Otunba Gbenga Daniel proves self-reliance in governance works, showcasing successes in local projects and youth empowerment in Ogun State, Samson Òkúlàjà writes

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]or a reasonable time now, I have refrained from writing or saying much about my mentor, the former Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Justus Daniel. My reason is simple: Ogun State politics is so flammable that one needs to tread carefully in thoughts and words, especially for “infants” like us.

Also read: Otunba Justus Olugbenga Daniel: A profile of a political leaders’ leader

Nevertheless, Otunba’s recent interview is too rich to ignore for anyone interested in the development of our nation.

I wouldn’t have written this essay if Otunba were just a braggart, showing off or playing to the gallery. I am writing because we are discussing a man who practises what he preaches.

While the intention of this write-up is not to criticise anyone, I believe we must give credit where it is due and boldly highlight positive actions wherever we see them, to inspire collective development.

The first thing His Excellency said that struck me was the need to be self-reliant in our consumption. Otunba emphasised that we must depend on what we can produce locally if we must grow. I will not delve deeply into this as it is self-explanatory. Instead, I aim to showcase how a man of his word practised his belief in office.

From the outset, OGD left no one in doubt about the thrust of his government. Within his first 100 days in office, his commitment to self-reliance was clear. What did Asoludero do? He prioritised training for unemployed youths in various vocations.

He reopened farm settlements for agricultural training and engaged professionals to train youths in fields like painting and paint production. Such was his commitment that within 100 days, graduates from his programme completed all painting work for the facelift of the Governor’s Office at Oke-Mosan, using paints they produced themselves. This initiative transformed unemployed youths into employers of labour within a remarkably short period.

Prof. Wole Soyinka — Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former governor, Ogun State

If this doesn’t convince you, consider the Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency (OGROMA). His Excellency and his cabinet created OGROMA as a local agency for road maintenance, replacing what used to be expensive contracts awarded to foreign companies.

Within months of his administration, OGROMA was already filling potholes and marking roads for safety. This shift not only created jobs for youths but also conserved foreign exchange that would have been paid to expatriates, preventing capital flight.

OGROMA’s true success lay in its transformation. Starting with wheelbarrows, shovels, diggers, and brooms, the agency quickly evolved into one with bitumen trucks. It gained the expertise and confidence needed for road construction. Before long, OGROMA undertook and completed the dualisation of the Abeokuta/Shagamu Road, complete with streetlights and other safety features.

The real triumph here is the belief that we can achieve greatness through self-reliance. Critics questioned the quality of the roads, but they overlooked the remarkable progress from dependence on foreign contractors to self-reliance.

Today, we face leaders who lack confidence in our capacity, preferring dependence on foreign companies, even if it means leaving youths jobless. This mindset keeps us stagnant.

For more than a decade, I have lived in Germany, a country known for having the best roads in the world. I have seen advanced machines spraying bitumen like rain, as well as companies using shovels and wheelbarrows, just like OGROMA’s beginnings. What I have never seen is a foreign company constructing roads in Germany.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel didn’t just reopen farm settlements; he mechanised agriculture for collective benefit. His administration purchased and distributed tens of tractors to farm settlements across the state, enabling indigenes to easily access them for their farms.

Also read: Otunba Gbenga Daniel honoured as Most Outstanding Senator of the Year

OGD stands out because he walks the talk. Until we embrace self-reliance, we will remain a consuming nation, our ports flooded with imports, our companies in decline, and our streets filled with jobless youths. Pressure on the naira will continue, leading to devaluation and stagnation.

OGD is right. To our Nigerian leaders: go to Daniel and be wise.