Bala’s Comments On Tinubu Was Inter-governmental Courtesy, Not Political Endorsement – APM Campaign Replies Alli
The Oyo State APM Governorship Campaign Council has described the recent statement by the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation on Governor Bala Mohammed’s remarks as a desperate attempt to create a political controversy where none exists.
The council said the reaction from Alli’s camp exposed what it described as “insecurity and fear of imminent defeat” ahead of the governorship election.
In a statement signed by its Co-Director, Media and Publicity, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the council said Governor Mohammed’s acknowledgment of federal government efforts should be viewed as a routine act of intergovernmental courtesy rather than a political endorsement or realignment.
According to Olanrewaju, the attempt by the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation to portray Mohammed’s remarks as a major political development was an effort to “weaponise” a harmless diplomatic gesture.
He said, “Governor Bala Mohammed’s remarks were exactly what they appeared to be: a routine gesture of intergovernmental courtesy. His acknowledgment of federal efforts was the kind of polite, administrative diplomacy governors extend to the centre when collaboration yields results.”
The APM campaign council maintained that Mohammed’s comments did not amount to an endorsement of President Bola Tinubu or a shift in political allegiance.
It added that there had been no political alliance, defection or concession arising from the governor’s remarks, insisting that the political landscape remained unchanged.
Olanrewaju noted that governors across the country routinely acknowledge federal interventions when such interventions benefit their respective states.
He recalled that Governor Seyi Makinde had also acknowledged the role of the Federal Government in the rescue of kidnapped persons in Oriire on May 15, arguing that Mohammed’s remarks should be understood within the same context.
The council further argued that Mohammed’s comment did not erase his earlier description of Makinde as the person best suited for the presidency.
The APM campaign council accused the Alli campaign organisation of resorting to political distortion rather than engaging with what it described as Makinde’s record in office.
According to the statement, “Unable to counter Makinde’s performance with substance, they resort to distortion, hoping that noise might substitute for substance.”
Olanrewaju said the people of Oyo State were capable of distinguishing between genuine political alignment and routine administrative interactions, adding that attempts to turn intergovernmental cooperation into political controversy would not alter voters’ perceptions.
The council also claimed that Makinde’s political profile continued to grow because of what it described as his “steady, pragmatic and people-centred style,” which it said resonated with Nigerians seeking effective leadership.
It alleged that the growing profile of the governor was responsible for what it described as the anxiety within the Alli campaign camp.
The APM campaign council maintained that no amount of political spin surrounding Governor Mohammed’s remarks would change voter sentiment or weaken Makinde’s political base.
Olanrewaju said the electorate had witnessed the governor’s performance and would ultimately determine the outcome of the election.
He added that the reaction from the Alli campaign organisation was evidence of a campaign “that has run out of ideas, out of momentum, and out of credible narratives.”
The council concluded by dismissing the controversy over Mohammed’s remarks as a distraction, insisting that the people of Oyo State would make their choice based on leadership, performance and political credibility.
