A 12-storey building rising above the skyline of Abeokuta has suddenly become the centre of a heated debate online.
At the heart of the controversy is a question now circulating widely on social media: did former Ogun State governor Gbenga Daniel name the iconic building after himself?
The building, today known as OPIC Towers, sits prominently at OPIC Roundabout in Okelewo and has for years been one of the most recognisable structures in the city. But a viral TikTok narration has reopened old conversations about the building’s origins, its naming, and the politics that followed.
The debate was triggered by a TikTok post by the handle larryoxide24, which claimed that the building was originally branded “OGD”, the initials of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, shortly after it was completed during his tenure as governor.
https://www.tiktok.com/@larryoxide24/photo/7606010949748690183?_r=1&_t=ZS-94VbFOe3Fg5
According to the narration, the structure was designed to be the tallest building in the state at the time. The video alleged that after the project was completed, the initials “OGD” were boldly inscribed on the building, symbolising Daniel’s legacy.
The claim further suggested that when the administration of former governor Ibikunle Amosun came into power, one of its early decisions was to remove the inscription and rename the structure OPIC Towers.
The reasoning, the narration claimed, was that a project funded with public money should not bear the personal name of a sitting governor.
The story quickly gained traction online, drawing mixed reactions from residents and observers.
Commissioned in May 2011, the building was designed to provide modern office spaces for businesses of different sizes.
For a long time, it stood out not only because of its height but also because it was among the few buildings in Abeokuta equipped with an elevator.
At 12 storeys high, it quickly became one of the most prominent structures in the state capital and a symbol of the city’s attempt to modernise its commercial landscape.
But the viral post did not stop at the naming controversy. It also questioned the economic reality surrounding the building, suggesting that many of its office spaces have remained under-occupied over the years.
According to the post, annual rents reportedly ranging from about N3 million to N5 million have made it difficult for many small and medium-scale businesses in Abeokuta to afford office space in the tower.
As a result, the building has largely attracted big corporations, including telecommunications companies such as Airtel, as well as some government agencies and established organisations.
Even then, the narration claimed that some tenants often leave after a few years, leaving offices vacant again.
Clarifying the narrative
However, those familiar with the history of the project know that the viral account leaves out key facts.
The building was actually conceptualised and executed by the Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation during the Daniel administration at a time when state agencies were granted significant financial and operational autonomy to pursue development projects.
This policy, they say, allowed agencies to chart their own investment paths as long as their projects aligned with the broader economic development goals of the government.
The OPIC Towers project was one of several developments initiated under that framework, alongside the OPIC complex in Isheri.
Sources involved in the project explained that the decision to name the building after Daniel did not originate from the governor himself.
Instead, the OPIC board at the time, led by the late engineer Fajingbesi, reportedly decided to honour the governor by naming the building after him as a gesture of appreciation for granting the agency operational freedom.
Daniel, according to the account, only learned of the naming when he was invited to commission the completed project.
A change of name
When the Amosun administration came into office, the building’s name was changed to OPIC Towers. Such decisions fall within the powers of a new administration.
Across Nigeria, it is not uncommon for incoming governments to rename public infrastructure projects initiated by their predecessors.
The original naming was simply a recognition of leadership and not an attempt by the governor to immortalise himself.
A building ahead of its time?
Beyond the politics of naming, the building itself represents a larger conversation about economic growth and urban development in Abeokuta.
When it was completed nearly two decades ago, the tower was seen as a bold attempt to modernise the city’s commercial infrastructure and reshape its skyline.
At the time, the building reportedly attracted several high-profile tenants, including financial institutions and telecommunications firms, making it one of the most sought-after office addresses in the city.
Yet some observers believe the project may have been ahead of its time.
Compared to commercial hubs like Lagos, where corporations routinely occupy entire skyscrapers, Abeokuta’s business ecosystem is still evolving.
That reality, analysts say, may partly explain the fluctuating occupancy levels over the years.
A symbol of ambition
Regardless of the naming controversy, many urban planners see the building as a symbol of long-term vision.
Nearly 20 years after it was commissioned, the structure still stands as a defining landmark in Abeokuta’s skyline and a marker of the city’s ongoing transformation.
As new development projects continue to reshape the state capital, the debate around OPIC Towers has once again highlighted the intersection of politics, legacy, and urban ambition.
And for many residents, one question remains: whether named OGD or OPIC Towers, could the building simply have been a project that arrived before the city was fully ready for it?
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
