OGD's Business Un-usual:The Vision That Birthed the New Ogun State.

The administration of His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has been described as the government that re-awake the sleeping giant and set the right path of industrialization in the great Gateway State.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel who was the Executive Governor of the state between 2003-2011, initiated the concept of Business Unusual which gave birth to maximum delivery of dividends of democracy, as at the time he celebrated his 100 days in office, the state has already on a high pedestal.

His Excellency Otunba Gbenga Daniel, alias Justus Daniel also known as OGD in political circles has taken gracefully in his strides the swipes given him for daring to be visionary.

The passage of time has proven that visionary leaders who run with their vision when entrusted with the welfare of the people would always be vindicated by time.

Some of his projects tagged “White Elephant” projects are the Olokola Gas Project, the Cargo port in Shagamu, the Olumo Rock beautification, the three free trade zones( Highest for any state in Nigeria) and the founding of four ICT polytechnics which were considered too many and of course the Guangdong Industrial Park which was also considered a sheer waste of time and a ruse for gallivanting to China.

As the ebullient and charismatic leader recentky commissioned his Hospitality business in the heart of Ogun state, it is obvious that the fruits that were sowed in China are beginning to yield fruits. $1billion has just been confirmed to be the value of investment that will happen at the site.

Engr. Dideolu Falobi averred “I am proud to say that I was part of the team that went to China for the final negotiation. I had to go without notice as the technical man that supported the powerful three man team of Akin Osibajo, Yosola Akinbi and Gboyega Nasir Isiaka . He, OGD could not go because the Ogun State cyber warriors and “politricians” had inundated the naive public with a campaign of calumny that his China trips were jamborees.”

“I recalled the very rigorous session the four of us had all through the flight to China and non-stop on arrival till a most brilliant presentation was made on behalf of our team by Yosola. OGD was in touch with us all through our deliberations from the airport till it was made”. He pointed.

Engineer Falobi said the feat was not gotten on a platter of gold as the opportunity was hotly contested by another state in Nigeria which came to make their presentation with a delegation of over 50 people including their governor supported by a huge resident population; they had all the suites in the hotel as well as the choicest rooms; we stayed at the most basic rooms. They lost, we won. To God be the glory and the rest is story yet untold.

Assuring that other opportunities will surely follow in quick succession as so much work was done in China by the highly cerebral OGD & his equally cerebral and hardworking team, Falobi stated “ for the records OGD did two things in Ogun State that guided his policies. He developed a Masterplan that if implemented, would have ensured an organized development of the state at least for the next 25 years. Two, he recognized the value of land and increased the price when he came in as governor. He however granted liberal discounts to investors as well as limited discount to private developers.”

“I am an example. I was aware that a plot of land was selling for about N200000 in the Magboro Area just before OGD became governor. I then applied to buy a plot from the state a few years into his administration and I got an offer of almost N3million. I was angry but I was advised to write a formal letter requesting for a discount. He approved a discount of 25%. I still found the price unreasonable and I sought and got audience with him. He refused to grant more discount! When I told him that I learnt he could give as much as 50-75% discount, he told me that if I had applied for land to set up an industry, he would give me for suspended payment and with a huge discount but with the caveat that he would revoke the offer if I failed to start the project as scheduled. He then finalized his position by telling me that he would not grant more than 25% for personal allocations.”

I thanked him but refused to pay for the land and never got it. The above happened despite my position as the MD of Kresta Laurel Limited.

The opinion of many notable citizens of the state that Otunba Gbeng Daniel came with a working master plan was recently backed by the recently celebrates 10th Year Anniversary of the Guangdong free trade zone, the representive of China government applauded the foresightedness of Otunba Gbenga Daniel and encouraged the state to build on his legacies.

The creation of the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade zone which was a bilateral trade relation between Ogun state, and China has not only attracted more investors, it has served as a veritable source of employment generation for good people of Ogun state and neighbouring states.

The Indelible legacy of Otunba Gbenga has in no little measure added economic value to our great state, which further establish the state as gateway to greatness as this effort produces about Two Hundred and Thirty-Four Million outputs per annum.

As many Ogun indigenes continue to enjoy the dividends of Otunba Gbenga Daniel's administration 8yrs after he left office, they strongly believed OGD's monumental achievements will forever be relevant from time to time.