It was a roll call of dignitaries across the state and beyond on Sunday during the 20th annual family thanksgiving of the former governor of Ogun State and Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel held at the Abraham's Tabernacle, Sagamu.

Dignitaries at the well attended event included the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle as well as the immediate past Nigerian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Isola.

Others were, Alhaja Salmot Badru, former deputy governor of the State, Otunba Femi Pedro, former Deputy governor of Lagos, the CEO of Adron Homes, Adetola Emmanuel King, Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, Olor'oogun Sonny Kuku, Prophetess Esther Ajayi, Engr Babatunde Odufuwa, Chancellor, Southwestern Odufuwa who chaired the occasion, Chief Chris Okunowo, the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Ijebuland to mention but few.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel while speaking at the event has however said that he would never indulge in partiality in the desire to create a new state from old Ijebu Province comprising of Ijebu and Remo divisions.

Daniel reiterated the call for all hands to be on deck to defeat whatever might have been responsible for the delay in the creation of new state from old Ijebu Province when many other Provinces created same time, about 100 years ago like Sokoto, Adamawa, Oyo among others have been splitted into two or more states.

The Senator, fondly called OGD was reacting to the earlier speech of the Akarigbo and paramount ruler of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi who urged Daniel not be partial in matters relating to the creation of a new State from Old Ijebu Province.

Lauding Daniel for deeming it fit to put up the annual gathering for people to show their appreciation to God for his limitless goodness, Oba Ajayi added that "I have also told our Senator that he can never afford to be partial.

"He is representing both Remo and Ijebu and he cannot love one more than the other especially as it touches the state creation from old Ijebu Province with regards to the name and state capital".

Speaking some moments after, the former governor debunked ever been partial and that he might have even done so much more for Remo land, the birth place of his father than Ijebu land.

Daniel said "Even though the tradition does not allow us to speak after our traditional rulers have spoken, but Kabiyesi with due respect, let me remind you sir that I am Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Remo land and not Ijebuland, I live in Sagamu and not Ijebu Ode, I am Arole of Remoland not Ijebuland 

"Meanwhile, on the other side, the Ijebu too are saying that I am partial and here you are Kabiyesi also saying that I am partial, I think the men of God should please pray for me".

The former governor explained that his love for Remo land has never been in doubt and that this was why he sited the Agro-Cargo airport as well as the Flowergate Industrial Estate, the biggest in the country at the Sagamu interchange in the zone when he served as the governor of the State between 2003 and 2011.

Daniel said that he remains committed to ensuring that a new state is created out of old Ijebu Province calling for the cooperation of all to get the dream actualised.

Daniel has equally urged the people to stay hopeful despite the challenging economy adding that there would always be light at end of the tunnel.

The Senator urged the people and men of God not to relent in praying for the country insisting that "whatever is happening now will soon be thing of the past and Nigeria will be great again".

Ministering from the book of Psalm 102, the retired Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Most Rev Peter Akinola urged the people to cultivate the habit of praising God because we are created for His pleasure.

Rev Akinola said that inspite of whatever is happening around us the Almighty God deserved to be praised for his immeasurable goodness and kindness saying that people should be ready to praise and adore him in the new year

- Story from NUJ Ogun-East Independent Chapel