The leadership of the Ondo State United Artisans, comprising six major groups, has come out strongly in defence of Comrade Komolafe Daisi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Artisan Matters, following allegations levelled against him by the Ondo State Artisan Groups (OSAG).
Pastor Olaniyi Ale, State Chairman of the united artisan body, described the accusations as baseless and politically motivated. He explained that the Artisan Support Network for Advancement and Transformation (ASNAT) is a federal initiative backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and not a personal creation of Comrade Daisi.
The artisan body, made up of NATTA, OSATU, Hairdressers Association, Carpenters and Furniture Association, Tailors Association of Nigeria (TAN), and OSAG, stated that the recent claims of misappropriation of loan funds and vehicle ownership were aimed at tarnishing the image of Comrade Daisi ahead of the political season.
On the issue of a vehicle allegedly converted for personal use, the group clarified that the vehicle in question was personally owned by Comrade Daisi but was later handed over to OSAG in the interest of peace, following the intervention of concerned stakeholders.
Addressing concerns over micro-credit loans, Pastor Ale explained that a total of ₦24 million was disbursed to the leadership of OSAG in 2024, with all beneficiary associations properly verified. He added that the current controversy appears to be an attempt by OSAG to deflect attention from their outstanding loan obligations.
“Comrade Daisi and Mr. Bello have consistently used their personal assets as collateral to secure loans for artisans. This smear campaign is nothing but a strategy to avoid repayment,” Ale said.
He also accused OSAG of betrayal during the last political season, alleging that the group collected palliatives, including 70 bags of rice, from the state government without informing the larger artisan body and later went online to discredit the government by claiming the items were unfit for consumption.
“These are the issues we raised internally that have now snowballed into public attacks against Comrade Daisi,” he added.
In response, the artisans are mobilizing for a one-million-man march in solidarity with Comrade Daisi, affirming their confidence in his leadership and integrity.
