2027: I Have No Rift With Tunji-Ojo, Lawmakers – Governor Aiyedatiwa

Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said there is no cold war between him and the minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, over the control of structure in the state.

The governor also said he has no friction with federal lawmakers in the state.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP in Akure, the Ondo State capital yesterday, Aiyedatiwa said he and Tunji-Ojo remain close and relate well.

The governor spoke through his chief press secretary to the governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, while reacting to a crisis of confidence between him and federal lawmakers who are aligned with the minister who is also from the state.

LEADERSHIP had learnt the suppressed Cold War came to the fore recently after directive that all President Bola Tinubu’s Support groups for his second term bid  should collapse their structures under the governor’s supervision.

Amid the uncertainty over the fate of the campaign structures believed to be oiled by the Interior minister, it was learnt that the three senators representing the state and eight of the nine members of the House of Representatives from Ondo State were absent from an All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders’ Meeting called by the governor last Friday at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome), Akure, the state capital.

Only the member representing Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency, Hon. Abiola Makinde attended the second edition of the political meeting convened by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Makinde, an ally of Aiyedatiwa and the Director-General of his 2024 governorship campaign, is reportedly being backed by the governor for the Ondo Central senatorial seat in the 2027 general election.

Although same could not be said of the three senators-Jimoh Ibrahim (south), Niyi Adegbonmire, SAN (central) and Jide Ipinsagba (north), seven out of the nine members of the House of Representatives are loyalists of the Interior minister.

Sources within the party alleged that Aiyedatiwa may have drawn a battle line against the lawmakers which might culminate in denying them return tickets to the National Assembly.

Recall that Senator Ibrahim contested the APC primary election  with Aiyedatiwa and attempted to undermine his candidacy in court.

It however took President Tinubu’s intervention for Senator Ibrahim to withdraw his case from court.

However, a federal lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “You can’t blame us. When a governor already sees you as an enemy, your only option is to find another way to protect your seat.

This is politics.

“We are not rooting for automatic ticket as people project; if it comes fine and good but we are all ready for party primary and we will give whatever it takes to protect ourselves from any vindictiveness.

“How on earth can we be made scapegoats because Aketi brought us on board? Is he the governor not the beneficiary of the death of Aketi? Must someone delete everything linked to Aketi?”, the lawmaker asked.

But a party chieftain, who also pleaded anonymity, urged the lawmakers to handle the matter diplomatically to avoid deepening divisions within the APC.

“We know the national leadership of the party will ultimately decide the fate of these lawmakers regarding their return tickets. However, such decisions are not taken without input from governors.”

Reacting further, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s spokesman, Adeniyan, said the governor and the minister have different duties.

He said, “There can’t be a rivalry between a governor and a minister as they are not contemporaries and have different duties. They remain close and relate well. Followers can play politics of rivalry because of the coming general elections, but both men remain close.”

While also denying any friction between the governor and any federal lawmakers in the state, Adeniyan insisted that some of the lawmakers were present in the recent stakeholders meeting held in the state.

He said, “Some lawmakers were present, some sent their aides as representatives and others sent apologies. Many of the lawmakers had attended the meetings in the past too. There is no friction in the party, even when there can be varied interests.”