The Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Special Interest and Public Engagement, Temitope Olowofoyekun Dadeowo, popularly known as Tope Liberty, has dismissed as false a report alleging that he physically attacked Barr. Banji Okunomo at the Arcade Ground in Akure.
Liberty, who spoke exclusively with journalists in Akure, described the author of the report, Olujimi Adekanle JAF, as “a liar and a political liability with no rhythm,” insisting that there was never a physical confrontation between him and Okunomo.
He said while political disagreements could occur between him and Okunomo, such differences had never degenerated into violence.
“There was never a physical brawl between me and Banji Okunomo. Banji is my brother. We can have political disagreements, but it can never get to the level of going physical. I have been practising both oil politics and partisan politics for almost four decades, and if there is any politics that is complex, it is oil politics. I never engaged or involved myself in physical confrontation there, so why would I engage in violence in partisan politics? People in my immediate community and far beyond can testify that i remain a peace-loving and highly principled person,” Liberty said.
The governor’s aide also challenged JAF’s account of a strategic political meeting held at Deja Vu Hotel, Alagbaka, Akure, which JAF had referenced in his publication.
Liberty confirmed that he attended the meeting at Mato’s room alongside the other personalities mentioned, but said the account of what transpired was inaccurate.
According to him, he made his position clear at the meeting that he was totally in support of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Governor’s political ideology.
He further alleged that JAF was then opposed to the Governor and was primarily interested in pursuing his ambition to secure the House of Representatives seat.
Liberty said he told JAF at the meeting that the ambition was “dead on arrival,” arguing that JAF lacked sufficient recognition among his people in Irele, did not have the necessary political structure and lacked the financial capacity to prosecute the election.
“I told him point blank that his ambition was dead on arrival because he was not known among his people in Irele. He had no political structure or the financial weight to sponsor the election. The people who were at that meeting are living witnesses,” he said.
Liberty accused JAF of attempting to rewrite the circumstances surrounding the meeting to suit his present political narrative.
He said the presence of other participants at the meeting made it impossible for anyone to alter what transpired without being challenged by those who were there.
The governor’s aide also urged politicians and political commentators to avoid turning disagreements into allegations of violence, stressing that political differences should be settled through dialogue and democratic engagement.
He maintained that his relationship with Okunomo remained cordial despite whatever political differences might exist between them.
Liberty further said his appointment as Special Adviser to the Governor did not change the principles that had guided his public conduct and political writings over the years.
“I have been appointed as Senior Special Adviser to the State Governor, but even before this appointment, i have always been very careful with my choice of words in my articles. I have never used derogatory language against anybody, it is only JAF, who appears hell-bent on creating problems where none exist. Even my followers can testify that the respect i command is earned through my humility and character; it was not bestowed on me by virtue of any political appointment,” he said.
Liberty’s denial has consequently opened another chapter in the unfolding political controversy, with the two competing narratives now centred on whether the alleged physical confrontation occurred at all.
For Liberty, however, the matter is straightforward: there was no physical brawl, and those who know him and Okunomo understand that political disagreement is not a licence for violence.
He therefore challenged JAF’s credibility, describing him as a “political liability with no structure” and insisting that those who were present at the meetings being referenced remain available to establish what actually transpired.
