For Sen. Daniel, politics is not war but a vehicle to serve the people—and peace is the fuel that keeps the vehicle moving
Otunba Gbenga Daniel… The Master Peacemaker Who Tames Storms | By Lukman Omikunle
In the turbulent waters of Nigerian politics, where tempers flare and factions clash, few leaders have consistently demonstrated the rare gift of peacemaking. Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State and current Senator representing Ogun East, stands tall as one of the few voices of calm in the storm.
As governor from 2003 to 2011, Daniel’s art of peace was tested time and again. At moments of provocation, when crises threatened to engulf Ogun’s political and social landscape, he remained the steady hand that doused tensions. He understood that true leadership was not only about projects and policies but also about managing people, calming nerves, and preserving harmony.
Ogun State, under his stewardship, witnessed peace even in periods when political upheaval was rife elsewhere.
But Daniel’s gift for peacemaking did not stop at Ogun’s borders. His influence grew across the Southwest and indeed Nigeria. In 2019, as a prominent leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he was saddled with the task of mediating among warring factions ahead of the general election. Daniel crisscrossed the nation, meeting aggrieved party leaders, reconciling factions, and rebuilding bridges. The result was a revitalized PDP that came the closest it had ever been to reclaiming the presidency after regaining control of several key states.
His quiet diplomacy, patience, and ability to listen turned bitter rivals into collaborators. Yet, since his exit from the PDP, the party has struggled to replicate that stability, underscoring just how rare and invaluable Daniel’s peacekeeping ability truly is.
Today, as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he has carried this same gift into the ruling party, playing his part in stabilising relationships and diffusing internal frictions. For Daniel, politics is not war but a vehicle to serve the people—and peace is the fuel that keeps the vehicle moving.
Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s enduring ability to turn discord into dialogue is inherent, a natural skill that is rare in the political landscape. He is, without doubt, the master peacemaker in an age of political storms. Read More
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