Former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel has called on President Bola Tinubu to explore a diplomatic solution to the crisis surrounding the seizure of three presidential jets by a Chinese firm, Zhongfu International Investment FXE.
The firm obtained a court injunction to ground the jets in Europe over a terminated management contract at the Ogun/Guangdong Free Trade Zone, which was initiated during Daniel’s tenure as governor in 2007.
Daniel, in a statement, emphasized the need for a patriotic approach to resolving the matter, which involves Nigeria’s collective national assets and commonwealth. He offered to assist the federal government in finding a diplomatic solution, rather than engaging in media comments that could compromise Nigeria’s arguments in court.
The former governor clarified that his administration was not involved in the discussions or agreements leading to the current legal issues. He highlighted the ongoing operations at the Ogun/Guangdong Free Trade Zone, which has created jobs and impacted the local community positively.
Daniel’s statement comes after another former Ogun governor, Ibikunle Amosun, spoke out on the issue, and as the federal government faces pressure to resolve the crisis and release the seized jets.