Joe Igbokwe
On Saturday June 5 2010 in Ijebu-ode Ogun state, our own Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu told the story of how Gbenga Daniel was made in Lagos. He gave copious and graphic details of how Gbenga Daniel rose in Lagos to become somebody to be reckoned with. I may not need to give the whole account but the story can be found in the front page stories of almost all Nigerian leading newspapers on Sunday June 6 2010.
It is no news talking about those that have benefited from the octopus called Lagos because they run into millions from the East, West, North and South. It is an old story known by every Tom, Dick and Harry in Nigeria that Lagos is the ‘head’ of almost everybody in Nigeria. The story does not make news to anybody any longer because millions of Nigerians have seen Lagos as their home irrespective of where they came from. But when some people who were born and brought up in Lagos, got all the privileges in Lagos, built fortunes in Lagos and became millionaires and billionaires in Lagos turn 360 degrees to attack those who created the platform for them to excel, eyebrows are raised. When those who have had it all Lagos turn their back on Lagos, committed Lagosians are bound to ask questions. When people who came to Lagos with a wooden box, a pant, a shirt, pair of slippers, and on Mercedes truck, like my humble self begin to abuse leaders of Lagos, reasonable people are bound to shake their heads in total disagreement.
The Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Gbenga Daniel was totally made in Lagos before he breezed into Ogun State to become Governor. Governor Gbenga got his first employment with H.F.Schroeder (WA) Ltd in 1982 or there about courtesy of my senior brother, Mr. Ifeanyi Igbokwe. He rose from there to become the C.E.O. Crystal Laurel Ltd with head office in Maryland along Ikorodu road. He was in the pro-democracy group, he was in Afenifere then led by the late Chief Abraham Adesanya of the blessed memory (I do not know whether he is still in Afenifere today). He was one of the leaders of the New Generation group the late Chief Bola Ige asked me to meet in 1999 when we were networking in preparation fro the presentation of my book: Heroes of democracy. The point I am making here is that Governor Gbenga Daniel became a complete man in Lagos. He was also a member of the Alliance for Democracy, AD. He later moved to PDP.
The moment he became governor of Ogun State under PDP in 2003 the equation changed. In order to show gratitude to Obasanjo for rigging him to power, Gbenga Daniel turned his back on his friends and those who made him. You only need to read his newspaper called The Compass to understand what I am saying. If Gbenga Daniel has issues with other parties in Ogun State, it is Bola Tinubu in Lagos causing the problem. If he has the problems with his commissioners or special advisers, it is Asiwaju that is the problem. A problem with the Ogun State House of Assembly is always initiated by Asiwaju of Africa in Lagos. Crisis in PDP Ogun State is always the brain child of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But I am of the opinion that even if that has been the case, no sensible Governor sitting in Ogun State will want to rob shoulders with the leaders of Lagos, putting into consideration that Lagos is the life wire that gives light to Ogun state. The proximity of Ogun State to Lagos has become one big advantage to Gbenga Daniel’s haven. Agbara Industrial Estate in Ogun State came to be a result of a minor mistake made by Lagos state officials few years back. In protest, the investors moved from Lagos to Agbara Estate. Sango Ota is now the economic hub of Ogun State because of its closeness to Lagos. From Berger to Ibafo and to Shagamu along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, you can see the speed with which Churches, factories, schools, universities, homes etc. spring up there, courtesy of the dynamic and versatile Lagos business men and women. Today Lagosian are buying acres and hectares of Ogun state lands close to Lagos and developing them with lightening speed. Today 80% of students enrolled in Bells University, Covenant University, Babcock University, Redeemers University, Ogun State University Agoiwoyi, all in Ogun State are from Lagos State. A good percentage of people who work in Lagos live in Ogun State. Ogun State officials will always wait for Lagos to initiate something good and they go ahead to copy verbatim. Ogun lands near Lagos State have become hot cakes because of the economy of Lagos. Ogun State has become a viable state in Nigeria because of Lagos. I can go on and on but space and time will not permit me to say it all of the huge benefits Ogun State derives from Lagos. The truth of the matter is that Ogun State leaders know this fact very well and they need nobody to remind them.
That is why Ogun State must respect Lagos. That is why Ogun State must listen and bow to Lagos leaders. If Lagos provides these huge and gigantic benefits to Ogun State, we need not remind their leaders that they should co-operate with Lagos in everything. I think that what is needed is co-operation not antagonism, understanding not misunderstanding, dialogue and not monologue, connect not disconnect, agreement not disagreement, harmony not disharmony, engagement not disengagement.
Those whose palm kernels were cracked by benevolent spirits should not forget to be humble. No sensible man bites the fingers that fed him. A dog does not pass faeces where its food is always kept. The new leaders that will emerge in Ogun State must understand the unique position of Lagos in the survival of Ogun State in Nigeria. In my honest opinion, I think that it is good for Ogun State to always go where Lagos is going in her own interest. If Lagos is AC and Ogun State is AC, things may be much easier but the two states can still co-operate even if they are in different parties as it is now. Co-operation between Lagos and Ogun State should always be cordial, personal interest or no personal interest, politics or no politics, and in fact it should be beyond politics. Ogun State can feed Nigeria if part of her vast land mass is devoted to Agriculture, and if the state can not pull the resources to do that, Lagos can come in. Lagos has the capacity to engage in Agriculture of any magnitude and Ogun State can seek co-operation through provision of land for the project. This economic co-operation simplicita! All things considered I think Governor Gbenga Daniel has wasted a lot of opportunities due to Ogun State because of antagonism with Lagos. My prayer is that the new government in Ogun State in 2011 will see the need to seek understanding with Lagos and it shall continue to be well with Ogun State.
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