Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister for Interior, has dismissed social media rumours suggesting a rift between him and the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Speaking at a free medical outreach in Ikare Akoko on Thursday, the Minister emphasised that the reports were unfounded and part of baseless speculation circulating online.
Represented by one of his aides, Bode Obanla, Tunji-Ojo clarified that his primary focus was to support initiatives that align with the objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He made it clear that there was no conflict with the governor, stating, “Politics is local. My duty is to support any genuine group committed to promoting the good work of Mr. President.” He also reiterated that his office in Abuja would never sever his ties with his home state, underscoring that the two leaders were working together to further the President’s agenda.
Referring to the reports, Tunji-Ojo remarked that their origins lay in social media conjecture, adding, “There is no fight between me and the governor. What matters is that we work together to project the achievements of Asiwaju.” He called for collaboration to ensure the effective promotion of President Tinubu’s work at the grassroots level.
At the event, which targeted residents from Ondo North Senatorial District, the Minister also commended the GMT (Grassroots Mobilization Team), the group behind the outreach, for its commitment to social welfare. The medical programme is designed to benefit approximately 1,000 individuals per senatorial district, with plans to extend to various constituencies.
Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, the Director General of GMT, expressed his appreciation for Tunji-Ojo’s support, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration to enhance the President’s visibility among the masses. “We know that health is wealth, and for us at GMT, we will continue to partner with the government, and we will continue to do it,” he affirmed.
Further dispelling the rumour mill, the Ondo Mandate Elders Forum, a body of senior APC members in the state, also dismissed claims of a feud between the Governor and the Minister. Speaking at a meeting in Akure, the forum’s facilitator, Dr. Demola Ijabiyi, stated, “We do not recognise any discord between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Bunmi Tunji-Ojo. The dispute is on social media due to the imagination of social media influencers.”
Ijabiyi confirmed that the group’s priority was to ensure the re-election of President Tinubu in 2027, adding that there was no need for reconciliation between the two leaders as there was no conflict.
The focus, he noted, was on unity and mobilisation within the party to secure a strong victory in the next presidential election.
