Former governor and senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Saturday, cautioned the Ogun State Government against what he called hostility and petty politics following the controversy surrounding a road project in the state.

Daniel and the government have been trading words over a stop-work order on the construction of Paddy Arikawe Oye Igbimo road, in Sagamu GRA.

The road project is one of the constituency projects facilitated by Senator Daniel.

A letter signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Dr Lateef Yusuf, on behalf of the commissioner, Ade Akinsanya, and dated September 17, 2025, said the government placed a stop-work order on the road project.

The letter argued that the contractor’s action “negates the normal due process which ought to be followed before commencing work on a State Government road.”

The development was seen as a fresh twist in the ongoing political bickering between Governor Dapo Abiodun and Daniel.

Daniel’s Media Aide, Steve Oliyide, had told Daily Trust that the stop-work order was another “sinister motive” by the Abiodun government against projects facilitated by the former governor.

Oliyide also accused the government of deliberately sabotaging the efforts of President Bola Tinubu towards impacting the lives of the people positively.

But in a statement signed by the Governor’s Spokesman, Kayode Akinmade, the government clarified that the contractor, Minim and Tonye Nigeria Limited, was only asked to follow due process and apply for permission from the government.

In another statement, the government insisted that the contractor must meet all the requirements and standards applied to all road projects in the state and are designed to protect public safety.

Speaking on Saturday during his ongoing Midterm Community Assessment and Review Tour of the BATOGD Movement in Ijebu North East LGA, Daniel said hostility and petty politics must not be allowed in order not 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 to 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,” Daniel said.

Continuing, he said “Let me give you a clear example. The Paddy Arikawe Road in Sagamu, which is currently a subject of controversy, was first opened up and tarred with drainages by our Ogun State Road Management Agency (OGROMA) in 2004, over twenty 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 government. The plank of my message to our state government is simple: we need encouragement, not discouragement, to bring more development home.”

The federal lawmaker, however, reiterated that his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains unwavering.

He said the BATOGD Movement is a testament to the commitment, expressing confidence in the President’s “bold and thoughtful leadership,” which he said, “is steadily redirecting our nation’s economy and restoring its pride.”

Daniel listed about 100kilometres of roads in deplorable state across Ijebu North East LG and urged the government to fix them in the interest of the public.

“These roads are lifelines for our farmers, traders, students, and the entire business community. Their rehabilitation will not only ease movement but also boost commerce and restore hope to our people. We sincerely beg the State Government to act now and allow the Federal Government to complement its efforts for the benefit of all,” he said. (Weekend Trust)