Ondo APC: Betiku Defends Aiyedatiwa’s Authority Amid ‘Subjects’ Controversy

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and businessman, Bankole Betiku, has defended Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s authority, insisting that the influence of federal appointees should not diminish the status of an elected governor.

Betiku stated this in an article titled “Aiyedatiwa Is the Governor: Why His Office Must Not Be Diminished,” following the controversy surrounding the governor’s description of Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as one of his “subjects”.

Aiyedatiwa had made the remark during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on October 5, 2026, stating that Tunji-Ojo had to work with him because he was the governor, despite both men belonging to the APC.

The comment attracted criticism, with some observers interpreting it as an assertion of personal supremacy.

However, Betiku argued that the controversy had placed excessive emphasis on the governor’s choice of words while overlooking the constitutional authority and responsibilities attached to his office.

He maintained that Aiyedatiwa was entitled to assert his position as the state’s chief executive, stressing that his constitutional mandate could not be displaced by another politician’s national prominence, political connections or influence.

Citing Sections 176 and 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Betiku noted that the Constitution provides for a governor in each state and vests state executive powers in the governor, subject to constitutional limitations.

He, however, clarified that the governor’s authority over state affairs did not extend to the minister’s federal responsibilities.

According to him, Tunji-Ojo’s appointment as Minister of Interior gives him significant responsibilities at the federal level but does not make him the chief executive of Ondo State.

Betiku also acknowledged that the term “subjects” could be considered inappropriate in a constitutional democracy, where citizens enjoy rights that cannot be granted or withdrawn at a governor’s discretion.

He argued, nevertheless, that the use of the word should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of authoritarian ambition, adding that Aiyedatiwa should be judged by his actions, performance and respect for the law.

The APC chieftain also faulted comparisons between the governor’s remarks and the exercise of concentrated power by historical European monarchs, including Henry VIII and Louis XIII.

He argued that those monarchs operated under political systems fundamentally different from Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, which provides for legislative scrutiny, judicial oversight and electoral accountability.

Betiku further cited an October 1 intervention by the Ondo APC Elders Forum, which urged supporters aligned with Aiyedatiwa and Tunji-Ojo to avoid deepening divisions within the party.

The forum’s chairman, Demola Ijabiyi, had identified Aiyedatiwa as the party’s leader in Ondo State, responsible for uniting members across the state’s 18 local government areas, while acknowledging Tunji-Ojo’s political influence.

Betiku said the positions of the governor and the minister should complement rather than compete with each other, noting that cooperation between federal and state officials would benefit Ondo State.

He urged both political figures to prioritise collaboration in areas such as security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and economic development.

While acknowledging the governor’s responsibility to lead inclusively and unite the party, Betiku stressed that inclusiveness should not be confused with surrendering the authority of his office.

He added that Tunji-Ojo could contribute to the state’s development through his federal position without undermining the governor’s constitutional responsibilities.

Betiku concluded that Aiyedatiwa had the right to defend the integrity of the governorship while remaining accountable to the electorate and operating within the limits of the Constitution.

He maintained that the controversy should not overshadow the distinction between federal office and state executive authority, urging political stakeholders to focus on effective governance and the interests of the people of Ondo State.