Once there was a young lady called Alise. She was brave and adventurous. She would roam the plains and hills in search of knowledge and new things.

Her people knew of the wonders of the world, but they have a little community that kept to themselves. They did not travel to meetings with the other nearby tribes and villages.  The elders of her people decided – unanimously – that these events were:

• “Too far.”
• “Too different.”
• “Too dangerous.”

Yes, the decision was unanimous. But the reality was that not everyone agreed. It was just simpler to agree, to remain silent, or to just be frustrated. In fact, one young man, named Bill, when asked if he agreed with the decision.

Bill answered, “We’ll see.”  

The land was very dry that year but a nearby river provided water for Alise’s village. One day there was a mighty storm with lightning, but with little to no rain. Alise and her companions decided to go to a copse of trees in the nearby hill ground. Her people often found wood there for various tools. This time Alise was in search of a new kind of tool. She sought fire.

Some of the people asked Bill if he thought this was safe. Bill answered, “We’ll see.”

Alise and her friends returned with burning branches. They thought that they would be heroes. But the elders were not so sure. The elders said:

• “Fire creates dirty smoke”
• “Fire is too different.”
• “Fire destroys things.”
• “Fire is not worth the risks.”
• “Fire is too dangerous.”

Alise was not so sure. She went and asked her friend Bill what he thought

Bill answered, “We’ll see.”

Ages later a descendent of Bill was sitting in a warm house, with metal tools, all sorts of comforts, including a nice warm fire. He was asked about Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Bill answered, “We’ll see.”

Luckily, a descendent of Alise decided not to wait and see, but to do and create – safeguards and all.

Is AI the new fire? Maybe, but like fire you need to learn to use it for good.

Lino Matteo ©™

Twitter @Lino_Matteo

#AI #FinancialLiteracy #Montreal #BusinessEnglish #LinoMatteo #Community

Except for brief intervals, my sweet home, Alabama, has been a one-party state since before the Civil War. An all-white Democratic Party was disrupted by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which began a white migration to the Republican Party. Same folks, different label. By November, 1994, the transition was complete.

Just before I drifted into sleep last night, Cathey shared the essence of Joyce Vance’s “The Redistricting Race to the Bottom,” sub-titled “A Southerner’s point of view.” Vance provides a state-by-state review of actions by white leaders of seven former slaveholding states to try to avoid a Republican disaster in the November elections.

From “It’s Not the Economy, Stupid: The Ideological Foundations of White Working Class Republicanism,” by Alan I. Abramowitz, The University of Virginia Center for Politics, April 3, 2025

Sometimes by day, sitting here, my eyes detect Mr Fuller through the slats ahead of me. He mows his lawn or weeds and feeds it, weaving a path side to side. The other thing is cleaning his fishpond with the big blue net. I think I’ve sussed why the large crow comes to his fence repeatedly, though crows of course are not waterfowl. Still, his diet could make an exception. 

In store Wed afternoon, I came up shy of the $5 minimum purchase. JR said, “Do you want to grab one more (chicken strip)?” No one waited behind me, so I walked over and did just that. The sunshine had been off and on all day. Missing Karen through the shop windows, I assumed she was in back doing a pedicure. I continued limping home, like the little dog in the folk rhyme of the Old Country. For posterity:

Tig tog

Little black dog 

Went licking the flour off the Miller’s stone 

The Miller he broke the little dog’s bone 

The dog he went a-limping home 

Shickety shackety shickety shout 

Three legs in and the other one out… 

Choice, Compassion, and Control: Rethinking the End of Life.

It can be a difficult subject to face, yet for many people, having knowledge and options provides a sense of agency at a time when life may feel uncertain or overwhelming. As we approach the end of life, it’s natural to ask: What choices do I have? What kind of care aligns with my needs, hopes, and preferences?

Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) may be one of the choices available to you.

In this session, we’ll explore what VAD is—and what it isn’t. You’ll learn who is eligible to request VAD, what safeguards are in place, and how conscientious objection is supported for those who choose not to participate. We’ll also walk through the application process step by step, so you can understand what each stage involves.

Looking at choices that give you dignity means exploring the options that honour your values, your comfort, and your sense of control as life draws to a close.

Thursday 14 May 2026, 6.30pm for 7pm start at the Balmain Town Hall Library (rear of the Town Hall).

About Margot Woods

Margot has been working in Medicine for many decades and has experienced closely all stages of life. She is a passionate General Practitioner and patient advocate. Margot works in academia and medical writing alongside patient care. She has experienced patients, friends and family in the last stages of life and seen the many different journeys which has led her to become a Voluntary Assisted Dying Practitioner in the Inner West of Sydney.

We are the world in motion, a tide of hopes and dreams.

We’re every face and every story, flowing into common streams.

No border stops our heartbeat; no label owns our light.

We rise when we rise together, turning darkness into light.

We are the hands that lift each other; the voices rising into one.

Different paths and different colors, but all beneath the same warm sun.

When one heart breaks, the world leans with it; when one soul sings, we all can hear.

We’re stitched together by our living — a patchwork quilt of far and near.

So let kindness be our language, let compassion be our guide.

For we are many, yet one family, walking this wide world side by side.

So take my hand, I’ll take another, that’s how people grow.

We are the world, and our love makes the entire world shine.

We’re all just people on this planet, trying hard to get things right.

Some days we shine like the morning sun; some days we stumble through the night.

But hearts don’t come in colors, and kindness has no side.

We’re better when we stand as one instead of choosing where to hide.

So, here’s my little, simple reminder, honest and so very true:

The world gets softer, brighter, and kinder every time I walk with you.

There is, ultimately, no way to take the people out of care. Despite repeated attempts to find ways to offer the elderly robot caregivers, the substitutes have not panned out. When Stephanie Murray examined the effects of automated entertainment for seniors, she found that “far from easing the demands on human caregivers, [the robots] can create additional work for them.” We are not clean or predictable enough to mesh with care robots. As Murray observed, “Introducing a social robot into a care home means bringing a fragile machine into a setting full of fragile people.”

The robots may harm the people, the people may harm the robots. Their different fragilities do not suit each other. And more than that, even the sturdiest of robots (or its more limited equivalent, a high, wall-mounted screen) depends on a real person to be imbued with significance. When a nursing home tried out a robot intended to lead simple exercises, the residents ignored its instruction. It was only when a human caregiver followed along with the robot that residents joined in. It wasn’t enough to be stimulated: the residents had to see and be seen by a human being.

— Leah Libresco Sargeant, The Dignity of Dependence

The construction of Pride Promenade in Hillcrest is making great progress. I spoke to a worker and he indicated the pedestrian promenade and its new bikeways should be completed this summer.

Yesterday I took several photographs over a construction fence, north of University Avenue. The finished promenade will stretch from this location, near the base of the Pride flag, up to Washington Street.

According to this webpage of the Hillcrest Business Association: The northern anchor of the Promenade will be a restored streetcar. In recognition of the streetcars that once traveled on Normal Street, this facility will serve as a concession stand, gathering point, and information booth. There will also be a playground north of the streetcar. Check out the above webpage to see a map and learn more.

You can also purchase a custom paver to be installed in the Pride Promenade. Funds will help create the Friends of the Promenade nonprofit. Learn more about this program here.

If you’re curious about the new Eastern Hillcrest Bikeways that are being created in and around the Pride Promenade, check out this descriptive SANDAG webpage.

In the above photo you can glimpse a colorful mural that faces the promenade. I’ll be blogging about that next!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

“Moore’s Law” was his prediction that the number of transistors in a silicon memory chip would continue to double each year. He later modified the prediction to every two years. This was too pessimistic. Chip capacity has doubled every 18 months since 1961.

A 2026 automobile has 1000 to 3000 silicon chips, with potentially hundreds of millions to billions of transistors. Advanced driver assistance systems will continue to increase the number of transistors in vehicles. We humans change more slowly. 

Enabled by the Supreme Court, former slaveholding states are leading an effort to maintain Republican control of Congress. It’s no surprise. For 157 years before and 89 years after the Declaration of Independence, slavery was legal in the United States.  

From “Where did the term “Gerrymander” come from?,” by Erick Trickey, Smithsonian Magazine, July 20, 2017

Two hundred and fifty years ago, our nation was born. As conceived by the founders, it rested on a new form of government, one whose fundamental role was to secure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for its people. They envisioned a radical centerpiece—not only that the government would derive its power from those that it governs, but also that the people could withdraw that consent if the government violates their fundamental rights or otherwise loses its legitimacy.

The founders were of their era, and their vision was narrow, extending the ideals expressed in the Constitution only to white male landowners. From our nation’s inception and for all generations thereafter, these fundamental rights have not been accorded to tens of millions. Be you a woman, be you of color, be you of a minority religious faith or no faith at all, be you gay, be you “the other” in any other way, these rights have been, for much of our nation’s history, mere platitudes. Our founders could see no further than the class of which they were a part, but the power of the words they wrote resonated well beyond their limited perspective and continues to inform the aspirations of all seeking this country’s opportunities.

Over time, these rights have been begrudgingly extended to others, but progress has been excruciatingly slow and, as it is doing today, it often moves in reverse. Rights given, even fundamental rights, can suddenly be taken away.

We bear full witness to this as Southern legislatures rush to deprive Black people of the right to vote and strip this country of democratic rule. There is a straight line from Jim Crow to the current redistricting of Memphis; from Bloody Sunday on the Edmund Pettus Bridge to stopping voting in Louisiana after it had commenced; and from Plessy v. Ferguson, which legitimized the legality of “separate but equal” facilities for whites and Blacks, to Louisiana v. Callais, which just gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act—all are manifestations of physical or political racial violence.

Today’s Republican Party is the hooded mask, the slave catchers, the mob blocking six-year-old Ruby Bridges from entering a white elementary school. It is Bull Conner with K-9 attack dogs, the neo-Nazis and white supremacists marching in Charlottesville, the mob attacking the Capitol, and the silently complicit benefactors of all of these despicable acts.

Reflective of this, our current Republican government is once again deliberately violating the constitutional rights of a huge swath of our population, and its actions leave the people no choice but to withdraw our support. This withdrawal can take multiple forms—collective nonviolent actions, economic pressure, protest, and most importantly at this moment—voting.

The need for major political transformation on multiple fronts is urgent. But that transformation first requires obtaining political power. We can’t reform the Supreme Court; establish a living wage, health care, and adequate housing as fundamental rights; mandate nationwide redistricting by independent nonpartisan commissions; or require billionaires to pay their fair share, among other actions, until we regain control of the levers of power. We must mobilize voters in such numbers that the election results cannot be challenged. In this regard, Hungary—where 79.6% of eligible voters turned out— has now become our inspiration.

 For all practical purposes, the November election is underway. Now is the time to donate to and/or volunteer for one or more of the organizations across the country and here in California that are working to protect our right to vote and to get out the vote. We also must make it even more personal by reaching out to our friends, family, and colleagues:

• Explain what is at stake.
• Make sure they are registered to vote, and do not get dropped from the voter rolls.
• When voting commences, make sure they actually do vote and that they check to make sure their vote is counted.
• Vote as early as possible, not waiting until the official Election Day, November 3, 2026.
• If they are able and choose to vote by mail, they must mail their ballot back early enough so that it is received well before November 3rd. (Vote.org provides a guide to every step of the process.)

We are the carriers of the flame of democracy, and we must overwhelmingly reject the Republican Party’s efforts to hold onto power through fraud, manipulation, deceit, and brute force. As Heather Cox Richardson calmly but indignantly said immediately after the ICE murders of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, the Republican Congress could have put a stop to this madness. “Their decision not to do so puts blood on their hands, too, and Republicans must be made to bear a very high price in November.”

Their culpability and the untold pain they have inflicted on our nation have only grown since these senseless murders. We must never forget. VOTE!

Tain Bo is an annual spring event that the Barony of Glyn Dwfn (Glen-Doofen) of the SCA hosts in honor of gifted cattle, new champions, and this being year 11, a new flag to battle over. The SCA is a community of people who are eager to learn about and practice 17^th-century traditions. Overnight campers arrived on Friday, the 8^th of May, to set up for the weekend. Many people offered to help set up the kids’ maze for the Minotaur Run, which took a few hours of pounding poles into the ground, stringing line, and hanging sheets. The kids started playing tag, yelling and laughing as soon as it was safe to run, and continued after dark until bedtime. 

Saturday started with court from 9-10 am, followed immediately by the archery tournament and heavy-fighter war practice. On Willowdale Ranch, you could find merchants, the fighting arenas, the field of horses, an archery range, dozens of tents, a forge, dogs, and a barn. Throughout the day, there were heavy fighters, rapier, Cut N Thrust, Archery, and a kids’ fighter tournament that yielded three new champions who took their places to protect the court. 

After the evening court at about 5:30 pm, there was a homemade mead (honey wine) and cow pie (pie) competition in the barn. The kids went on to practice and safely beat one another for bragging rights. Shenanigans ended the evening with drunken tales, drunken scribe tasks, and a porta-potty lock-in. No injuries were reported, and everyone took care of each other and arrived safely at morning court on Sunday. 

To experience these family-friendly events yourself, go to the SCA Events page, find your kingdom, and find what interests you the most. Click here for the Kingdom of An Tir’s calendar.

Please join us in congratulating Gabe Vargas on his promotion to Credit Analyst at BOM Bank’s Operations location! Gabe previously served as a Credit Analyst Trainee, where he demonstrated a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a commitment to learning. His growth and dedication have made him a valuable part of the team. We’re proud to see Gabe advance into this role and look forward to his continued success and contributions to BOM Bank!

RAPIDES:

Please join us in welcoming Tiffanie Kendrick to BOM Bank’s Wimbledon branch as a Loan Assistant! Tiffanie lives in Alexandria, Louisiana, where she has spent most of her life. She enjoys gardening and working in her yard—she calls it her therapy, with the small exception of occasionally running into a snake! Her favorite way to spend time is with her family, which includes her husband, son, and two senior rescue dogs. We’re thrilled to see Tiffanie’s skills shine in this new position and can’t wait to see the incredible work she will accomplish. Welcome to the BOM Bank family, Tiffanie!

SABINE:

BOM Bank made a donation to the Zwolle Bombers, helping support the Zwolle Dixie Youth program. Through baseball, these young athletes are learning the value of teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship—lessons that go far beyond the field. Investing in youth sports means investing in our communities, and we’re proud to play a small part in helping these kids grow, compete, and have fun along the way! Pictured left to right: BOM’s Brittany Sepulvado and Tonya Hall, Dewayne Sepulvado, Greyson Sepulvado, and Cassidy Sepulvado.

Caddo/Bossier:

Please join us in welcoming Breanca (Bre) Simpson to BOM Bank’s Fern branch as our Head Teller! Bre was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, and is a proud graduate of Green Oaks High School. She enjoys shopping, traveling, journaling, and spending quality time with her family, especially her three beautiful children—Jayden, Ja’Liyah, and Ja’Miyah Broom. A fun fact about Bre: she describes herself as an introvert, though most people who know her would never guess! We’re so excited to have Bre on our team and are confident that she will accomplish amazing things. Welcome, Bre!

In Psalm 32:8, the Lord speaks with a tenderness that settles the heart:

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.”

This is not the voice of a distant God. This is the voice of a Father who walks beside us, shaping us through His presence.

1. God Forms Us Through Reflection

Spiritual growth rarely happens in noise. It happens when we slow down long enough to notice what God is doing within us. Reflection becomes a sacred space where the Spirit gently reveals:

• what needs healing
• what needs strengthening
• what needs surrendering

This is why Scripture invites us to seek wisdom and to walk with intention.

2. God Forms Us Through Decisions

Every decision — even the small ones — becomes a seed planted in the soil of our future. The Bible teaches that wise choices are not made by impulse, but by hearts that are anchored in truth.

Proverbs 3:6 reminds us:

“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

When we choose patience over pressure, truth over convenience, and peace over chaos, we align ourselves with the gentle shaping of God.

3. God Forms Us Through His Steady Presence

Life will bring seasons that stretch us, confuse us, or slow us down. But none of these seasons are wasted. God uses them to deepen our trust and refine our character.

Even when we feel uncertain, God whispers:

• I am with you.
• I am guiding you.
• I am shaping you for what comes next.

This is the slow work of grace — the kind that transforms us from the inside out.

4. God Forms Us So We Can Form Others

As God shapes our hearts, He also equips us to encourage those around us. Your kindness, your prayers, your steady presence — these become living testimonies of God’s work in you.

You become a vessel of:

• peace
• clarity
• compassion
• wisdom

Your life becomes a quiet sermon that others can feel.

Closing Reflection

Friends, may today remind you that you are not rushed, forgotten, or overlooked. You are being shaped — gently, intentionally, lovingly — by the God who knows your name and guides your steps.

Walk slowly. Walk wisely. Walk with God.💕✌️🙏

More than 35 local employers and over 50 students participated in this year’s ceremony, highlighting the strong partnerships between Vantage Career Center and the region’s workforce. Similar to an athletic signing day, students were individually recognized as they officially committed to careers in high-demand fields including healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, manufacturing, technology, automotive, construction, public service, and military service.

Families, instructors, administrators, employer partners, military representatives, and community supporters gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 and the bright futures ahead.

Vantage Career Center was also honored to welcome Dee Smith, Executive Director of The Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education who presented signing certificates alongside Vantage administration during the ceremony.

Throughout the event, students signed alongside representatives from businesses, organizations, and military branches across the region, symbolizing their transition from classroom to career. Many students will begin full-time employment immediately after graduation, while others will continue apprenticeships, military service, or advanced training opportunities connected to their career pathways.

Vantage Career Center extends a sincere thank you to all employer partners, military representatives, families, staff, and community supporters who helped make the event possible and continue to support career technical education.

Pictured are Vantage Career Center seniors Clayton Manz and Tyler Zura signing with Alexander & Bebout during the Vantage Career Advanced Placement (CAP) Signing Day ceremony.

The LPN-RN graduates were recognized for successfully completing a rigorous program designed to help licensed practical nurses advance their careers as registered nurses. Throughout the program, students balanced classroom instruction, hands-on clinical experiences, and demanding schedules while preparing for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. Graduates were honored for their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to serving the healthcare field, an industry that continues to be in high demand across the region.

In a separate ceremony, Vantage also celebrated graduates from its Police Academy program. Cadets completed extensive training in law enforcement procedures, emergency response, firearms safety, criminal justice, and physical fitness. The academy prepares graduates with the knowledge, discipline, and real-world skills needed to begin careers in law enforcement and public safety.

Family members, friends, instructors, and community partners gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 and recognize the dedication each graduate showed throughout their training.

Both programs reflect Vantage Career Center’s commitment to providing high-quality career technical education that helps students build meaningful careers while supporting local workforce needs.

As these graduates move into the healthcare and public safety fields, they carry with them the knowledge, training, and experience needed to make a difference in their communities.

To learn more about Adult Education programs at Vantage Career Center, contact the Adult Education Office or visit the school’s website for information about enrollment opportunities and upcoming classes. 

Photos taken by Vantage: 

Police Academy 

Front Row – Ian Rhodes, Carlee Young, Alexandra Stefanek, Trayce Lengacher, Keagon Hammons, Miles Doster

Back Row – Tavin Sholl, Zayden Martin, Keldyn Bill, Landon Kramer

LPN-RN

Front Row -  Renee Ballou, Heather Singh,  Mallory Dangler, Hanna Herman, Shelby Ganson, Kate Lombardo, Alicia Gilbert, Trista Chess

Back Row – Jennifer Sutter,  Amonie Shelton, Michelle Porter, Kelsie Poling, Korey Osburn, Coty Bear, Heather Cole, Victoria Mooney

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has formally presented the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, to stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun West as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state.

Governor Abiodun, alongside the State Chairman of the party, Chief Yemi Sanusi, and members of the party’s state executive committee, made the presentation during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Empire Ground, Ilaro, in Yewa South Local Government Area.

Speaking at the event, Governor Abiodun said the decision to support a candidate from Ogun West was aimed at correcting the longstanding imbalance in the state, noting that the senatorial district has not produced a governor since the creation of Ogun State about 50 years ago.

According to the governor, the consensus arrangement emerged after extensive consultations and was ratified during a state caucus meeting held in Abeokuta, where Senator Adeola received unanimous endorsement.

He described the emergence of the consensus candidate as a major political milestone, adding that the model has become an example worthy of emulation by other states.

Governor Abiodun called on party members to remain united as the elections draw closer, assuring aspirants who were unsuccessful in the selection process that the party would adequately compensate all “serious candidates.”

The governor also appreciated the people of Yewaland for their unwavering support, especially during the 2023 governorship election, assuring them that his administration would continue to ensure equitable distribution of developmental projects across the state.

He further announced that the party’s direct primary elections would commence on Friday, urging members to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid actions capable of undermining the integrity of the process.

In his acceptance speech, Senator Adeola thanked party leaders and faithful for the confidence reposed in him, promising not to disappoint them.

“I want, on behalf of myself, my family, and supporters across the APC, to accept this endorsement by the people of Ogun West Senatorial District as the gubernatorial candidate of our great party ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship election.

“I do not take this endorsement for granted, and I sincerely appreciate the leadership of the APC for this great honour,” he said.

The senator also appreciated President Bola Tinubu and Chief Olusegun Osoba for their mentorship, while describing Governor Abiodun as a role model.

He pledged to embark on a tour of all the 236 wards across the state after the primaries and urged party members to remain united and work collectively for the success of the APC at the polls.

The Merlin 4-H Harvesters held their second meeting on April 29, 2026 at 4:30 PM at Dover Corn Products in Chatham. Colton Konecny introduced Melanie Lozon, the owner who has been operating the family business since 2011. It is Ontario’s only Canadian family owned and operated dry corn milling facility. 

Corn is purchased from local farmers and is processed into meal and flour. The meal is coming from the yellow portion of the kernel and flour of the same. Various machines such as stoners are used to remove cobs, twigs etc. Rollers are used for assisting in crushing the corn meal and flour. There is a control panel in the one room. 

We also toured the lab where the corn moisture is tested as well as the meal and the flour. Various members helped with filling 50 lb. bags of flour that were all done mechanically. Huge bags of flour and meal were observed and ready for shipment to various industries. 

We received a bag of Farmers’s Gold which is available in many different flavours. 

Mitchell Nauta thanked Melanie for the tour that was enjoyed by all members. 

Mitchell Nauta 
Press Reporter 

Taking place at the 5th United Chinese Americans – UCA Convention, our upcoming mental health summit, Community in Action, brings together youth, parents, and community leaders for a powerful gathering centered on mental health, wellness, and connection.

From research and lightening talks to illumining sessions on AAPI identity and nonprofit management, this event truly has something for everyone—and you don’t want to miss it. Here’s what you need to know⬇️

When: June 28th – July 1st
Where: Caesars Palace, 3570 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Paradise, NV 89109
Questions? Contact conference@ucawaves.org
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-chinese-american-convention-tickets-1917674729739?aff=oddtdtcreator

This is a chance to network, expand your skillset, make memories, and leave Las Vegas leveled up personally and professionally. Don’t miss this once-in-a-decade-event. Want to learn more? Click on the button below!

Former governor cites Dangote Refinery loss, infrastructure decay, weak support for federal projects and silence on Ijebu State agitation

Former Ogun State Governor and Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Tuesday intensified political pressure on Governor Dapo Abiodun ahead of the 2027 Ogun East Senate race, accusing the governor of failing to deliver meaningful development across Ijebuland despite increased federal allocations to Ogun State.

Daniel also declared that he remains politically positioned to defeat Governor Abiodun in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election if the contest is conducted fairly and transparently.
The former governor spoke during the Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Otunba Gbenga Daniel Midterm Assessment and Empowerment Tour held at Obalofin Court, his residence in Ijebu Ode, where party members and supporters gathered for the political engagement.

At the event, the Director General of the BATOGD Campaign Organisation, retired General Okunowo, also delivered a strongly worded address questioning Governor Abiodun’s political legacy, party leadership style, and relationship with grassroots structures in Ogun East.
However, it was Daniel’s direct criticism of the governor’s stewardship in Ijebuland that dominated the gathering.

According to the senator, Ogun East Senatorial District, which comprises six local government areas, has witnessed insufficient infrastructural and economic transformation under the current administration despite what he described as unprecedented financial inflows into Ogun State following fuel subsidy removal.

“We need to thank President Bola Tinubu for increasing the amount of federal allocation going to the state by four times,” Daniel said.

“For our eight years in government, we had access to about N330 billion, but today the state operates a budget of over N1.6 trillion.

What we received in eight years is what the state now receives within a few months, yet there is little to show for it in Ijebuland.”

Daniel argued that Governor Abiodun’s decision to seek a Senate seat after completing his tenure as governor makes public scrutiny of his record both legitimate and necessary.

“Since the governor has decided to go to the Senate after eight years in office, he has the constitutional right to contest, but we also have the responsibility to ask questions,” he stated.

The former governor further alleged that Governor Abiodun consistently failed to support several federal government projects he facilitated for Ogun East Senatorial District.

Daniel cited the naval base project in Abigi, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, explaining that the initiative encountered serious obstacles before eventually taking off.

“When I became Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, we facilitated the naval base project because Ogun State deserved it,” he said.

“The project is ongoing today, but we went through serious difficulties before it could commence.”

He also referenced the Federal Medical Centre project in Ijebu Ode, maintaining that the project would have progressed more rapidly if it had received stronger collaboration from the state government.

“In Ijebu Ode today, we still do not have a standard hospital. That was why I facilitated the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre, but the support expected from the state government was not there,” Daniel alleged.

The senator equally revisited the controversial relocation of the Dangote Refinery project from Ogun State to Lagos, accusing Governor Abiodun of playing a major role in the loss of what he described as a historic economic opportunity for Ijebuland.

According to him, significant groundwork had already been completed on the refinery project before his administration left office in 2011.

“By the time we left office, substantial work had already been done on the Dangote Refinery project that was originally planned for Ogun Waterside,” Daniel said.

“After reconciling with Senator Ibikunle Amosun, he told me to ask our current governor what happened because he represented the government during the negotiations.”

Daniel said the people of Ijebuland deserve explanations regarding how such a major investment eventually left Ogun State for Lagos.

The former governor also accused Governor Abiodun of failing to support the agitation for the creation of Ijebu State, describing the governor’s alleged silence on the issue as disappointing to many people in Ogun East.

He further alleged that critical institutions established during his administration, including the Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic in Ijebu Igbo and the Ijebu Ode International Stadium, have suffered infrastructural decay under the present administration despite improved government revenues.

Daniel insisted that the growing dissatisfaction within Ogun East should not be ignored and maintained that he remains confident of victory in any transparent APC primary contest.

“I am aware of the enormous powers of incumbency, but if there is a free and fair primary election, I will defeat the governor overwhelmingly,” he declared.

“You can see the turnout here and hear what people are saying publicly. That tells you many people believe these concerns are genuine.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Director General of the BATOGD Campaign Organisation, retired General Okunowo, questioned Governor Abiodun’s claim to party unity and grassroots trust, arguing that many APC loyalists in Ogun East remain dissatisfied with the administration’s political handling of the region.

Okunowo asked whether the governor could convincingly campaign on unity after what he described as years of internal division within Ogun APC.

He also questioned whether the people of Ijebuland should easily overlook what he described as unresolved concerns surrounding political trust, infrastructure, and relationships with traditional institutions.
According to him, many citizens increasingly view the current administration as distant from grassroots realities and overly influenced by elite political interests.
“For many citizens, Dapo Abiodun’s administration increasingly symbolizes distance from the grassroots, elite favoritism, and political calculation without emotional connection to the people,” he said.
The retired general also raised concerns regarding the governor’s silence on the agitation for Ijebu State and Ijebu-Remo State creation, arguing that political leadership should not remain disconnected from long-standing regional aspirations.

He warned against allowing political branding and propaganda to overshadow accountability, insisting that history ultimately judges leaders based on their impact on ordinary citizens.

“This is not about hatred. It is about accountability. It is not about tribal sentiment. It is about political memory,” Okunowo stated.

Daniel concluded by urging APC members across Ogun East to remain politically active, secure their membership cards, and support leaders they believe would remain accountable to the grassroots after elections.

The Ogun State Government has described Senator Gbenga Daniel’s recent allegations against Governor Dapo Abiodun as the “rantings of a drowning politician,” accusing the former governor of shamelessly demonising and turning against the same consensus political arrangement that facilitated his emergence as the Ogun East senatorial candidate in 2023.

The government said it was ironic that Daniel, who benefited from the All Progressives Congress (APC) consensus process ahead of the 2023 elections through the support and intervention of Governor Abiodun, is now attacking the same party structure and process that helped secure his senatorial ticket.

Daniel, while speaking during his Midterm Assessment and Empowerment Tour in Ijebu Ode, had accused Governor Abiodun of neglecting Ijebuland, frustrating federal projects facilitated by him, causing Ogun State to lose the proposed Dangote Refinery project, and opposing the establishment of a naval base in Abigi.

Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Governor, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, dismissed the allegations as baseless, politically motivated, and borne out of frustration following what he described as Daniel’s dwindling political influence within the APC.

According to Akinmade, the senator had resorted to “cheap lies and propaganda” after allegedly realizing that his political calculations ahead of 2027 had suffered a major setback.

“Daniel is simply fighting the same consensus arrangement and party structure that produced him as senator in 2023. It is surprising that someone who benefited immensely from the collective decision of the party is now attacking the same process because it no longer suits his personal ambition,” Akinmade stated.

He noted that Governor Abiodun had, in 2023, prevailed on other aspirants, including the then incumbent senator, to step down for Daniel in the interest of party unity and cohesion.

“The governor ensured a peaceful consensus that led to Daniel’s emergence as the APC senatorial candidate. So, it is ironic that the same person now seeks to discredit the party and its leadership simply because he could not have his way politically,” he added.

The government further maintained that residents of Ogun State, particularly in Ijebuland, remain appreciative of the developmental strides of the Abiodun administration, especially in infrastructure renewal and road rehabilitation.

“Everybody in the state, especially in Ijebuland, appreciates the modest achievements of Governor Dapo Abiodun. Most of the deplorable roads abandoned by previous administrations have now been fixed, while about 29 major road projects have been completed in Ijebu Ode alone,” Akinmade said.

The statement also faulted Daniel’s comparison of federal allocations received during his tenure as governor and those accruing to the current administration, accusing him of deliberately ignoring prevailing economic realities and the sharp depreciation of the naira.

“It is interesting that Daniel, who left office in 2011 when the exchange rate hovered around N150 to N170 per dollar, is now claiming he would have executed more projects with current allocations at a time the dollar exchanges for over N1,370. In his desperation to attack the governor, he ignored basic economic realities,” the statement said.

On the allegation that Governor Abiodun frustrated the Dangote Refinery project in Ogun State, the government described the claim as false and contrary to publicly available facts.

Akinmade referenced remarks credited to the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, during a visit to the governor’s office in Abeokuta, where he reportedly praised the administration’s investor-friendly policies and enabling business environment.

The government added that the ongoing expansion of Dangote cement plants in Itori and Ibeshe reflects growing investor confidence in Ogun State under Governor Abiodun.

The statement further accused Daniel of engaging in anti-party activities during the 2023 governorship election and subsequent political contests in the state.

“The leadership and stakeholders of the APC in Ogun East became uncomfortable with Daniel’s repeated anti-party activities, including openly supporting opposition elements during the 2023 governorship election and other elections in the state,” Akinmade stated.

He also alleged that Daniel often disregarded party structures and due process by acting independently without adequate consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders.

Recalling a recent APC stakeholders’ meeting in Ijebu Ode, Akinmade alleged that Daniel attempted to create unnecessary tension by arriving at the venue with supporters and media personnel.

“The party took a collective decision, but he believes he is bigger than the party. When Governor Abiodun was adopted as the consensus candidate for Ogun East, stakeholders from ward, local government, and state levels were all present. So why is he now fighting the same process that once worked in his favour?” he queried.

The Ogun State Government maintained that Governor Abiodun remains focused on governance and delivering developmental projects across the state despite what it described as distractions from political opponents.

In one sense, this is a rabbit trail on the gap between theology and praxis.

The scriptures ground our beliefs about God. They reveal His character and His will for us and the world. They provide a filter through which we can view our experiences and sift our thoughts. They are a corrective and a guide. Theology is our engagement with these things and the theories we come away with. I say “theories” because I am speaking generally about the ideas we have.

God, however, exists outside of the scriptures. The Bible is about God, but the Bible is not God. To know the scriptures is not necessarily to know God. Our ideas about God may be accurate, or they may not be. But if God is real, He exists outside of our theories. This doesn’t diminish the importance of scripture – God has chosen to use scripture as a primary source of revelation to us. This doesn’t diminish theology – theology is just our term for how we think deeply about God. What this does is tell me that there’s more to God than theology or the scriptures. For my daughter, I am greater than the letters I write her – no matter how revelatory they are. Likewise, the fullness of God is greater than our engagement with the scriptures.

One thing we see repeatedly in the scriptures is God’s interaction with people in real time. He speaks directly with an audible voice and indirectly through prophets. He speaks through visions and dreams, but these relate to real events in the lives of the people to whom He is speaking. The people of God have the scriptures as a foundation, and this gives broad and general truth, but they also have personal interaction with God that is practical to their particular situation – not a general application of knowledge, but divine interaction in the real world.

I believe that we should take both of these as necessary aspects of the Christian life. We should be firmly planted in the scriptures, allowing them to teach and correct and train us. We should also be open to the reality that God wants to interact in the lives of His people, and He will speak to us in different ways to do so.

The difficulty here is the level of uncertainty and subjectivity. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush but to the nation through Moses. He spoke to Peter through a vision but to Cornelius through Peter. It’s easier to trust the scriptures than to trust a dream. And it should be! However, it turns out that God does use dreams. He uses many things. And to follow His leading in the real world means accepting the limitations of our own capacity to think, accepting that His ability surpasses our own, and accepting that He is trustworthy even when we don’t understand what is happening or how.

I’m not trying to give answers here. I’m just processing. How we think about God is important. But living life with the living God is more than just thinking about Him. At some point, theory has to turn into practice. I have to shift from knowing about God to knowing God. The beauty of Christianity is that God doesn’t just invite us to know that He exists, but He invites us to follow Him, to live in relationship with Him. That sounds much better to me.