…Aiyedatiwa aide lashes Ondo elders, Minister
…Akeredolu’s aide tackles Aiyedatiwa
By Dayo Johnson, Akure
Another crisis has erupted within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over who should lead mobilisation for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The camp of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and that of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, have clashed over control of pro-Tinubu support groups in the state.
A Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication, Dr Debo Akinbami, in a statement, accused the minister of backing some APC elders against the governor.
Akinbami alleged that the Chairman of the PBAT Elders Mandate Forum, Hon. Demola Ijabiyi, was out to “discredit the governor’s honest efforts to heal the party” after the primaries.
“But seeing that the Governor’s efforts in the direction of peace are already sprouting results, the rebellious elders picked a revolt,” he said.
He further accused the minister of “clustering” the party with “fictitious groups” in Tinubu’s name ahead of the presidential election, which he said would later be converted to structures for a governorship ambition.
“The minister does all to frustrate the peace efforts in the party.
“It’s the same goal the elders who pay obeisance to him are leading,” Akinbami said.
However, former Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Richard Olatunde, defended the elders, saying they are “independent voices who cannot be manipulated.”
Olatunde said Ijabiyi was known for “speaking truth to power” and had paid his dues in the APC.
“It would be uncharitable for Governor Aiyedatiwa to believe that anyone can influence the voice of a man like Demola Ijabiyi,” Olatunde stated.
Olatunde challenged the governor’s camp to show evidence of its own mobilisation for Tinubu, arguing that the minister’s commitment was visible across the state through more than 15 support groups organising medical outreaches and grassroots engagements.
“So, for Aiyedatiwa to believe that he should be the one to champion President Tinubu’s re-election in Ondo State, while dismissing or vilifying someone who has committed his time, resources and energy to that cause, is difficult to understand,” he said.
He urged the governor to “focus on governance” and prove with tangible projects why the people should support the party and the President.
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