The Conscious Ondo State Citizens has expressed concern over a recent directive suggesting that all support and interest groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state collapse into a single structure.
A statement signed by signed by Ilesanmi Adeyeye, the state coordinator of the group,
said the position, reportedly echoed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa during the APC state caucus meeting held at the Government House in Akure, was not only “tone deaf but fundamentally flawed”.
“Let it be made abundantly clear: political support groups are not unconstitutional. In fact, they are the lifeblood of modern democratic mobilization, tools used to reach the grassroots, bridge communication gaps, and build momentum across diverse segments of the electorate.
“The APC itself has benefited immensely from the contributions of numerous support groups at the state and national levels, including in the very election that produced Governor Aiyedatiwa.
“May we remind Mr. Governor that during his own campaign for the governorship, over 50 different groups such as LACO FS, Lucky Disciples, O Datiwa Group, Partners with Lucky and O Datiwa Ladies rallied behind his ambition.
These groups operated in tandem with the party, not in opposition to it. It is therefore hypocritical, troubling, and unacceptable that the same approach is now being vilified simply because some of these structures have chosen to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and not with the personal ambitions of a few,” the group said.
It also faulted Governor Aiyedatiwa’s comment implying that growing up in a place doesn’t qualify you to belong there reportedly made during his interactions with certain stakeholders.
