Ex-Deputy Gov Oluboyo urges peace, affirms Aiyedatiwa–Tunji-Ojo alliance

Former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Prince Lasisi Oluboyo, has called for unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, dismissing speculations of a rift between Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

In a statement personally signed by him and made available to journalists on Tuesday, Oluboyo urged party members to avoid divisive narratives and work together to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The full statement reads:

“As a committed stakeholder in the political landscape of Ondo State and a loyal member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I feel compelled to address recent speculations and narratives threatening to disrupt the peace, unity, and progress of our great party in the Sunshine State.

"In recent weeks, the media has been awashed with rumours of an alleged rift between the Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. These rumours are not only unfounded but also dangerous to the unity of the APC in Ondo State. As someone who has witnessed the inner workings of governance, I must reiterate that there exists no known rift between these two prominent and respectable leaders of our party.

It is on record that following the unfortunate demise of our late leader, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, the peaceful transition and continuation of governance was made possible by the emergence of his then Deputy, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the Executive Governor. Since assuming office, Governor Aiyedatiwa has shown uncommon maturity, inclusiveness, and leadership capacity — qualities that have kept the state stable in challenging times.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, recognizing the efforts and strategic importance of Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in the success of the party, particularly in the last gubernatorial election and has shown due appreciation. Among these recognitions was the appointment of two Commissioners — Hon. Niyi Oseni and Hon. Rasheed Badmus — both nominated by the Honourable Minister and representing the Akoko North constituency. The governor has also supported the Minister’s recommendations for key executive positions in the state, including Chairmanship slots in both Akoko North West (Hon. Esan Owolabi) and Akoko North East (Hon. Muhammed Olawale Baba Nee), as well as several LCDA chairmen.

One must also highlight the political journey of Hon. Bode Obanla, a former stalwart of the opposition PDP who served as a national delegate and local campaign DG for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election. It is well documented that Hon. Obanla was never an APC member prior to the general election. However, following APC’s victory at the national and state levels — particularly with Ondo delivering the highest percentage of votes for President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu nationwide — many opposition members, including Hon. Obanla, joined the progressive train.

In an act of magnanimity, Dr. Tunji-Ojo presented Hon. Obanla to Mr. Governor upon his defection, and the governor, without hesitation, appointed him as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Community Engagement (Ondo North) — a role covering six local governments. These are clear signs of unity, mutual respect, and collaboration between the Governor and the Honourable Minister.

Furthermore, it is historically significant that Governor Aiyedatiwa retained over twenty Special Assistants originally nominated by Dr. Tunji-Ojo, who are still serving and enjoying full privileges till date — a rarity in Nigeria’s political culture. These are not the actions of a man engaged in political conflict; they are the actions of a true leader.

What we need now is not the fanning of imaginary conflicts but the consolidation of efforts as we prepare for the 2027 presidential election, where it is imperative that Ondo State once again leads in voter support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Governor Aiyedatiwa has demonstrated unwavering loyalty to the party and its leadership, and as such, deserves the full backing of all APC stakeholders, including the Honourable Minister.

Let us also not forget that in Nigerian politics, the governor is the  leader of the party in his state. This is the political reality from Sokoto to Delta, from Akwa Ibom to Kano. Even where Ministers or Senate Presidents are politically influential, they defer to the authority of their state governors when it comes to party leadership and coordination. The same courtesy must be extended in Ondo State to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who has proven himself to be a loyal party man and the only governor that has monthly welfare packages for all the party executives from the state level to the ward level and also a committed progressive to the core.

Given these fact, one must ask: who is fighting who? It is illogical and unreasonable for any right-thinking individual to suggest a rift between two leaders whose actions have consistently reflected partnership, not division. Mr. Governor’s deliberate efforts to promote unity within the APC in Ondo State and for all support groups like One Voice Network (OVN), City Boy Movement (CBM) Ondo State, Grossroot Movement forTinubu (GMT), The Lucky Guy (TLG), and every other notable groups to work in harmony and unity without any sign of division among the support groups to project these harmonious interest as Ondo State for Tinubu to give the Mr President hundred percent of our mandate are not only a mark of statesmanship but also a strategic move to position the party for total cohesion and strength ahead of the 2027 presidential election — with the goal of delivering a landslide victory for the reelection of Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It would be a grave political error — and a moral inconsistency — for anyone to create confusion over who leads the APC in Ondo State. Unity is not just a word; it must be seen in action. Undermining the authority of the sitting governor only serves to weaken our collective strength ahead of 2027.

At this juncture, I make a passionate appeal to Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the father of the nation and leader of the APC, to call on the Honourable Minister of Interior to rein on individuals using his name to cause divisions within the party. The Minister should, in the interest of peace and unity, throw his full support behind the leadership of Governor Aiyedatiwa in Ondo State — not just as a show of party loyalty, but as a step towards ensuring that our party remains unbeatable in the Sunshine State.

The task before us is clear: total unity, strategic collaboration, and effective party leadership. Anything short of this will only serve to weaken the strong foundation already laid by our late leader, Arakunrin Akeredolu, and now being built upon by Governor Aiyedatiwa.

Let us stop the distractions. Let us silence the rumours. Let us face the future as one strong, indivisible APC in Ondo State.

Long live Ondo State. Long live the APC. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”