By BODE OPESEITAN
Movie lovers are likely familiar with the term “slow burn.” It is often used to describe films that unfold gradually, delivering less immediate intensity but ultimately packing a powerful punch.
Unlike action movies that seize your attention from the very first scene—immersing you in a whirlwind of intrigue, subterfuge, fisticuffs, shootings, betrayals, and hard-won victories—slow-burn films reveal their impact in measured doses, until their full weight is felt.
That was precisely the effect of Gbenga Daniel’s open letter to Dapo Abiodun, the Executive Governor of Ogun State. It was a battle between the former and the incumbent. This passage, extracted from the letter titled “FG Takeover of TASUED: Open Letter to Governor Dapo Abiodun,” underscores why it is a textbook case of a slow burn:
“I wish our people would not rush to conclude that government ineptitude is the reason for this necessary acquisition when the State Government itself has abdicated its responsibilities to this institution.”
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Gbenga Daniel, who played a critical role in the prosperity Ogun State now enjoys, is not known for writing many open letters. For him to publicly address one of his successors and the serving Governor—despite what should be an open and unrestricted line of communication between a former and current Governor—speaks volumes about the depth of their estrangement.
How did the relationship between these two former allies deteriorate to this point? From collaboration in Dapo Abiodun’s first term gubernatorial election to antagonism during his re-election, the two leaders have evolved into bitter rivals.
Yet, as seasoned politicians, they both understand that in their line of work, there are no permanent enemies—only permanent interests.
I urge caution, reconciliation, and rapprochement. The elders of Ogun State should step in to mediate and restore peace. Gbenga Daniel has raised critical concerns about the state of education in Ogun State, and while political differences may persist, Governor Abiodun, who by my reckoning is a focused leader, should focus less on the messenger and more on the message.
He should seize this moment to address any observed flaws in the state’s tertiary education system and its funding.
