The Director-General of the Grassroots Mobilisation for Tinubu (GMT), Ondo State Chapter, Hon. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, says the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last two years have attracted more members to the group across the state.
Yusuf-Ogunleye made this known during an interactive forum with the leadership and local government coordinators of the group at its Secretariat in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
According to him, the GMT is growing rapidly as more people, including non-APC members who believe in President Tinubu’s vision, are joining the movement.
“We want to ensure the group is not just based in Akure but fully rooted in all local governments. Our group is present in all 18 LGAs, and we have directed each local government and ward chapter to appoint 12 functional officers to strengthen our structure and grassroots engagement,” he said.
The DG also announced the confirmation of key leadership appointments within the group, naming Chief (Mrs) Olamide Falana as the State Director of Women Affairs and Comrade Paff Kolade Lawal as the Director of Youths.
Falana, a former Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Gender, is a well-known advocate of women’s empowerment. Speaking at the meeting, she pledged to mobilize women across all sectors in the state to support the reelection bid of President Tinubu.
Kolade Lawal, who currently serves as the South-West Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will oversee youth mobilisation efforts for GMT across Ondo State.
Yusuf-Ogunleye commended the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his unwavering support for GMT and his instrumental role in President Tinubu securing the highest percentage of votes nationwide during the last election.
“We want a structure where no leader will say they were left out, except for those who choose not to be part of it,” he emphasized. “APC is one big family. We thank BTO for his support, the state party chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, and Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for providing an enabling environment for us to operate.”
He noted that Governor Aiyedatiwa had already been briefed about the group’s activities and intentions, adding that the GMT would continue to foster synergy among various pro-Tinubu groups in the state to ensure victory for the APC.
Also speaking at the event, the group’s Legal Adviser, Hon. Akinwunmi Sowore, said GMT’s primary mission is to promote and propagate the achievements of President Tinubu, adding that more strategic programmes would soon be unveiled.
The Secretary of the group, Mr. Rasheed Badmus, reaffirmed the support of Ondo people for President Tinubu, noting that they have seen and felt the impact of his administration in the last two years.
“We have enough to show our people that President Tinubu has done a lot for us. The people of the state are solidly behind him,” he said.
Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, Adekola Olawoye (SAN), expressed delight at the group’s formation, describing it as perhaps the last opportunity for his generation to witness a president from the South-West.
Other notable dignitaries at the meeting included Chief Albert Akintoye (SOT), the Southern Coordinator; former Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Olayato Aribo (represented by Mr. Omoge Folorunso); Deaconess Lola Fagbemi (represented by Ondo West Coordinator, Alhaji Khaleed Akinbami); Chief Bisi Ogbungbemi; and Hon. Paff Kolade Lawal.
Also represented were former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abayomi Akinruntan, and Dr. (Mrs) Olubunmi Ademosu, a former Special Adviser to the Governor, currently on holiday abroad. Several others who could not attend in person sent their apologies.
