, all in Sagamu.

In defence of the allegations, Daniel said, “This is a ludicrous and flimsy excuse, as the properties in question have been in existence for many years. For instance, the Asoludero Court was built in 2004, while the Conference Hotel Sagamu was built in 2013, and the Annex since 2015.

“The governor’s administration is now attempting to use the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022 to demolish buildings that were legally constructed long before the law was even in existence,” he stated.

Responding to ex-governor Daniel’s accusations, Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media, Kayode Akinmade, debunked the allegations of political persecution. He clarified that the administration was reviewing the document validity of estates in the state.

“Most of them have violated building plans, and the letter was not sent to him alone, and that is not true.

“And if your papers are genuine, why is he panicking?

“Nobody is after anybody; the government is only taking stock of buildings with similar violations, and that is all,” Akinmade was quoted.

Recall that in 2023, DATKEM Plaza Ijebu Ode, a property belonging to Yeye Olufunke Daniel, wife of the former governor, was demolished, leading to a controversy at the time.

In March this year, both men clashed when in an open letter to Governor Abiodun, Daniel criticised the takeover of the state-owned Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, by the Federal Government.