RE-APC ELDERS MOVE TO BROKER PEACE BETWEEN AIYEDATIWA AND TUNJI-OJO 

By Olusola Akinsipe,

Ondo East LG.

Akinsipe examines the tricky road to 2027 and how not to rock the APC’s boat in Ondo state.

My line kept buzzing almost all through yesterday over the above news item on social media and my first reaction was to laugh very heartily, and ask; Peace over what rift? and If a rift even exists who is the eku eda?

I am sure Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has no basis for a rift with anyone. He is fully in charge of the APC in Ondo state and he is backed by the laws of the Party.

A few weeks ago some of us became aware of moves by Baba Ademola Ijabiyi in this direction but we knew that it was with the mindset of a mouse who bites the sleeping man and then blows air on the wound for soothing relief.

Baba Ijabiyi should naturally play the role of an elder in the state and in politics given his age, experience in public life and politics since the 80s, but for some strange reason he is not.

I worked with him briefly when he claimed a few years ago that Obasanjo had endorsed him to lead the then ADC in Ondo state. It was not until he led us to Abeokuta that “Akara tu si epo”. The rest is history. I wish not to give the full funny gist.

On the imaginary rift between Ayedatiwa and BTO, I have credible Intel on how it started. Baba Ijabiyi visited his leader, our Minister, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo in Abuja to propose his own idea of setting up an Elders group to join Bunmi in fighting Aiyedatiwa and getting the elders to support Bunmi in his unnecessary fight to become the ” I AM THAT I AM OF ONDO STATE POLITICS”.

He succeeded in convincing the Minister and cash was released to him for the purpose, then he went around mobilizing his so called leaders to start the group, and chose Chief Erastus Akeju as leader and host of the elders’ group meetings.

This is despite the fact that the APC constitution specifically mandates the setting up of a State Elders Council, which in Ondo state has Senator Nimbe Farukanmi as leader, even though the Party Chairman, Ade Adetimehin has never allowed the Council to have a say in party affairs except he needs to use them achieve his usually mischievous agenda.

So why cause confusion with another Elders’ Council?

Is it about Asiwaju’s re-election, which is already a done deal by the grace of Almighty God or is it about the personal interest of people who ordinarily should be strategizing on how our State and our party will rise and do that which the people of Ondo state voted us for?

What gains other than pecuniary reasons would make an old man like Baba Ijabiyi to run from Akure to Abuja on a weekly basis, visiting Bunmi Tunji-Ojo and encouraging him to cause confusion, establish his pretence to leadership and subsequently become Governor?

It is true that the yorubas say “agba kii wa l’oja ki ori omo tuntun wo”, but that is only for distinguished elders, and when news of a planned peace meeting broke, It made melody to my ears but then I looked at the dramatis personae as well as the circumstance, and I became convinced that the mischief had been taken to the next level; Baba Ijabiyi was acting the next scene of his good drama script, but wait a minute What has changed? I thought the BTO team was winning the war.

I smelt a rat a few months ago when Baba Ijabiyi raised so much dust complaining that Hon. Victor Olabimtan went to Abuja to also take money from Bunmi Tunji- Ojo in order to bring the Akokos together for whatever purpose. I recall that I read in the social media that he did everything to frustrate Olabimtan’s intention, whether good or bad, because according to him Olabimtan didn’t “carry” him along.

A close look at the rumblings makes it clear that there is more to it all than the Tinubu project, and since BTO seems to be the willing weapon of destabilization in the state, it is important that he comes clean especially because of the future, so I have a few questions/observations.

1. Did BTO ever discuss his intentions on the Tinubu project with the LEADER OF THE PARTY in the state, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa?

2. It is also curious that the groups being put together by BTO are headed primarily by those who have an axe to grind with the Governor BECAUSE HE HAS NOT FOUND POSITIONS FOR THEM IN THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT, or is it just a coincidence?

3. Was it BTO that sent for them or did they go cap in hand to Abuja to ask for political and financial help to start their groups?

4. If truly it is about re-election of Asiwaju Tinubu, is there any need to sponsor four to five INDEPENDENT GROUPS now causing confusion in the party?

Personally I think it is time to get serious and stop feathering the nest of confusion. The leader of the party in our state is unquestionably the Governor, His Excellency, Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa. If he has any faults or we do not understand his style, let us tell him so and not embark on destroying a house we all built.

APC is a party with a strong national chain, may Ondo state not break the chain.