“Where was Dapo Abiodun during the June 12 struggle to now claim he’s a progressive?”
“You’re No Progressive!” – Group Chides Dapo Abiodun, Hails Gbenga Daniel as True Hero of June 12 Struggle
The Ogun State Progressive Alliance has launched a scathing attack on Governor Dapo Abiodun, declaring he lacks the credentials to call himself a progressive leader in the state.
At the center of their criticism is the legacy of Senator Gbenga Daniel, whom the group describes as the true embodiment of progressive values—unlike Abiodun, who they accuse of aligning with anti-democratic forces during Nigeria’s pivotal democratic movement in the 1990s.
“Where was Dapo Abiodun during the June 12 struggle to now claim he’s a progressive?” asked Comrade Solomon Adegunle, chairman of the Alliance.
The group claims that while Daniel was actively supporting the pro-democracy group Afenifere both financially and logistically during the June 12 crisis, Abiodun allegedly worked in support of the Abacha regime, which was fiercely opposed by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
Daniel is also credited by the group with playing a critical role in resolving violent conflicts within the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), a move they say brought much-needed peace to the South West.
The Alliance highlighted Daniel’s political history, noting that he had the backing of then-Lagos Governor and now President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the Alliance for Democracy (AD) reportedly sidelined younger politicians.
“In the PDP, he was fondly called ‘Afenifere PDP’ because of his commitment to Awolowo’s ideals,” said Adegunle.
The group didn’t mince words when it came to Abiodun’s record. “He’s only tarnishing Otunba Daniel to distract from his administration’s recent scandals,” said Musefiu Oladimeji, the group’s secretary. “Ogun’s people are not deceived. They recognize propaganda and desperation when they see it.”
With political tensions rising ahead of the 2027 elections, the public feud between the two political heavyweights may have deeper implications for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, and could reshape the region’s political landscape. Read More
