There is no hostility between Gov Aiyedatiwa and Interior Minister —Info Commissioner

Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, speaks with Hakeem Gbadamosi on politics in the state, the 2027 general elections, support groups and the re-election of President Bola Tinubu. Excerpts:

THE governor recently appointed 1,000 aides, a move described as unprecedented in the state’s history. What informed this decision, and what roles are the aides expected to play?

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is a humane leader who believes in giving people a sense of belonging and addressing poverty at the grassroots.

In the past, when stakeholders travelled from places such as Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Okitipupa and Akoko to attend meetings in Akure, the stipends they received were sometimes insufficient to cover their transport costs. The governor changed that arrangement by ensuring that participants received better support. Beyond that, we recognised the need to tackle poverty at the grassroots and ensure that party members felt included in governance. Ondo State has a population of between four million and six million people, yet only 18 people can serve as commissioners at a time. The governor therefore decided to appoint aides across the local government areas to broaden participation and bring governance closer to the people. These aides are expected to serve as government representatives in their respective wards. They will provide security information, report developments in their communities and monitor the progress of government projects. The governor and his commissioners cannot be everywhere, so the aides will help bridge the gap between the government and the people.

The appointments are also expected to have an economic impact. For instance, if an aide earns about N220,000 monthly, that income can support local businesses and stimulate economic activity within the community. Ultimately, the objective is to take governance directly to the wards, reduce poverty, promote grassroots participation and give people a sense of belonging. We believe that when people feel included in governance, they are more likely to support the government and its programmes.

There have been reports of a strained relationship between the governor and his deputy, who is expected to work closely with him. What is your response?

Let me state clearly that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, enjoy an excellent working relationship. Their relationship is cordial and peaceful. Governor Aiyedatiwa is not the kind of politician who engages in what I would describe as “movie-type politics”. The deputy governor, for his part, is an accomplished administrator who served as a deputy director in the National Assembly. Their backgrounds and approach to governance have contributed to their cordial working relationship.

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On the allegation concerning the N180 million entertainment allowance for the Office of the Deputy Governor, which reportedly generated controversy on social media, the governor himself was surprised when the issue was brought to his attention. He asked, “What’s going on?” and directed that the matter be investigated. We discovered that the money had been paid almost three months before the allegation surfaced, although there might have been some bureaucratic bottlenecks that caused confusion over the payment. The governor also stated at a meeting that the matter had been resolved, and the deputy governor confirmed that his office had received the money. There is, therefore, no rift between the governor and his deputy. Their relationship is cordial, and I can confidently say it is one of the best in the country.

There are also reports of a rift between Governor Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. What is the situation?

The reality is that Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa is not a politician who talks excessively, nor does he engage in propaganda. He believes that leadership requires maturity, restraint and a focus on issues that matter to the people. Governor Aiyedatiwa and Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo are both important APC stakeholders in Ondo State. While Tunji-Ojo serves as Minister of Interior, Aiyedatiwa is the governor and the party’s leader in the state, in line with the APC’s organisational structure.

I have not seen any instance in which Governor Aiyedatiwa publicly disparaged Tunji-Ojo, nor have I seen the minister publicly disparage the governor. It is important to distinguish between what the two leaders have actually said or done and what their supporters may be saying in political circles. Sometimes, supporters create disagreements where none exist. People with particular political interests can interpret ordinary political developments as evidence of hostility between leaders. That is why we must be careful not to allow speculation to define relationships between important stakeholders.

Tunji-Ojo also has a responsibility to work with the governor to protect Ondo State’s interests and strengthen the APC. The party’s success in the state is important to all of us. We must remember that the state’s political fortunes are also connected to developments at the national level. The emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu created the political environment in which the APC continues to operate nationally. Our collective responsibility should therefore be to strengthen the party and ensure its continued success. Beyond individual ambitions, we must focus on governance, party unity and the achievements the APC can present to the electorate. Whether Governor Aiyedatiwa serves four years or eight years, his performance in office will influence public perception of the party and could shape its future electoral prospects. If he performs well, it will benefit his administration, the APC and whoever eventually emerges as the party’s candidate in subsequent elections. Conversely, poor performance could have negative consequences for the party. That is why all stakeholders must work as a team, support the governor in delivering on his mandate and strengthen the party ahead of future elections. I want to state categorically that, from my perspective, there is no disagreement between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. What we need is greater cooperation among political leaders and their supporters to advance the interests of Ondo State and the APC.