Copyright tribuneonlineng
Senator Gbenga Daniel has revealed plans to reactivate a major livestock farm in Ikenne Remo, Ogun, along with other components for meat production and leather processing. He made this statement on Sunday during the continuation of the BATOGD Movement Midterm Community Assessment and Review Tour in the Ikenne Local Government area of the state, held at Ilisan Remo. Daniel, representing Ogun East Senatorial District, said the livestock farm has the capacity to provide 10,000 jobs if it becomes operational. The former governor of Ogun State recalled how he brought in a company from Zambia at the twilight of his administration to run the farm, but for the inability of the state toAccess the proposed N100bn bond, part of which was to go into funding of the agricultural enterprise, the company could not take off very well. The lawmaker, while addressing his constituents, also mentioned that the Federal Government Strategic Grain Reserve in Ikenne, which he had earlier inspected, would continue to work towards ensuring that the multi-billion-naira facility serves the people of the local government and not just as a monument, but as a machine for food security and job creation. Speaking on the essence of the mid-term assessment tour, Daniel said the tour was to assess the impact of his over two years of representation at the Senate on the local government. While reeling out that he had facilitated solar-powered motorised borehole in Ogere as well as solar street lights in Ilishan, an ultra-modern skills acquisition centre to provide the youth with cutting-edge skills is ongoing at Ilisan Remo. Daniel lauded the resilience and strong will of the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration in the state, in ensuring that the airport project his administration inaugurated in 2005 had become a reality. He emphasized the need for continuation in governance, as against unhealthy rivalry at the expense of the people. “Standing here in Ilisan, it warms my heart to see that the Gateway International Airport in Remo, an idea that we conceptualised and started years ago, has now become a world-class facility under Governor Dapo Abiodun. “Development is not a competition; it is a relay race. When one governor passes the baton, another must run with it. Real leadership is not about who gets the credit, but about who gets the work started and gets the job done. “The race towards winning is about starting well and on a sure footing. With regards to the airport, I am happy to say again that we started the race of good governance and development well, of laying the foundation of an enduring legacy,” the former governor added. On the second term ambition of President Bola Tinubu, Daniel, called on the people of the local government to support the bid, submitting that Tinubu has in the last two years remain committed to building a virile and prosperous nation with several of his courageous economic reforms such as the subsidy removal, the floating of the naira, provision of students alone and lot of infrastructural development across the country. He added that it is incumbent on the people of Southwest to support other Nigerians to ensure that the President records a landslide victory during the 2027 general elections. He urged the residents of the senatorial district to remain united to achieve the demand for the creation of Ijebu-Remo State for the senatorial district. The former governor, however, said that his re-election back to the Senate come 2027 would also have a great impact on achieving the creation of Ijebu-Remo State, saying that the dream might suffer a setback or remain unrealised if he was not allowed to represent the senatorial district till 2031. He stated that “the BATOGD Movement is about extending the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to our grassroots. Renewed Hope is not a mere slogan; it must wear overalls and go to work! “That’s why as part of our Midterm Community Assessment and Review Tour, we bring empowerment items, medicare, and other forms of support. Because, the only hope that work brings change. Hope is not what you promise people; it is what you make happen for the people.” The Chairman of Ilisan Development Association, Otunba Wemmy Osude, appreciated Daniel for his commitment towards serving the people as well as the foresight to start off the state-owned Gateway International Airport sometime in 2005, while he was the governor of the state.
