Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State (Nigeria): Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has firmly denied reports of a rift between him and Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, calling the claims “baseless.”
Tunji-Ojo said his primary concern is supporting different groups that were propagating the good work of President Bola Tinubu in the state.
The minister stated this on Thursday in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North-East Local Government Area, during a medical outreach programme organised by Grassroots Movement for Tinubu (GMT).
The programme was organised for the North Senatorial District of the state.
The minister was represented at the event by Mr Bode Obanla, a former Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Community Engagement (Northern Senatorial District).
Tunji-Ojo said being a minister should not deter him from working positively with the people in his home state, saying “politics is local” and would support any group genuinely working for the promotion of the good work of the President.
He said GMT was a group with various initiatives, and praised it for ensuring that grassroots politics continued at its peak in the state.
On his support for various groups in the state, the minister promised to continue backing programmes initiated to promote the President.
“At this point, any group that mobilises for ‘Asiwaju’ (Tinubu), that is the group we will love.
“There are about five or six groups in Ondo State now. Anyone who wants to form a group in the state is welcome to do so, and I will support them. GMT is different because they are full of initiatives.
“And I discovered that it is not a group formed in Ondo State. It’s a group formed across the nation; this is a chapter.
“Last week, they held a seminar in Lagos, and I was there; these are the kind of initiatives I will love. What they have started now, I will support them to go to the villages.
“So, there is nothing wrong with this support. We are not fighting. What is important is that we promote our President,” Tunji-Ojo said.
Earlier, the Director-General of GMT, Saka Yusu-Ogunleye, said the medical outreach targeted about 1,000 residents in each of the senatorial districts.
Yusu-Ogunleye said the programme was part of efforts and awareness to showcase and complement the efforts of President Bola Tinubu.
He appreciated the support extended so far to the group by the Minister of Interior, and assured of more robust initiatives to market Tinubu.
“We know that health is wealth, and for us at GMT, we will continue to partner with the government, and we will continue to do it,” he said.
The Woman Leader of GMT, Mrs Olamide Falana, said the mission and vision of the group remained to support the achievements of the President.
One of the beneficiaries, a civil servant, Mr Sodiq Issau-Sanni, appreciated the initiative and praised the organisers for bringing the programme to his locality.
The free medical check-up included an eye test, blood pressure check, blood sugar test, and distribution of free eyeglasses with medication.
