Governor of Ogun State
Daniel was elected governor of Ogun State in April 2003, running on the PDP platform. He acquired the chiefly title Otunba of the Egba clan of the state during the course of his first term. He was reelected in April 2007. His April 2007 election was disputed by rival candidate Ibikunle Amosun of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), but in August 2009 the Ogun State Election Petitions Tribunal dismissed the petition.
In August 2006, the website Elundu Reports published what it claimed to be evidence that Daniel had obtained two houses in London after being sworn in as Governor.
Daniel's achievements while in office include building roads, recreational centres and stadiums in the three senatorial districts of the state, and setting up a University of Education. The Gateway International Stadium was a site of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup which was held in Nigeria. In June 2009 he drew criticism for his proposal to float a N60bn bond for commercial developmental projects in the state, which was said to be contrary to his stated principles about the Public - Private Partnership (PPP).
In December 2008, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, wrote a letter to Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro saying that Gbenga Daniel was after her life and calling for police action. In February 2009, Daniel authorized reduction of fees at the State-owned Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to N7,000. This followed negotiations with the National Association of Nigeria Students after parents and students had protested recent increases to fees.
In July 2009, a scandal blew up with the publication in the Nigerian Compass of a photograph that allegedly showed Wale Alausa, a member of the state House of Assembly, taking a blood oath which the paper said was to ensure secrecy and unity of purpose in a bid to impeach Daniel. The Nigerian Compass is owned by Gbenga Daniel. Alausa said the pictures were real, but the blood oath was an oath of allegiance to Daniel, which he had taken at the governor's insistence.
Read more about this topic: Gbenga Daniel
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