Like the Biblical Daniel in the Lions den, Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel said he passed through harrowing and tempestuous persecution for eleven years on political trial strewn with thorns, bats and vampires after leaving office.
Daniel made this known on Sunday in a paper titled, “The Daniel Odyssey: A journey through the Courts, made available at a church thanksgiving service to celebrate his final victory from malicious trial instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in conjunction with Ogun State Government under former Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
The former Governor at the Abrahams Tabernacle Church, Sagamu in the paper, recalled that on completion of his term when he handed over on May 29, 2011 to his successor, Ibikunle Amosun, he secured the needed clearance from the Commissioner of Police and the State Director, Department of Security Service (DSS) and left for United Kingdom.
“After handing over on the 29th of May 2011, looking back, I felt I was a fulfilled man, turning around the fortunes of the state and impacting on the lives of many positively. I therefore decided to board the British Airways flight to London to rest from the stress of eight years of hardwork”, he recalled.
Daniel said to his amazement, on arrival in London, and just settling down to much needed rest, he started receiving several calls from concerned citizens about his whereabouts, adding that some of the calls were mischievous, to confirm speculations which was already flying around about his purported arrest in London.
The former Governor said at this stage, he consulted his family and legal team, and was advised he should return to the country, to face whatever allegations that might have been raised against him, explaining that he heeded to the advice because he had no skeleton in his cupboard.
“Living in strong conviction that I have no untoward in my closet . I heeded the advice of my family and legal team, even at my most inconvenience. My entire eight years of stewardship as the Governor of Ogun State (2003-2011) was a clear signpost. I jumped into the next available plane back to Nigeria”, he said.
Daniel going memory lane said on his arrival, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) swooped on his Sagamu residence,combing all areas to proofs of graft to no avail, and was thereafter transported to the commission office in Lagos, then onward to their headquarters in Abuja.
The former Governor said that was the painful start of the 13 days of hurtful detention for serving Ogun State, and was eventually arraigned on October 11, 2011 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on allegations which fell flat after eleven years of trial in the face of the law and remained unproven.
The thanksgiving service was well attended as families, friends and political associates among others joined the former Governor to rejoice.
