The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has refuted reports claiming that President Bola Tinubu appointed him as the political leader in Ondo State.
Tunji-Ojo, who hails from Okeagbe in the Akoko North West Local Government of Ondo State, was said to have been assigned as the leader of the President’s team for the selection of APC governorship candidate in the forthcoming election in Ondo State.
The speculation has been met with stiff resistance from some politicians in the state as well as some political groups.
Specifically, a group, Alliance for Credible Poll, had on Tuesday rejected the said appointment.
It stated that Tunji-Ojo was “unfit to lead the President’s search team to pick suitable governorship candidate in Ondo State”.
However, in a statement on Wednesday by his Media Adviser, Babatunde Alao, the minister stated that the President never made him a leader of the party in the state.
Alao said, “It has come to our attention that a news article circulating titled ‘Tinubu appoints Interior Minister political leader in Ondo,’ claiming that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has been appointed as the political leader in Ondo state by President Bola Tinubu. We would like to categorically state that this report is entirely baseless and fictitious.
“The Minister of Interior, Hon. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, completely disassociates and distances himself from the purported appointment, as it holds no truth whatsoever.
“There has been no meeting held with all the local government APC chairmen and leaders in Abuja, as alleged in the article.
“While the minister is aware that the party’s governorship primary election is days away, he has advised aspirants to embrace the spirit of love and sportsmanship.
“President Bola Tinubu, as the father of the nation and as the leader of the party, is a democrat whose interest is always to promote unity and peace and would not be involved in any action that will undermine that.
“We urge the public to disregard the misinformation contained in the viral news article and to always rely on credible sources for accurate information.”