Aiyedatiwa Seeks Political Unity Across South-West

Yoruba leaders decorate governor as Ondo patron

By Tolulope Eniola

Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has called for greater political unity across the South-West, urging stakeholders in the region to close ranks and work together to advance their collective interests.

Aiyedatiwa made the call on Thursday when the Yoruba Leaders of Thought, led by its Chairman and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, paid a courtesy visit to him at his office in Akure.

The governor said although the six South-West states might belong to different political parties, such differences should not undermine the common identity and interests of the Yoruba people.

He stressed that political unity in the region would be beneficial, noting that it would be desirable for all the South-West states to belong to the same political party.

“Yoruba is one, irrespective of the state. Either Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, we are one,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed Ondo State’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, saying the state would also support APC candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly.

He said the APC remained the vehicle through which the political agenda and interests of the South-West could be pursued, stressing the need for stakeholders to work towards retaining power in 2027.

“So, that is what we are doing, to retain the power for another four years,” he said.

The governor commended the Yoruba Leaders of Thought for choosing Ondo as the first point of call in its tour of the six South-West states, describing the move as a demonstration of its commitment to advancing the political interests of the Yoruba race.

He also acknowledged the organisation’s support for the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket in 2019 and its backing of Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, as well as its ongoing mobilisation for the President’s re-election.

Aiyedatiwa appreciated the group for commending his role in the just-concluded Osun State election, saying Ondo State provided significant support despite not publicly announcing its position.

He described Ondo as a progressive state with a long history of progressive politics and mobilisation for the interests of the Yoruba people.

The governor recalled that he joined active politics in 2010 under a progressive administration in the state and became a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

He said he had remained within the progressive political fold, moving from AD to ACD, ACN and later the APC.

Aiyedatiwa described support for the progressive movement and Tinubu’s re-election as a task that must be accomplished.

He also described the Yoruba Leaders of Thought as an offshoot of Afenifere, saying both organisations remained connected through their mixed membership and shared interests.

According to him, the emergence of the organisation had brought additional energy to the mobilisation of the Yoruba race across the South-West.

The governor urged the group to work closely with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, describing its members as young people with a vision and development agenda covering political, economic, social and cultural issues.

He stressed that politics could not be separated from the development of these sectors.

Addressing the political differences within the region, Aiyedatiwa noted that Osun State was currently governed by the Accord Party, but said its governor had openly declared support for President Tinubu.

He assured the organisation of his support for its activities in Oyo and Osun states, noting that the two states currently had no APC governors from whom it could seek assistance.

The governor, however, pledged to provide the necessary support to the organisation within the limits of his administration’s resources.

Earlier, Oladokun said the Yoruba Leaders of Thought had commenced a tour of the six South-West states to promote unity within the APC and strengthen the political interests of the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said Ondo was selected as the first point of call following the organisation’s decision to sensitise political leaders across the region on the need to work together and join forces in pursuit of the South-West’s interests.

According to him, the decision was reached at the organisation’s meeting last month, adding that it had also met with the South-West Executive Committee of the APC in Ibadan about two weeks ago to assess developments within the party across the region.

Oladokun said the organisation’s primary objective was to ensure that the APC maintained a cohesive front, particularly as Tinubu seeks re-election in 2027.

He disclosed that the group had a standing committee responsible for responding to issues within the APC and contributing to their resolution whenever they arose.

The former deputy governor explained that the organisation emerged from Afenifere following disagreements over the direction the group should take in pursuing the political interests of the South-West.

Oladokun commended Aiyedatiwa for his efforts and commitment to the Osun election, saying reports from the state and some political leaders indicated that the governor did more than he had promised at a meeting he attended.

Although the APC lost the Osun election, he expressed optimism that the party would record victories in other states in future elections.

Oladokun appealed to Aiyedatiwa to support the organisation’s activities and its members from Ondo State who would participate in its meetings and programmes.

He also sought the governor’s assistance for the organisation’s activities in Oyo and Osun states, noting that the two states currently had no APC governors from whom it could seek support.

He said such assistance would help sustain the organisation’s activities and strengthen the APC in the two states.

Oladokun further disclosed that the organisation had resolved to recognise Aiyedatiwa and other governors as patrons and leaders of the organisation in their respective states.

The group subsequently decorated Aiyedatiwa as its patron in Ondo State.

In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya; State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro; and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Adesoji Afolabi.