Sola Ajisafe
On the 22nd of August 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, released the National Campaign Council for 2027. By established convention, the sitting Governor, His Excellency Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was named Coordinator for Ondo State just like his counterpats in other States
That is the President’s prerogative. The task that follows is clear and direct. That is, to coordinate, to unify, and to deliver Ondo for the President.
Unfortunately, within hours, the mission of coordination was undermined by the very people charged to assist it.
One of the Governor’s aides, Debo Akinbami, issued a statement that can only be described as a departure from the decorum required of public office. He referred to elders and leaders of the party as “lackeys” and “drunkards”. He impugned a serving Minister with language unbecoming of any aide to a Governor. This is not strategy. This is not politics. This is the politics of the agora, not the cabinet.
Let us be clear on history and principle. Political parties are not built in press releases. They are built in struggle. In 1999, it was the AD and NADECO veterans who delivered the structure because they had paid the price under Abacha. From 2013, it was the ACN to APC merger men and women in Ondo who did the groundwork that produced victory in 2015, 2019 and 2023.
You do not inherit that legacy and then proceed to insult it.
No matter what the Debo Akinbami of this world do, they remain inconsequential to the architecture of this party. History is instructive. The same pen that was used to defend Aketi and his family was the same pen that turned viciously the moment power and influence shifted. Today, it has a new master. In a few months, it will seek another.
This is the danger of transactional intellectualism. A public intellectual who cannot name his Unit in Igboegunrin, a party structure still struggling for relevance, and who only remembers Akungba when his salary is threatened, has no moral authority to set our house on fire.
Is this the voice the Governor will lend his ears to? Is this the counsel that will help him succeed as Coordinator and win election for Mr. President?
We need aides who understand that governance is not about abusing elders and blackmailing critics. It is not about condescension. It is not about causing “wahala” for your principal. It is about building consensus, managing egos, and delivering results.
Mr. Governor, you were given the driver’s seat to drive all of us to Abuja, not to drive some of us out of the vehicle. You are not the owner of the vehicle. Whatever you do, soon and very soon, you would step out of the driver’s seat for a new driver. So, allow us to work together so the owner will deriveore benefit.tnoeugj votes.
As Chief Obafemi Awolowo taught us: In the battle for the soul of a party, it is not the loudest voice that wins, but the clearest vision..For millions of citizens of Ondo State, they know those who are providing the leadership and mobilising the people and they know those who hide behind a one finger
Let it be put succinctly, there is no political season when every one has been under one umbrella working for an election. They may ride different vehicles but their goal and destination remains the same. We did it in Ondo State in 2023 for Asiwaju under late Tukana as Coordinator.
Let it also be known that a million Debo Akinbami cannot change the perception the people of Ondo State have for his unnamed Minister which we name as Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the performing Starboy of the Tinubu administration.
Under his leadership, directive and suzerainty we reaffirm our total commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election. But we will not participate in a process that rewards insult and erases history.
Let it known that under any election, the African Market Option (AMO) is always available. If it had happened before, it could still happen now and will continue to happen in every election circle. As long as the goal is the re-election of Mr President come 2027.
So, no politically un-enlightened and over-priced aide of a govenor can ” hale mo Kayode wa”.
The President deserves better and also expects better. Ondo APC deserves better.
Sola Ajisafe is a lawyer/ journalist writes from Alagbaka
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