Alli’s campaign weaponising Bala Mohammed’s remark out of desperation — Olanrewaju

The Oyo State APM Governorship Campaign Council has accused the campaign organisation of Senator Sharafadeen Alli of twisting a routine diplomatic remark by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, into a political issue, describing the move as a sign of “desperation” and fear of imminent defeat.

The Co-Director, Media and Publicity of the campaign council, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, made the allegation in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to a statement issued by the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation.

Olanrewaju said the attempt to interpret Mohammed’s remarks as a political endorsement or realignment was misleading, arguing that governors routinely acknowledge the efforts of the Federal Government when such interventions benefit their states.

According to him, “Governor Bala Mohammed’s remarks were exactly what they appeared to be: a routine gesture of intergovernmental courtesy.”

He added that the Bauchi governor’s acknowledgment of federal efforts “was the kind of polite, administrative diplomacy governors extend to the centre when collaboration yields results.”

Olanrewaju said there was nothing in Mohammed’s remarks to suggest an endorsement of President Bola Tinubu or a withdrawal of support for Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

“It was not an endorsement of President Bola Tinubu, not a shift in political allegiance, and certainly not a denial of Governor Makinde’s leadership,” he said.

The APM spokesperson recalled that governors, including Makinde, had similarly acknowledged the contribution of the Federal Government to matters affecting their states.

“Governor Makinde himself acknowledged the role of the Federal Government in the rescue of those kidnapped in Oriire on May 15 this year,” he said.

Olanrewaju maintained that Mohammed’s comment did not amount to an alliance, defection or political concession, insisting that “no alliance was formed, no defection announced, and no political concession made.”

He further dismissed the suggestion that the remark had altered the political landscape in Oyo State, saying, “The APC gains nothing from this moment, and the political landscape remains unchanged.”

The APM campaign council spokesman accused the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation of trying to create a political narrative around a harmless comment because of what he described as its growing concern over Makinde’s political standing.

“What is most revealing is the frantic energy with which the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation tries to twist a harmless remark into a grand political narrative,” he said.

According to him, the reaction “exposes a deeper fear, the fear of facing an electorate that has already made up its mind.”

Olanrewaju also argued that Makinde’s profile was continuing to rise because of his governance record and connection with the people.

He said, “They understand the strength of Makinde’s governance record, his connection with the people, and the credibility he has built over time.”

He added that Nigerians were increasingly looking towards a leadership capable of delivering effective governance, describing Makinde as a leader with the capacity to “make the country work for its citizens.”

The APM campaign council spokesman accused Alli’s camp of resorting to what he called distortion because it had failed to challenge Makinde’s record with substantive arguments.

“Unable to counter Makinde’s performance with substance, they resort to distortion, hoping that noise might substitute for substance,” Olanrewaju said.

He maintained that such tactics would neither change voters’ views nor diminish Makinde’s political support.

“Their attempt to diminish Makinde will not alter voter sentiment, will not weaken his base, and will not rescue them from the defeat they are trying so hard to avoid,” he said.

Olanrewaju described the statement by the Alli campaign organisation as “loud, hollow, and entirely disconnected from political reality,” alleging that it was intended to distract attention from what he called its lack of traction in the state.

He said the people of Oyo State had witnessed Makinde’s administration and could assess its performance independently.

“The people of Oyo State are not fooled by such theatrics. They have seen Makinde’s work, felt its impact, and watched his leadership evolve with consistency and clarity. No amount of spin can erase that,” he said.

Olanrewaju also criticised what he described as an attempt to turn normal intergovernmental cooperation into partisan politics.

“The attempt to portray Bala Mohammed’s diplomatic courtesy as a political earthquake is intellectually dishonest,” he said.

He added that the move “trivialises the norms of governance and reduces intergovernmental cooperation to petty point scoring.”

As the 2027 governorship election approaches, the APM campaign council spokesman said the Alli campaign organisation would not be able to change the political fortunes of the APC by relying on Mohammed’s comment.

“Clinging to Bala Mohammed’s comment will not change their fate,” Olanrewaju said.

He concluded that the electorate would reject what he described as attempts to distract them from the performance of the Makinde administration.