The senator representing Ogun-East Senatorial District, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Saturday visited Ijebu North-East Local Government Area to reward supporters with empowerment tools aimed at boosting livelihoods and local enterprise.

The BATOGD Initiative Movement programme took place at Equity Hotel and Suites along Eruwon Road, Ijebu-Ode, where participants received items including generators, sewing machines, motorcycles, and other valuable equipments.

The gathering was well attended by traditional rulers from across Ijebu North-East, led by Oba Odusanya Oduneye, the Olu of Odosenlu Alaro; Oba Barr. Okubena, the Elerunwon of Eruwon Ijebu; Oba Gabriel Onafuwa, the Oliworo of Iworo Ijebu; Oba Rashidi Salami, the Sadiriren of Isoyin Ijebu; HRH Oba Babatunde Oredipe, the Olu of Oke-Eri Ijebu; and Oba Oluseye Olusaanu, the Ajalaye of Ilugun South, alongside party faithful and leaders from across Ogun East senatorial district.

In his address, Senator Daniel said it was important to focus on energy, governance, and development as a shared mandate to serve the people. He assured the audience that God is on the throne, and He will see him through.

“I am not here to say we have achieved all we promised to do, but it is necessary for us to tour each local government to know what is next for our people.

“Only a few weeks ago, we gathered in another part of Ogun-East Senatorial District to commission and assess completed constituency projects that are already touching lives.

"That exercise, like today’s gathering, is part of our continuing effort to ensure that governance remains people-focused, transparent, and accountable. Today, we are here to deepen that tradition of assessment and renew our shared commitment to the development of Ijebu North-East.”

Highlighting the scale of the empowerment drive, the senator noted that more than a thousand loyalists benefited from the previous BATOGD programme.

“We need encouragement from the government, not discouragement, to bring development back home. We have proposed many projects across various sectors in Ogun East Senatorial District, particularly within the education sector.

"What we expect and indeed require from the State Government is cooperation, not hostility, petty politics must never be allowed to short-change our people,” he said.

Turning to the longstanding call for a new Ijebu-Remo State, Senator Daniel underscored that Ijebu remains one of the old provinces yet to gain statehood. He proposed that the nine local governments under Ogun-East senatorial district could constitute the new state.

“My appeal is to all Ijebu and Remo indigenes, both at home and in the diaspora, not to relent in thanking Mr. President in advance. I was at Ibadan during the inauguration of the Olubadan and witnessed their quest for a state. Ijebu-Remo State is a must; we must all achieve this together,” Daniel said.

- Story from NUJ Ogun-East Independent Chapel