For prominent politician and two-term governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, retirement effectively begins now. After leaving the seat of power in 2011, many expected the handsome dude to start enjoying the dividends of his long career.
The opposite was the case as his successor Senator Ibikunle Amosun all but declared war on Daniel, dubbing him a persona non grata as their battle for supremacy raged on and off for eight long years.
Now, with Amosun out of the way, having tried and failed to foist his godson Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement on the Ogún populace, Daniel can now truly settle down to enjoy himself for the first time in ages. Hitherto, he could only be a frustrated onlooker as Amosun and his circle ran Ogun politics whichever way they wanted.
With the reign of Otunba Dapo Abiodun in full swing, Daniels has launched himself back into reckoning in the state.
Few days back, the state governor Dapo brought out the red carpet as he invited Daniels to the government house. What the duo really talked about will naturally remain between them but Governor Abiodun couldn’t have missed the chance to rub shoulders with and collect a few pointers from one of his predecessors who ruled the state from 2003 to 2011.
For Gbenga Daniels, it is a new lease of life. Now free to show himself in public without fear of harassment by the Amosun machinery, he has been making his presence felt. These past few months, he had been reacquainting himself with old friends and old foes alike.
The battle is over for Daniel but he has some battle left in him. Perhaps the current governor knows this as well and hopes Daniel is in his corner when the drums of war beat again in the not-too-distant future.