In the last few days, a curious photograph has been circulating in the murky waters of Ogun State social media. The image, taken at the church service burial of Chief Mrs. Lucia Onabanjo, shows the wife of former Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun seated in a row designated for high-profile dignitaries. To the untrained eye, it is a simple image of a woman at a funeral. But to those who understand the political topography of Ogun State, it is a well-orchestrated prop in a desperate play.
Like I said yesterday, the narrative being pushed by these online merchants is that Senator Amosun and his wife were “disrespected.” However, a deeper investigation into the logistics of the event tells a different story entirely. The organizing committee for the burial service clearly labelled and designated seats for dignitaries following established protocol. The front row was reserved for sitting government functionaries: the Deputy Governor, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), arranged in that order. A separate VIP section was designated specifically for former Governors, Senators, and other senior dignitaries.
Upon arrival, the SSG, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, was properly guided to his clearly tagged seat beside the Speaker. However, when Senator Ibikunle Amosun arrived, he bypassed the section reserved for him and his colleagues and proceeded to the seat designated for the Speaker. When his wife arrived, he reportedly approached the SSG and asked him to vacate his seat for her. This action was a clear contravention of the established seating plan.
Protocol exists to preserve order and respect for institutions, not individuals. It ensures that while power is transient, the offices we hold are respected.
While the Amosuns are the subjects of the photograph, the real promoters of this narrative are not hard to identify. By now, I expect the good people of Ogun State to understand the mindset and tactics of the Otunba Gbenga Daniel team. This incident is merely the latest tool in their workshop of distraction.
They are scanning the landscape for anything—from seating arrangements to demolition notices—to discredit the government of Prince Dapo Abiodun. The plan is singular: to make the Governor so unpopular that the All Progressives Congress (APC) thinks twice before considering him for any national role or, more importantly, to force the party hierarchy to the negotiation table to secure Senator Daniel’s political future in 2027.
This is not about Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, the SSG. It is not about Senator Amosun. It is about the Ogun East Senatorial ticket.
To understand the desperation of the Daniel camp, one must look at their recent history. Senator Gbenga Daniel has perfected the art of playing the victim while actively undermining the very party that provides his political shelter.
- The Betrayal of the Party (Anti-Party Activities):
The most grievous offense against the APC by Senator Daniel has been his alleged anti-party activities. According to findings, during the 2023 general elections, while riding on the platform of the APC, Daniel and his loyalists were accused of working for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, against Governor Abiodun .
This pattern of betrayal continued into the recent by-election for the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North federal constituency. In an exclusive report by TheCable, it was revealed that Daniel, via WhatsApp messages, instructed his supporters to vote for the PDP candidate, Bolarinwa Oluwole, over the official APC candidate. When confronted, he allegedly deleted the messages and blamed Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the gaffe . This is not the action of a loyal party man; it is the action of a mole within the structure.
- Disrupting Federal Projects for Political Vendetta:
Senator Daniel has also accused the state government of issuing “stop work orders” on his constituency projects, specifically the Itanrin and General Hospital roads in Ijebu North . However, the state government clarified that the issue is not about stopping projects, but ensuring standards.
Officials revealed that contractors working for Daniel did not provide approved specifications and drawings from the Federal Ministry of Works. While other Senators—like Solomon Adeola (Yayi) and Shuaib Salisu—follow due process and complete their projects quietly, Daniel refuses to play by the rules. The government has a constitutional right to ensure that federal funds are not wasted on substandard jobs . Is he the only lawmaker in Ogun State? Or does he believe he is too big to submit to the law?
- The “Three-Man Cabal” Myth:
To further stir the pot, Daniel recently described the Abiodun administration as a “three-man closed government” run like a “cult” . Yet, this is the same man who, during his tenure as Governor (2003-2011), was notorious for being constantly at war with everyone, including members of the state House of Assembly and the National Assembly . The accusation of being “non-inclusive” is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.
The timing of these distractions is not coincidental. As Governor Abiodun approaches the end of his constitutionally allowed second term, the political chessboard for 2027 is being set .
Senator Gbenga Daniel currently occupies the Ogun East Senatorial seat. Governor Abiodun, a two-term governor with a proven track record of infrastructure and industrial development, is naturally being tipped as a possible successor to that very seat. Daniel senses the threat.
If Governor Abiodun remains popular and united with the party structure, Daniel’s political relevance in Ogun East faces extinction. Therefore, the strategy is clear: attack the Governor’s character, amplify minor social incidents (like the seating arrangement at a funeral), and paint a picture of a chaotic administration to make the party leadership think twice before endorsing Abiodun for any future role.
As pointed out by political analyst Abayomi Mighty, this feud is a “needless power tussle” that risks undermining the state’s stability . It is a distraction from the real work of governance.
The people of Ogun State are wiser than the purveyors of these cheap distractions. They remember the “crisis-ridden tenure” of Senator Daniel and appreciate the relative peace and infrastructural development under Prince Dapo Abiodun.
If Senator Gbenga Daniel has any shred of conscience, he will focus on his legislative duties and face the disciplinary panels of his party rather than hiding behind the media and dragging the name of the Governor through the mud over a church seating arrangement. The seat at the church was just a chair. The seat in the Senate in 2027, however, is the real prize he is fighting to keep.
