Otunba Gbenga Daniel
| Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) | |
|---|---|
Otunba Gbenga Daniel (left)
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| 14th Governor of Ogun State | |
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In office 29 May 2003 – May 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Olusegun Osoba |
| Succeeded by | Ibikunle Amosun |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
6 April 1956 Ibadan |
| Political party | PDP |
| Spouse(s) | Yeye Olufunke Daniel |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | |
| Profession | |
| Website | otunbagbengadaniel.org |
Gbenga Daniel (born 6 April 1956) is a Nigerian politician,and Governor of Ogun State of Nigeria from 29 May 2003 to 29 May 2011, making him the longest-serving governor of the state. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). He is the owner of the Nigerian Compass, a daily newspaper. and also Kresta Laurel, a company he started in 1990.
As governor, he has attracted heavy criticisms and commendations as well. He constructed the new government secretariat at Oke Mosan which brought all the state ministries together in one administrative complex. His program on Public Private Partnership attracted several businesses into the State during his tenure. His administration was accused of several irregularities some of which he is still standing trial for. However, he is well commended by majority of the people of Ogun State who believe his government was people friendly.
Daniel was born on 6 April 1956 in the old City of Ibadan of the then Western Region. He attended the Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta from 1969 to 1973, followed by studies at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and the School of Engineering of the University of Lagos. His decision to study engineering was influenced by the brilliant engineer and teacher Ayodele Awojobi. Daniel spent much time with Awojobi, and was a winner and champion several times over, on his television quiz show "Mastermind".
Daniel became a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. He taught briefly as a lecturer in the School of Engineering of Lagos State Polytechnic. In 1983, he obtained a job with Schroeder (W.A.) Limited, Lagos, rising to Deputy managing director becoming the first African to hold that position in the history of the company. He left Schroeder to start his own business. In 1990 he founded Kresta Laurel, an engineering firm specialising in elevators, overhead travelling cranes and hoists.
Gbenga Daniel's campaign for the seat of the governor has been described by political analyst as "electric" considering the fact that as a business man, he defeated a sitting governor. His campaign was a revolution in the state in 2003 as he visited all the 236 wards of Ogun State, meeting with every stakeholder of every streets and area in the state to sell his ideas. Some faulted his campaign strategy as being desperate while other schools of thoughts strongly opined that it is the ideal thing for politicians to get close to the people.
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Wikipedia