…..Local Govt funds in focus.
Political tension brewing in the Ondo State Chapter of the APC has taken a new dimension following a heated exchange between the Grassroots Movement for Tinubu (GMT) and loyalists of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
In a strongly worded statement issued yesterday in Akure, GMT’s Director of Media, Oyewamide Ojo, alleged that a voice message circulated by Mr. Ayo Babateye, councillor representing Igbatoro Ward in Akure North, contained threats against members of the movement.
According to GMT, Babateye claimed that at a meeting involving the governor, council chairmen and top officials, GMT was accused of sponsoring media reports suggesting that council chairmen were not in full control of their allocations. The reports alleged that only N4 million was released monthly to each council, with the balance allegedly remitted to the state through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Ojo further alleged that Babateye’s message hinted at an impending purge of GMT members and their relatives from government positions. The statement warned that such threats, if true, could destabilise the party and weaken grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
GMT maintained that it had nothing to do with the reports on local government funds, stressing that its sole mandate was to promote the achievements of President Tinubu through initiatives such as free medical outreaches and an upcoming sports festival.
The development has already caused ripples, with one councillor, Mr. Babatunde Falae, resigning as GMT’s secretary in Akure North, citing discomfort with the controversy.
However, the Aiyedatiwa camp swiftly issued a rebuttal, dismissing GMT’s claims as “unfair, misleading and baseless.” In a statement signed by Obadofin Ademola for the Ondo Solidarity Forum, the governor was described as a “peaceful and inclusive leader” who has remained President Tinubu’s strongest ally in Ondo State.
The statement insisted that Aiyedatiwa had never directed any witch-hunt against GMT members, accusing Ojo and his group of promoting disunity within the APC.
“The governor is a bridge builder, not a divider,” the Forum stated, urging GMT to focus on unity rather than political drama.
The face-off now sets the stage for a deeper test of loyalty within the ruling party, as both camps insist they are the true defenders of President Tinubu’s political legacy in the state.
