Politics
Why Gbenga Daniel Is Tagged “All Set To Become Senator”
the wealthy engineer turned politician has the”perfect joker”
As the 2023 general elections inches nearer, debating, projections, speculations, and permutations have increased.
One of the looming contests attracting major interest is that of Ogun East where 65-year-old former Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) has shown strong interest in the Senatorial seat.
Ramoni Lekan Mustapha who returned to the Senate in 2019 – after a much earlier spell (2007 to 2011) – is the present occupier of the Seat.
Though there are talks that 61year old Mustapha has an interest in becoming the next Governor of Ogun State, there are stronger indications that he has embraced the lesser battle of seeking re-election SocietyNow.Ng gathered.
The father of five has the huge advantage of operating from Ijebu, the higher votes area of the two divisions that make up Ogun East Senatorial District.
This has proved decisive in past elections with past occupiers of the Ogun East produced from Ijebu division – irrespective of party affiliations.
Daniel who is operating from Remo division wants to break the “senatorial jinx” with his ambition.
And the wealthy engineer turned politician has the”perfect joker” SocietyNow.Ng learned.
The information at hand revealed that the husband of Olufunke who possesses an enviable stature and political structure as a former Governor of Ogun state has boosted his status by taking over the Kashamu group.
The Kashamu group is the formidable political structure of late Buruji Kashamu the former Senator and serail gubernatorial candidate.
The group which has Ijebu has its based enabled the late Kashamu to eclipse every other political power in the area and transformed its patron into the politician to beat in Ogun state.
“Owning a merger of the statewide Kashamu structure and his own enviable OGD structure has soared Otunba Daniel’s rating and enabled him to stand alone as a power block in his new party” SocietyNow.Ng learned.
Like Lekan Mustapha, OGD is a former chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party turned member of the ruling of All Progressives Congress.
But unlike OGD, Lekan Mustapha has sided with former Governor Ibikunle Amosun to be relevant in the power tussle rocking the Ogun state chapter of the APC.
“OGD is standing alone and is being courted to take sides” SocietyNow.Ng learned.
Multiple sources insist Daniel’s elevated standing within the party and boosted followership in the state, especially in Ijebu – the heart of Mustapha’s political might – puts him in a better position to get the APC senatorial ticket for Ogun East or that of any political party keen to win the Ogun East Senatorial election.
“But there is a sentiment that weighs against Otunba Daniel’s senatorial ambition, the Governor who is seeking re-election is also from Remo. Major political offices zoned to Ogun East are always shared between the two divisions. Daniel is from Remo and Governor Abiodun is also from the same division” SocietyNow.Ng gathered.
