Posted by By Moshood Adebayo, Abeokuta on
Despite the scathing attack on his administration by opposition, Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel yesterday said that he was unperturbed, just as he disclosed that he had not made up his mind on whether to return to office in 2007 or not.
Despite the scathing attack on his administration by opposition, Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel yesterday said that he was unperturbed, just as he disclosed that he had not made up his mind on whether to return to office in 2007 or not.
Daniel apparently reacting to advertorials in major newspapers by the Dipo Dina Movement (DDM) however advised that criticisms should be factual and not cooked up analysis
'It is not possible to have a government without opposition. In fact, it is not in the interest of democracy not to have opposition. It should be understood that opposition is part of governance.
Continuing, Daniel who spoke during the 'Governor Open Forum" transmitted on both the network of the State Television and Radio said: 'What we have hoped was that opposition would be constructive and not destructive".
'The newspapers criticism by opposition is a welcome development; it is all in the spirit of democracy. I'm excited. The only advice I have for the people who are doing this is that they should go a step further. They should not tell lies. They have gone into ministries".
They have smuggled documents. They have agents who give them information and photo-copies. That is in order even though it is unfair. What they should not do is not to quote data out of context for what I can call mischievous. It is part of the open administration I'm running. I have not lost any sleep over that".
'My advice for opposition is not to underestimate the intelligence of Ogun people who are intelligent. Let them play the game according to the rules. You don't require 100 percent to win any election".
Daniel who also spoke about his political future said:
'Basically in 2003 I offered myself to service. In the last two and a half years, the people of the state have seen both sides of this governor. They have seen the good sides and the not so good side. The mandate that I have is for four years".
'I think it is not fair for me now to begin to clamour that I want a second term.
It is actually for the people. If the people feel that they are happy with what is happening in Ogun State in the last two and half years and they think that Otunba Daniel should continue as governor, I will be quite glad to do it. I think it is also morally wrong for you to hold the sacred mandate of the people for a period and not half into the period you start to talk of going back.