Gbenga Daniel

Otunba Gbenga Daniel
Ogun State Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel (center), September 28, 2004
Governor of Ogun State
In office May 29, 2003 – May 2011
Preceded by	Olusegun Osoba
Succeeded by	Ibikunle Amosun
Personal details
Born	(1956-04-06) 6 April 1956

Gbenga Daniel (born 6 April 1956) is a Nigerian politician,and Governor of Ogun State of Nigeria since 29 May 2003. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the owner of the Nigerian Compass, a daily newspaper.

Background

Daniel was born on the 6th April, 1956 in the old City of Ibadan of the then Western Region. He attended the Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta from 1969 to 1973, followed by studies at the Polytechnic, Ibadan, and the School of Engineering of the University of Lagos. His decision to study engineering was influenced by the brilliant engineer and teacher Ayodele Awojobi. Daniel spent much time with Awojobi, and was a winner on his television quiz show "Mastermind".

Daniel became a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. He obtained a job with Schrouder (W.A.) Limited, Lagos, rising to Deputy Managing Director. In 1990 he founded Kresta Laurel, an engineering firm specializing in elevators, overhead travelling cranes and hoists.

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.

.Daniel was arraigned on Monday April 16, 2012 by the EFCC(The nation's anti graft agency) on a 38 count charge which borders on misappropriation of fund amounting to over N200 million, criminal breach of trust and abuse of office while he held sway as governor of Ogun State. He was however granted bail.