Yayi wants the crown in 2027, but can he match OGD’s legacy? From education to infrastructure, Daniel’s impact on Ogun remains bold and far-reaching
Is it fair to compare a man preparing for a governorship race with another who already walked that path and left behind footprints?
Also read: Otunba Gbenga Daniel redefines representation in Ogun East Senate
Lately, people have been drawing comparisons between Senator Gbenga Daniel and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly called Yayi.
On the surface, it might look like harmless political talk, but let’s not lie to ourselves; it smells more like calculated strategy than honest analysis.
Let’s call things what they are.
Senator Yayi is not new in politics.
He currently represents Ogun West in the National Assembly, and he has made it clear that he wants to run for governor in 2027.
Of course, once someone declares that kind of ambition, they start showing face more often; commissioning boreholes here, doing empowerment there, offering grants, and making promises.
It’s all part of the game, and we get it. But let’s not act like it’s coming from pure generosity. There’s a clear motive; the governor’s seat.
And this is where the comparison begins to wobble.
Trying to place OGD and Yayi on the same level as if they’re playing the same match or chasing the same legacy? That’s not just off; it’s totally unfair.
When Otunba Gbenga Daniel became governor, Ogun State was struggling, more civil service than development. But by the time he left, the story had changed.
He didn’t just talk change; he made it happen.
He didn’t wait for applause or headlines; he just kept working, brick by brick, road by road.
He gave Ogunstate TASUED; the first University of Education in Nigeria.
He moved Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) to its permanent site.
He built ICT polytechnics where no one was looking and set up vocational centers that gave young people real-life skills, not just certificates.
Education under OGD wasn’t noise; it was action.
Then there’s infrastructure.
He constructed over 2,000km of roads, built stadiums in places like Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta, and Ilaro.
He brought rural electrification, hosted the National Sports Festival, and even attracted the FIFA U-17 World Cup to Ogun.
While others were still trying to find their feet, he was already planting the future.
He didn’t stop there. He started the Olokola Deep Seaport project, established Free Trade Zones, and positioned Ogun as an industrial base.
Many of the factories and companies that came later? They didn’t just fall from the sky. They came because of the groundwork OGD laid years ago.
And after leaving office, did he disappear? No.
Through his foundation, he kept helping people quietly; no cameras, no press release, just genuine support where it was needed. Real empowerment, not campaign stunts.
As a senator today, he’s still not slowing down.
He brought a Federal College of Aviation to Ilara-Remo, helped bring a naval base to Ogun Waterside, sank boreholes, renovated schools, gave out interest-free loans, provided medical outreach, and supported farmers.
All of this, not for clout, but because service is in his DNA.
OGD is not fighting for relevance.
He’s not looking for likes or retweets. He’s just continuing what he started, with focus, with results, and with proof.
So, before anyone starts pairing him with people whose political energy only kicked in when 2027 came into view, let’s ask ourselves a few honest questions:
Where were they when Ogun was being rebuilt?
Where were they when schools had no roofs, when roads were nightmares, and when Ogun was just a name on the map?
Gbenga Daniel is not in the race to prove anything. His work already speaks for him.
Also read: Otunba Gbenga Daniel named protocol officer for Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s funeral committee
He’s not just a former governor or a sitting senator; he is a builder of futures, a man whose legacy continues to shine.
By Victor Ojelabi
Ojelabi is a political analyst
