By Ade Oyeyemi
Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, have commended the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his performance in office and contributions to the reform agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The two politicians spoke on Wednesday at the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign rally held at the Akure Township Stadium, where party leaders mobilised support for Tinubu ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
Mimiko, who pledged to support the President’s re-election bid, singled out Tunji-Ojo for praise, describing his performance as a source of pride to Ondo State.
“I will also recognise a minister who has done us proud in Ondo State by his performance in the job that the President has given him, and I am talking about the Minister of Interior of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, popularly known as BTO,” the former governor said.
He also promised to work with other political leaders in the state to secure votes for Tinubu and all APC candidates contesting senatorial and House of Representatives seats.
Mimiko further applauded Tinubu for building consensus among political stakeholders on major national issues, including the proposed establishment of state police.
Similarly, Oshiomhole cited the reforms introduced by the Interior Ministry in passport administration and airport operations as evidence of the President’s efforts to improve governance.
The former Edo governor said the changes had made travelling more convenient, particularly through improvements in immigration procedures at airports.
“And the minister who has made it possible for me to pass through the airport just with my passport, without any immigration officer having to ask any question. When we say that the President is reforming Nigeria, we have huge evidence to that effect. The minister that issues passports from Nigeria to Chicago, to Japan, is here, and when the President needed not just a minister, he found one in BTO,” Oshiomhole said.
He urged Nigerians, especially young people, to support Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that the country needed experienced statesmen rather than politicians he described as petty traders.
The commendations came amid repeated references to Ondo State’s representation in the Federal Executive Council at the rally.
In his welcome address, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa expressed appreciation to Tinubu for appointing three ministers from Ondo State, including Tunji-Ojo.
Also speaking, an APC chieftain, Olusola Oke (SAN), said the people of the state had reasons to appreciate the President for the projects and political appointments extended to the state.
Tunji-Ojo attended the rally alongside the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
The minister’s supporters were also visibly present at the gathering, with political observers describing their turnout as an indication of his growing grassroots influence and mobilisation capacity in Ondo.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who led the APC campaign team to Akure, challenged the party to secure 1.2 million votes for Tinubu in the state.
Shettima said about 1.8 million of Ondo’s 2.1 million registered voters had collected their Permanent Voter Cards, adding that the support of prominent political figures, including Mimiko and Oke, reflected what he described as a broad consensus among the state’s political elite in favour of the President.
Aiyedatiwa, in his remarks, pledged that Ondo would deliver at least one million votes for Tinubu.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, also conveyed the President’s directive that APC leaders should recognise Aiyedatiwa as the sole coordinator of the presidential campaign in the state and cooperate across the three senatorial districts.
Other speakers at the rally included the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda; the Director-General of the party’s presidential campaign, Abdulazeez Yari; and the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma.
