By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
A support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Progressives Network for Tinubu (PNT), on Monday dismissed the growing speculation in Ondo State over a purported strained relationship between the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
According to the group, the narrative of a discord between Tunji-Ojo and Aiyedatiwa was fabricated and amplified by those who were jittery about their political influence and sought to create confusion in the state.
While stating this during a press briefing in Akure, the state capital, the Director-General of PNT, Pastor Olumide Obadele, stressed that the APC in the state remains one united family under the governor’s leadership.
With the group emphasising that the Minister of Interior is focused on his national duties and remains committed to the development of the state, it maintained that PNT is saddled with the sole mandate of galvanising support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
He said: “There’s no love lost between the governor and the minister. Let me tell you, the governor is the leader of the party. We can’t contest that. I was at a stakeholders meeting. The governor spoke about the party operating as one, standing as one big family. And that’s what it is.
“The federal minister is in charge of the Ministry of the Interior, and he is doing his work, but when people come together to create confusion, it is wrong. So, it is one family. No love lost between the two of them, to the best of my knowledge. I’m not speaking politically. The governor is our governor. The minister is also our own, and the party is our party, and Engr. Ade Adetimehin is the chairman of our party.
The group further disclosed that Tinubu’s audacious policies, such as the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, formed their resolve to support and mobilise for his re-election bid.
With PNT vowing to work with the party machinery to secure nothing less than 80 per cent of votes in the state for Tinubu, the group said, “Our group is a blend of old and new politicians, regular and unconventional, veterans and newbies.”
“This, we believe, will make a winning combination and serve as an impetus to reach our goals and attain our target. Our vision is clear, and we are not in competition with anyone or any group.
With the passage of time, our work will speak for us as we traverse the length and breadth of Ondo State, preaching only one gospel – the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“While we acknowledge the existence of other sister support groups in the state, our modus operandi will be a little bit different. Our operations will embrace modern technologies, as we believe that politics is evolving; we shall reach our target audience faster on foot.
We shall occupy the media space and keep the political climate in Ondo State busy.
“On a final note, in 2023 Ondo State gave President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 67 per cent of total votes cast, which translated to the highest in the entire South West region, but in 2027, we shall work with the leadership of the party and other sister support groups to retain our South West ranking with nothing less than 80 per cent of total votes.”