Ogun East Senator, Gbenga Daniel, on Wednesday launched four books detailing his experiences during an 11-year corruption trial and the controversial decisions he made while serving as governor for eight years.
The books were unveiled in Abuja to commemorate Mr Daniel’s 70th birthday.
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Two of the books, “Daniel in the Lion’s Den” and “My March Through the Court,” were authored by the senator.
The other two, “Path to Justice”, written by one of his lawyers, Deji Eniseyin, and “OGD in the Eyes of Time” by Patrick James, offer external perspectives on his life and legal battles.
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Daniel in the Lion’s Den
While “Daniel in the Lion’s Den,” captures Mr Daniel’s tenure as governor of Ogun State, detailing key events and controversial decisions during his administration, “My March through the Court,” chronicles his legal battle following his exit from office in 2011 until 2022, when the Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted him of all charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC initially arraigned him in 2011 on 38 counts of alleged fraudulent withdrawal of N211.3 million from state coffers, misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of office. The charges were amended several times before his acquittal in April 2022, bringing the 11-year trial to an end.
Authored by Mr Eniseyin, “Path to Justice” provides a legal perspective on the corruption case, documenting the defence and courtroom proceedings in the case involving the former governor. “Otunba Gbenga Daniel in the Eyes of Time,” written by Mr James, presents a personal account of Mr Daniel, reflecting the author’s perception of the former governor’s character and legacy.
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Tinubu, Obasanjo, Jonathan celebrate ex-governor
President Bola Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan attended the book launch.
Mr Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, commended the senator for his contributions to governance.
“I salute Otunba Daniel for his professional exploits, governance strides and political achievements. He accomplished the feats by dint of hard work, tenacity, wisdom and courage,” Mr Tinubu said.
The president noted that Mr Daniel had built a distinguished career spanning engineering, business, and politics, and had remained relevant in national affairs over the years.
Highlighting his private-sector achievements, Mr Tinubu referenced the establishment of Kresta Laurel in 1990 as evidence of Mr Daniel’s business acumen, describing the company as a leader in Nigeria’s electromechanical engineering sector.
He added that Mr Daniel successfully translated his private-sector success into public service after he was elected governor of Ogun State in 2003, focusing on industrialisation, public-private partnerships, education, and infrastructure.
“The enviable heights the company has attained at present should not be surprising given Otunba’s business acumen, hunger for success and determination. Kresta Laurel has handled major engineering projects and has become a leader in elevator installation and maintenance in Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Daniel’s remarks
In his remarks, Mr Daniel expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support and acknowledged his influence on his administration.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains one of the most pragmatic human beings that I have ever come across. Nigeria is yet to see the best of him. Mr President is a textbook in governance and creative intelligence that many of us read from.
“I owe the modest success of our administration as the Governor of Ogun State to his insight and creative genius; there are quite a lot of his governance initiatives that we copied from while I was governor,” he said.
The senator also highlighted key national challenges, including misinformation, corruption, and weak ethical standards in public service.
“One of the critical issues that has arrested and held down Nigerian society is the lack of credible information… Political decisions are frequently taken from warped viewpoints,” he said, calling for investment in fact-based information systems.
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