From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu and former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, joined other dignitaries to celebrate former Ogun State governor Senator Gbenga Daniel at the public presentation of four books marking his 70th birthday in Abuja.
The event, which was held at the Yar’Adua Centre, drew members of the National Assembly, royal fathers, captains of industry, and other prominent Nigerians.
President Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, described Daniel as a “long-time ally and friend”, whose life trajectory embodies resilience, hard work, and dedication to national development.
“I salute Otunba Daniel for his professional exploits, governance strides and political achievements. He accomplished the feats by dint of hard work, tenacity, wisdom and courage,” Tinubu said.
The president noted that Daniel had built a distinguished career spanning engineering, business, and politics, maintaining relevance in national affairs over the years.
Highlighting his private sector accomplishments, Tinubu pointed to the establishment of Kresta Laurel in 1990 as evidence of Daniel’s entrepreneurial drive.
“The enviable heights the company has attained at present should not be surprising given Otunba’s business acumen, hunger for success and determination. Kresta Laurel has handled major engineering projects and has become a leader in elevator installation and maintenance in Nigeria,” he said.
Tinubu added that Daniel successfully translated his private sector success into governance after he was elected Ogun State governor in 2003, with a focus on industrialisation, public-private partnerships, education, and infrastructure.
“Part of his legacy as governor included the initiation of the first agro-allied cargo airport in the state and the establishment of Tai Solarin University of Education,” he said.
He also recalled Daniel’s role in the political coalition that supported his emergence as Lagos State governor in 1999, describing him as a committed progressive and “true Afenifere”.
“As Otunba clocks 70, I thank him, on behalf of our teeming APC members and the entire nation, for his service to Ogun State and Nigeria and his commitment to the socio-political and economic development of Nigeria,” Tinubu added.
In his remarks, Daniel expressed gratitude to God and the dignitaries present, describing the occasion as a milestone marked by the unveiling of four books: Daniel in the Lions’ Den, My March through the Courts, Path to Justice, and Otunba Gbenga Daniel in the Eyes of Time.
He paid tribute to Tinubu, describing him as a pragmatic leader whose influence shaped his tenure as governor.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains one of the most pragmatic human beings that I have ever come across. Nigeria is yet to see the best of him. Mr President is a textbook in governance and creative intelligence that many of us read from,” Daniel said.
“I owe the modest success of our administration as the governor of Ogun State to his insight and creative genius; there are quite a lot of his governance initiatives that we copied from while I was governor.”
The senator used the platform to highlight key national challenges, including misinformation, corruption, and declining ethical standards in public service.
“One of the critical issues that has arrested and held down Nigerian society is the lack of credible information… Political decisions are frequently taken from warped viewpoints,” he said, calling for greater investment in fact-based information systems.
On corruption, he advocated a systemic response, warning that illicit financial flows and capital flight continue to undermine the country’s economy.
“A significant portion of corrupt proceeds passes through our banking system… The government could consider offering a well-structured moratorium or amnesty on the repatriation of such illicit funds,” he said.
Daniel further called for a restoration of ethical values in leadership, urging a return to the “Omoluabi ethos” anchored on integrity, accountability, and moral uprightness.
Addressing youth development, he emphasised the need for increased investment in skills, technology, and the creative economy, while warning against rising social challenges such as drug abuse and cultism.
“A nation that fails to engage its young population meaningfully is, in effect, postponing its own progress,” he said.
On security, Daniel backed ongoing conversations around state policing, urging the inclusion of safeguards to prevent abuse and proposing the establishment of State Police Councils to ensure accountability.
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