The Minister of Interior, Mr. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reportedly tipped Ondo State governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to win in next month's governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A member of the state's House of Assembly representing Akoko North West Constituency, Hon. Fatai Atere, at the weekend conveyed the minister's support for the governor, at a campaign rally of Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FS), held in Okeagbe.
A statement by the LACO-FS State Director of Information, Mr. Kayode Fasua, quoted Atere as saying Tunji-Ojo, popularly known as BTO, "is solidly behind the aspiration of Governor Aiyedatiwa to pick the APC ticket, that is why you can see somebody like me here."
Atere, a loyalist of the minister, said BTO's support for Aiyedatiwa dated to the impeachment attempt era, when Aiyedatiwa was still deputy to the then governor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu.
"Then BTO wanted to know from me as a member of the House of Assembly, the offence committed by Aiyedatiwa to warrant impeachment, and I said, 'there is none to my knowledge'.
"He told told me never to be part of any attempt to fight an innocent man; and I complied," Atere recalled.
The lawmaker thus gave assurances that the Interior Minister would mobilise full support for the governor in the countdown to next month's APC governorship primaries, especially considering the sterling performance of Aiyedatiwa, within a few months of assuming office.
Earlier at the rally, the Convener of LACO-FS, Dr. Oladipupo Okeyomi, also known as Carry Go, had conveyed the governor's message to residents of Akoko North West, that all their requests regarding amenities and empowerment benefits, would be given accelerated attention.
"Look at how within three months of assuming office, the governor had mobilised virtually all contractors back to site, and had cleared backlogs of unpaid salaries.
"So such is the man to be supported to continue in office, so that he can meet all your requests concerning social amenities and other benefits," Okeyomi urged.
The Convener further commended BTO for being a forthright and dependable politician, describing him as blessing to the people of Akokoland and the entire Ondo State.
Speaking during the inauguration of Akoko North West Directorate of the LACO-FS, however, the State Director-General of the organisation, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, commended the prevailing unity in the council area's APC, urging the party members to give the governor their block vote in the primaries.
While interfacing with artisans on the occasion, the LACO-FS State Director of Artisans who also heads the state's Micro-credit Agency, Barr (Mrs) Adenike Ademujimi, disclosed that Governor Aiyedatiwa recently earmarked over N2 billion to serve as soft loans and requisite grants to traders, peasant farmers, and artisans.
She appealed to people of the area to take advantage of the kind gesture.
On the occasion, the LACO-FS Director-General for Akoko North West, Alhaji Rasheed Badmus, expressed appreciation to the APC leadership in the local government for their unrelenting efforts in mobilising supports for Governor Aiyedatiwa.
Other LACO-FS officials present on the occasion include a representative of Prince Biyi Poroye, the Co-convener; Hon. Bisi Ogungbemi, State Deputy Director-General (North); Hon. David Ajobiewe, Director-General, Akoko South West; Hon. (Mrs) Fola Vincent, State Director, Women Affairs; Hon. Muyiwa Ogunyemi (Eyiyato), State Director, Students Affairs; Chief Mrs Olufunke Adu, State Director, Market, and Mrs Toyin Akinmoyo, Deputy Director, Market.
(E-signed)
Kayode Fasua,
State Director of Information,
LACO-FS.
