A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and Chairman, Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Victor Olabimtan has defended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on the alleged directive for the collapse of all supports groups for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into one.
Thefrontrank reports that Olabintan’s defence is coming days after a leaked audio where he allegedly complained of lack of party supremacy in the recent political appointments in the state by the governor.
The SUBEB boss is yet to react or deny the authenticity of the alleged audio weeks after it was leaked.
One of the APC leaders in the state told Thefrontrank that Olabimtan was merely using the opportunity of the Support Groups issue to curry favour from Aiyedatiwa over his alleged complaint in the leaked audio.
“You know he(Olabimtan) is a politician, he’s doing it to pacify Mr Governor over his alleged outburst in the leaked audio. Unfortunately he has not distance himself from the leaked audio,” the APC leader told Thefrontrank.
Olabimtan, while defending Aiyedatiwa in a statement on Thursday, said the governor did not at any time direct any of the support groups for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to collapse into a uniformed political structure.
He described the allegation from some quarters as mere deliberate distortion of Aiyedatiwa’s message at the recent meeting of the Ondo APC State Caucus.
Olabimtan in the statement entitled: “Let the Truth Be Told,” disclosed that the governor merely urged all Pro-Tinubu campaign groups in the state to align their efforts with the party’s official structure, which is the normal practice within the APC at both state and national levels.
He explained that message of the governor at the caucus meeting was on unity, inclusion, and strategic collaboration within the party.
Said he: “The twisted narrative was not only in bad taste, but it was equally unnecessary.
“For the record, I witnessed the whole engagement from the beginning to the end and there was no place where Governor Aiyedatiwa ordered or suggested that other independent campaign groups should collapse under his structure.
“Those spreading this falsehood didn’t understand the role of the Governor as the leader of the APC in Ondo State, and definitely they didn’t attend the caucus meeting to have full grasp of the Governor’s message.
“I witnessed the whole engagement from beginning to end and at no point did Governor Aiyedatiwa order, demand or even suggest that independent support groups should collapse into his political camp.
“Those peddling this falsehood clearly misunderstood, or intentionally misinterpreted the governor’s role and message.”
