For Sen. Gbenga Daniel, the day carried extra weight. Back in 2010, as governor, he broke ground on a similar trauma centre at the same site, even commissioning a bridge to make it happen
Shettima’s Jab at Gov. Abiodun Steals the Show at Sagamu Hospital Unveiling
What was meant to be a feel-good ribbon-cutting turned into a political zinger fest when Vice President Kashim Shettima took a sly swing at Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun during the commissioning of a shiny new Diagnostic and Trauma Centre at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu. The state-of-the-art facility, a lavish 80th birthday gift from industrialist Alhaji Adebola Adegunwa to his hometown, became the backdrop for a moment of truth wrapped in a grin.
As the VIP tour wound through the gleaming halls, Shettima, with a twinkle in his eye, leaned toward former Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel and dropped a bombshell: “You’re from Sagamu, but this your Governor isn’t being fair to you.” The room erupted in laughter—Abiodun included—but the quip landed like a pebble in a still pond, rippling with meaning. Insiders didn’t miss the subtext: Shettima was calling out Abiodun’s habit of sidelining political heavyweights like Daniel in favor of his inner circle at state events.
The governor’s protocol playbook has long raised eyebrows. Critics say he’s quick to roll out the red carpet for aides and appointees while relegating former governors like Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun—key players in his own rise—to the back of the line. It’s no wonder, then, that both ex-governors have been ghosting state functions, only popping up for must-attend moments like this one, driven by Adegunwa’s private-sector muscle rather than government fanfare.
For Daniel, the day carried extra weight. Back in 2010, as governor, he broke ground on a similar trauma centre at the same site, even commissioning a bridge to make it happen. That dream fizzled under later administrations—until Adegunwa swooped in with his deep pockets and deeper resolve. The result? A medical marvel that’s less about political promises and more about one man’s legacy.
Shettima kept the official mood upbeat, hailing Adegunwa as “a national gem whose generosity lights the way for healthcare progress.” But his earlier jab hung in the air, stirring whispers about respect—or the lack of it—in Nigeria’s political pecking order. With traditional rulers, community bigwigs, and top officials looking on, the event showcased a gleaming facility and a not-so-subtle reminder: in Ogun State, old alliances and new rivalries are never far from the surface.
This wasn’t just a hospital opening—it was a front-row seat to the quiet tensions and loud ambitions shaping Nigeria’s southwest power game. Read More
