Adedokun Waliyu 
Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Ogun East in the 2023 National Assembly election, has pledged to push for the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria to enhance their capacity to deliver quality and effective governance at the grassroots if elected next year. Daniel said that without the local governments being able to enjoy financial autonomy and take steps to improve the life of the people at the grassroots, the socio-economic fortunes of rural Nigerians would continue to remain poor.
The senatorial hopeful made the pledge while on his campaign tour to Atan, the headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of the state. The former governor recalled that he was able to establish healthcare facility in Atan when he was a governor between 2003 and 2011, pledging to convey the deplorable state of road in the area to the appropriate quarters. He expressed the confidence that something would be done soon to address it. While seeking support for his senatorial ambition, Daniel said the job of a lawmaker is to facilitate government projects to senatorial district and use law making process to bring about quality governance.
The work of a Senator is a little bit different from that of a governor. We want to go to Abuja and make laws, but it is compulsory that Senator and Governor and the President must work together. So I want to plead that this election, it’s not about OGD alone, but all APC candidates. The work of a Senator is to facilitate, to use the network that is possible within what is going on at the federal capital to help our situation. Part of the problem we have in many states today is the issue of local government autonomy.
“And part of what we want to go and fight is that local government resources should be given to local government. Without the local government being properly empowered and funded, nothing can happen, and that is what I think that is very important that we are going to the Senate in 2023,” Daniel said.
