In a strong show of solidarity, a prominent Yoruba youth organization has publicly defended the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, against what it describes as politically motivated attacks, urging him to remain steadfast in his service to the nation.
The Yoruba Youth Assembly (YYA) issued a statement in Lagos, calling on the Minister to ignore the growing calls for his sack over allegations of certificate forgery. The group framed the controversy as a calculated distraction aimed at derailing the significant reforms he has initiated at the Ministry of Interior.
YYA President, Mr. Olarinde Thomas, and Spokesman, Mr. Jide Alofe, jointly signed the statement, which serves as both a defense and a performance review. They contextualized the allegations not as a genuine inquiry into credentials, but as a common political tactic in Nigeria’s often contentious landscape. “Such claims are the handiwork of disgruntled politicians and should be disregarded,” Thomas stated, adding a pointed warning: “An attack on Hon. Tunji-Ojo is an attack on the collective dignity of the Yoruba people.” This ethnopolitical dimension highlights how administrative roles in Nigeria are often viewed through the lens of regional representation and pride.
The core of the YYA’s argument shifts the focus from the allegations to the Minister’s tangible achievements. They provided a specific, performance-based counter-narrative, commending Tunji-Ojo for:
- Efficient Passport Processing: A direct address to a long-standing national frustration involving delays and corruption at immigration offices.
- Improved Border Security: A critical mandate for the Interior Ministry, especially given regional security challenges.
- Enhanced Visa Administration: Streamlining processes that affect foreign investment, tourism, and international relations.
- Youth Empowerment Initiatives: Aligning the Minister’s work with the pressing issue of youth unemployment and engagement.
Thomas explicitly linked these outputs to President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” positioning Tunji-Ojo as a key implementer of the administration’s promises. This framing is strategic, suggesting that attacking the Minister indirectly undermines the President’s agenda. “Performance remains the true measure of leadership,” Thomas asserted, setting a utilitarian benchmark that prioritizes results over pedigree.
The statement took an intriguing internal political turn by calling on the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to “caution appointees making derogatory remarks against the minister.” This reveals that the criticism may not be solely from opposition quarters but potentially from within the Minister’s own political family and home state, indicating a more complex intra-party or intra-regional rivalry.
By dismissing the certificate allegations as “resolved and politically driven,” the YYA attempts to close the issue for its audience, presenting continued scrutiny as a bad-faith exercise. The defense ultimately paints Tunji-Ojo as “a man of peace, integrity, and honour” whose “service is impactful, commendable, and worthy of continued support,” making a moral and practical case for public and governmental solidarity.
This public intervention by a youth group underscores a recurring theme in Nigerian politics: the use of performance defense and ethnic solidarity to counter allegations of personal misconduct. It places the ongoing certificate controversy within the wider battle for narrative control between a minister’s record and his critics’ claims.
Reported by Adeyemi Adeleye for the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Edited by Christiana Fadare.
