LAGOS – Ahead of his platinum jubilee on April 6, former Ogun State Governor and current Senator for Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has received a glowing commendation from the family of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
In a tribute signed by Ambassador Dr. O. Awolowo Dosumu, the family lauded Daniel’s “constancy of conviction,” highlighting a relationship built on mutual respect and a shared dedication to the legacy of Nigeria’s “Sage.”
The ‘Gentle Charade’
Ambassador Dosumu recounted a charming historical anecdote involving her mother, the late Mama H.I.D. Awolowo. She revealed that Mama had once “co-opted” the then-Governor Daniel into a covert mission to persuade the Ambassador to return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom.
”True to form, he embraced the assignment with characteristic dedication,” Dosumu wrote, describing how Daniel visited her family in the UK and later hosted them on an official visit to Ogun State—all while keeping his “true purpose” hidden to please Mama Awolowo. “We both played our parts faithfully in that gentle charade, each indulging the other out of respect for Mama,” she added.
A Legacy of Institutional Support
Beyond personal ties, the tribute credited Daniel’s administration (2003–2011) with being a pillar of support for the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation. His tenure was marked by:
- The 2009 Centenary: Providing critical institutional and personal backing for the year-long celebration of Awo’s birth.
- Global Advocacy: Supporting the Foundation’s international initiatives, including a major book launch at the SOAS University of London.
- Healthcare Preservation: Efforts to revive the Dideolu Specialist Hospital, a project dear to the Awolowo family.
From Engineering to the Senate
Born April 6, 1956, Daniel’s journey has been one of varied success. Before his historic eight-year tenure as Governor, he established Kresta Laurel, a leading electro-mechanical engineering firm.
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Now representing Ogun East in the Red Chamber, Daniel serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Navy. He has recently been in the spotlight for sponsoring the South West Development Commission Establishment Bill, which received Presidential Assent—a move seen by many as a modern-day execution of the regional development ideals championed by Awolowo.
As the “Lion of Sagamu” prepares to join the septuagenarian club, the Awolowo family’s tribute underscores his standing as a “standard-bearer” of a political philosophy that prioritizes institutional legacy over transient titles.
