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Tag: Olubunmi Tunji Ojo

  • Edu Gate: Coalition Fault Attempt To Link Minister Tunji-Ojo to Fradulent Allegations 

    Edu Gate: Coalition Fault Attempt To Link Minister Tunji-Ojo to Fradulent Allegations 

    . ..Urges the public, media to desist from curating opinions and false hot takes on the Minister of Interior 

    A coalition of over 180 Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria, identified as Civil Society Groups for Good Governance in solidarity, has refuted the incessant public opinion regarding the involvement of the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in a N438 million contract with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    In a press briefing organised in Abuja on Wednesday, the group amid the recent media campaign, mudslinging seeking for the sack of the minister, stated that he Hon. Tunji-Ojo remains one of the best-performing cabinet ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the President Bola Ahmed government.

    The statement which was read by the President of the Coalition, Comrade Ogakwu Dominic, the coalition emphasized the need to clarify situations, maintain decorum, and discourage biased perceptions.

    ” Our attention has been drawn to the recent allegations of fraudulent activities besieging the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and her minister, our concern however is the baton of judgement it has on other persons who are in no way connected to the allegations, hence the need for this press briefing with the above-mentioned subject matter.

    “As watchdogs of the society, we are not partisan to social media judgement, court or condemnation, we do not buy into activities of keypad warriors casting aspersions; therefore, we condemn in all its entirety the discordant public opinion regarding the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’ involvement in the N438 million Humanitarian Ministry Contract and we aim to set the record straight for clarity and for the avoidance of public biased perceptions and judgement.

    “It is a well-known fact that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has repeatedly exonerated himself, providing evidence, from any involvement in the controversial N438 million contract scandal related to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

    “Additionally, the Minister, Mr. Tunji-Ojo, presented a certified document from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), confirming his resignation from the company five years ago. He has no business with the said company—absolutely no business—because he’s not involved in the day-to-day running of the company.

    “He also does not pursue jobs for the company, does not bid for the company, and is not a signatory to the company’s account. May we reiterate that “HE IS NOT INVOLVED AND SHOULDN’T BE ROPED IN, THOSE INVOLVED SHOULD BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS ALONE.” He added.

    Ogakwu noted Tunji-Ojo’s commendable efforts within a short tenure in office, emphasising his commitment to the Interior Ministry’s mandate and national development.

    “While social media platforms have been rife with criticism, the Minister has shown exceptional leadership by spearheading significant reforms, bringing about efficiency and progressive change across various agencies under his purview,” Dominic added.

    He urged the public to recognize the Minister’s achievements, citing instances such as the swift clearance of a passport backlog at the Nigeria Immigration Service and efforts to secure funds for prison inmates’ fines, which eased congestion in correctional facilities nationwide.

    The convener concluded by commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift response in suspending those directly involved in the sharp practices exposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, according to him, the act goes to show that the recent administration, is committed to nipping corruption in the bud to afford Nigerians and Nigeria the giant strides it deserves as part of its strategy in achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda.

     

  • Edu Gate: Groups Condemned Twisted Story Against Tunji Ojo, Commend Him For Decorum In Governance

    Edu Gate: Groups Condemned Twisted Story Against Tunji Ojo, Commend Him For Decorum In Governance

    ..A foremost Nigerian Minister of repute

    Prominent Civil Society and Pro-democracy Groups have condemned the recent attempt to drag the name of the Hon Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Minister of Interior in the on going accusation against the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.

    According to the statement ” Let us first of all commend President Bola Tinubu for his prompt handling of the EduGate in the best interest of the nation and by allowing the relevant agencies to investigate the matter to its logical conclusion devoid of interference from any quaters”.

    In the statement authored by Ismail Ibrahim Bakori, the President of Arewa Voters Assembly(AVA) and Comrade Segun Adegoke of the Progressive Action for Justice Unity and Democracy(PAJUD) stated that the democratic handling over of power on May 29, 2023, opened up fresh possibilities for a renewal of our political and socio economic life on the foundation of accountability and transparency on the part of elected public office holders.

    “Our attention has been drawn to the barrage of mischievous accusations being labelled against Hon Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Minister of Interior by hirelings of mischief and failed politicians from the People’s Democratic Party( PDP) in their desperate attempt to link him with Edu Gate”.

    The groups posit that in less than eight months that President Tinubu assumed office, Ojo has come out with a well defined mission, vision, blueprint and seriousness of purpose in the onerous task of addressing the multifarious problems and challenges confronting the Interior Ministry. The promptness with which he tackled the international passport scarcity and other matters are eloquent testimonies that he is a star boy of the Tinubu’s administration and that he is focused and seriously minded political appointee of the government.

    “We posit that since the beginning of the Nigerian democracy, the political firmament and landscape is over dosed with different genres of characters, ranging from the good, the bad and ugly. Sadly, the characters behind the campaign of calumny and distractions against Hon Ojo represents the ugliest part the Nigerian political elites. Their sixteen years of wasteful, fruitless, misrule and of the Nigerian state speaks negatively of them. They lacked the moral responsibility to launch any smear campaign, mudslinging and mischief making against Hon Ojo who instituted decorum in the affairs of the Nigerian Interior Ministry at the moment”. Adding that “Instead of throwing tantrums and vile mischief, the PDP should go back to the drawing table, put their house in order and give the ruling APC a credible opposition”.

    “Our findings on the fabricated allegations against him revealed that he truly established the said company 10 years ago, but resigned from the directorship in the 2019 when he contested for the House of Representatives seat and has not been involved either in the management of the company or being a signatory to the accounts company anymore. Furthermore, Hon Ojo gave proper account of himself during his appearance on a Channels TV programme few days ago. And the Certified True Copy of Corporate Affairs Commission has been made available to the Nigerian public to authenticate his claims and the veracity of the rumour mill.

    Accordingly, we posited that Hon Ojo reformed the Interior Ministry from an obscure public holiday declaration outfit to a world class result oriented one. Also he is working to ensure respect for any citizen holding Nigerian passport in his policy of implementation of principle of reciprocity in international relations by stopping the visa on arrival privilege granted foreign nationals whose nations subject Nigerians to tedious visa application regime among other new found progressive initiatives.

    “It is evidently clear that Hon Ojo has warmed himself into the hearts of Nigerians with his above average performance in office thereby putting the Tinubu administration into positive reckoning but very sadly rented critics are working so hard and tirelessly to pollute the atmosphere with baseless, unwarranted, misplaced, political motivated and unsubstantiated allegations against him. The same people of questionable integrity that left behind legacies of terrible misdeeds, bizarre grafts, mindless rapacity, failed third term agenda and unimaginable atrocities”.

    “They are devilish and leprous to the extent that Nigerians are not ready to allign with their campaign of blackmail laced with sinister motives against Hon Ojo”.

    “We urge Hon Ojo to ignore further campaign of calumny and distractions against him from the axis of mischief makers and agent provocateurs calculated to distract him from accomplishing the mission assigned to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Because the entire allegations are targeted towards deflating the tide of public opinion in favour of the present government. In fact, we must state it clearly and categorically that Hon Ojo is a victim of conspiracy by the cartel of passport racketeering he dismantled, now fighting back to take destroy his unblemished reputation and time honoured record of excellence and honesty”.

    They concluded that after all, Nigeria is a country founded on constitutional democracy anchored on the rule of law and due process. And that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is trying to entrench the country along such path and place Nigeria on the comity of nations with his Renewed Hope Agenda.