— Governor Aiyedatiwa Must Not Rewrite the Rules He Once Benefited From
The Conscious Ondo State Citizens has observed with deep concern the recent directive, whether verbal or implied, suggesting that all support and interest groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State collapse into a single structure. This position, reportedly echoed by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa during the APC State Caucus meeting held at the Government House, Alagbaka, Akure, is not only tone deaf but fundamentally flawed.
Let it be made abundantly clear: political support groups are not unconstitutional. In fact, they are the lifeblood of modern democratic mobilization, tools used to reach the grassroots, bridge communication gaps, and build momentum across diverse segments of the electorate. The APC itself has benefited immensely from the contributions of numerous support groups at the state and national levels, including in the very election that produced Governor Aiyedatiwa.
May we remind Mr. Governor that during his own campaign for the governorship, over 50 different groups such as LACO FS, Lucky Disciples, O Datiwa Group, Partners with Lucky, and O Datiwa Ladies rallied behind his ambition. These groups operated in tandem with the party, not in opposition to it. It is therefore hypocritical, troubling, and unacceptable that the same approach is now being vilified simply because some of these structures have chosen to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and not with the personal ambitions of a few.
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s comment implying that growing up in a place doesn’t qualify you to belong there reportedly made during his interactions with certain stakeholders is a reckless, divisive, and utterly embarrassing statement. If such words were indeed uttered in reference to members of legitimate national support groups like the Grassroots Movement for Tinubu (GMT), then he owes not just them but the Nigerian people an apology.
Let us be very clear: GMT is a national body, headquartered in Lagos and coordinated by Hon. Bisi Yusuf. It has structures across all 36 states and the FCT. It is not a product of Ondo State politics, nor is it a tool of local factionalism. GMT draws its strength from ordinary Nigerians across political divides who believe in President Tinubu’s vision for a prosperous and secure nation.
What Governor Aiyedatiwa should be doing, if he is truly interested in party unity, is to encourage collaboration, not coerce conformity. His recent posture reeks of fear, not leadership. The very groups he now seeks to stifle are the same ones working hard to promote the policies, ideals, and achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That should not be seen as a threat unless personal ambition is now being placed above party loyalty.
The Conscious Ondo State Citizens call on the governor to stop weaponizing party structure against genuine supporters of the President. His role should be to coordinate, not control; to inspire, not intimidate.
If unity is the goal, then let it be built on mutual respect, not suppression.
We also urge the leadership of APC at both the national and zonal levels to take note of these developments in Ondo State before they snowball into another avoidable crisis. The people of Ondo are tired of internal wrangling. What they seek is focus, delivery, and leadership grounded in equity and transparency.
Finally, we commend the ongoing efforts of national groups like GMT and encourage them to stay the course. The days of political bullying are long gone. Supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu across Nigeria and particularly in Ondo State will not be silenced, sidelined, or shoved aside by those who once thrived on the same structures they now seek to dismantle.
We stand for inclusion. We stand for principle. We stand with Tinubu.
Signed:
Ilesanmi Adeyeye
State Coordinator
Conscious Ondo State Citizens
August 2, 2025
