HON BUNMI TUNJI-OJO: A MAN WITH THE MIDAS TOUCH By Omogbolahan L.A. BABAWALE

It is a quote from the renown wordsmith, Shakespeare, ‘Some are born great. Some achieve greatness while some (others) have greatness thrust upon them’. That succinctly describes the personality of Honourable Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of the Green House during the 9th Assembly (2019-2023) and (now) the Honourable Minister for Interior.

As a first timer in the Green House, he chaired the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and London Metropolitan University proved his mettle as a member of the House of Representatives when he led, as the Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Commission (NDDC), the probe on the alleged peculation of over N80billion (Eighty Billion Naira) by top management members of the Commission. A fête never achieved in the history of the country. That singular action of his led to the sponsoring of a bill by him that would make abuse of office in the Commission impossible.

All his life, he has consistently shown himself as a man who is very down to earth – whether in his private or business life. A man of noble birth who would further cultivate the act of selflessness. Before his foray into politics, Tunji-Ojo was an accomplished and astute business and management executive. A young engineer, entrepreneur, and no less philanthropist who has consistently impacted on the lives of people and the society at large. Albeit, he may have been born with silver spoon, history has proven time and time again that majority of those born privileged in life do not necessarily make good and humane personality in life. The case with Hon. Tunji-Ojo is a rare one and worthy of emulation. He has remained a role model to the youths, a beckon of hope to the downtrodden, a harbinger of glad tidings to the hoi polloi and no less a friend of the masses. At 41 years, he has had many enviable achievements to his name.

A scion of Oke-Agbe-Akoko, a town in the Northern Senatorial District area of Ondo State, the Honourable Minister of Interior has cut a knack for his expertise across varied human endeavours which include but not limited to digital communications, cybersecurity, computer engineering, public administration and human capital development in both private and public sectors. A seasoned Information and Communication Technology expert with cognate experience in ICT-driven ‘architectures’ and its paraphernalia. A former consultant for World Bank and several government agencies that include but not limited to Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB), National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) as well as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). A Master degree holder in Digital Communications and Networking with many other ICT-related certifications; Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo can best be described a ‘plenipotentiary’ of repute. His latter decision to venture into politics actually brought out the hidden qualities in him as an exceptional leader with people-centric credo. In so short a time of joining politics, he has hitherto equally proven to be a man with the Midas touch in terms of democratic deliverables.

Without sounding jactitative or la-di-da, the people of Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency, since the return of the country to democratic ethos from 1999 till 2019 never had it so good with quality of representation until Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo came into the scene. With several legacy projects he facilitated into his Federal Constituency in his 4-year stint at the Green Chamber, even as a first timer, he proved a man with distinct character, not idiosyncratic of the typical Nigerian politician. His impactful representation was second to none in the entire political annals of the Sunshine State – Ondo. The former Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and (now) Minister of Interior has left no one in doubt as to his capacity for leadership acumen and accountability. A result-driven personage who is passionate about a working and egalitarian society built, not only on communalism but also unity of purpose and altruism in a heterogenous complex country like Nigeria.

His records of quality representation as a first time member of the Green Chamber were, indeed, sterling and outstanding. From his quality of contributions on various national issues on the floor of the House, to his precision on delivering on several legislative assignments/duties; from his eye-on-the-ball approach to communal development in his constituency, to his large-heartedness to the country’s populace at large irrespective of people’s ethnoreligious background are pointers to his quality leadership. Little wonder he was called upon for a higher national assignment after his deserved victory to return to the House for a second term.

Honourable Bunmi Tunji-Ojo has shown a leader extraordinaire that he is. His breed is very rare in the art of governance in recent years in Nigeria. A benison of a personality whose simplicity is unequalled and unparalleled. As a member of the Federal House, and with or without the Federal Government’s provision for constituency projects, Honourable Tunji-Ojo did always show himself as a man who’s people-centric. A man who saw his mandate as a call to serve his Creator and humanity. The records are overtly there for all to prove – the veracity or mendacity of this assertion. Here is a man who never waited for government before making visible impacts in the society. He believes life is good when everybody feels helped and blessed.

Albeit the debut novel of Ghana’s Ayi Kwei Armah, ‘The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born’ has been largely situated with African leadership in general, conceptualising this and narrowing it down to the Nigerian political situation may throw up a lot of argument as to the congruity of such notion about an entire country. If one must concede without admitting that the beautiful ones may not have been born in Nigeria’s leadership structure; it goes a contradistinction without giving consideration to all of the human capital development that make up the enclave dubbed Nigeria. And from this latter viewpoint, do we conclude then that there are no individuals – men and women who can change the narrative? Of course, among men who occupy our political space today, one man stands tall and has made a name for himself in the political firmament of Nigeria. That man is no other person than Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Hon. Tunji-Ojo may not classify into Armah’s description of African leadership vacuum. At least, this has been proven in the Ministry he superintends over – the Interior. His milestones in the agencies under his Ministry within a short period after assumption of office are quite commendable. He has consistently proven that Nigeria can actually get it right, given the right leadership. His methodical and meticulous approach to solving seeming precarious or catch-22 situations are enviable. The perennial quagmire of procuring international passport, the menace of prison congestion, the quandary of natural disaster especially fire and the obvious intractable migraine of human trafficking among others are what have earned him the sobriquet, the ‘Poster Boy’ of the Renewed Hope agenda.

The Honourable Minister, Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo is not your regular political player that comes too frequent with politics of deceit, legerdemain, hoodwinkery, ‘audio’ promises and disappointment. His type is very rare. When he puts his mind at something, he pursues same with all the required gusto and zest such requires. The Oke-Agbe-Akoko, Ondo State-born ICT-guru-turned-politician is a ‘blessing in disguise’ to the young generation. He is a great asset to the country as a whole given his contributions to nation building, human capital development and community progress. BTO’s (as he is fondly called) large-heartedness and philanthropy may have endeared him to his constituents before he was given the sobriquet ‘Onínúure’. His humanitarian gestures are said never seen in the entire history of Akoko politics. Verily, Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo will pass off as one of the silent political game changers in the entire Ondo landscape. One can hope he will have the opportunity, some day, to contribute at even a much higher political pedestal.

Omogbolahan L.A. BABAWALE
Public Affairs Analyst
[email protected]/[email protected]
Wuse, Abuja