By Victor Rawa
The recent attempt to drag Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo—one of the most outstanding Ministers in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet—into needless controversy should worry every patriotic Nigerian. This is not genuine accountability. True accountability must be holistic, transparent, and fair. What we are witnessing is politics, plain and simple. Those fueling these allegations are not speaking for the people; they are hiding behind the cloak of opposition and playing a dangerous game—attacking the President through his trusted appointees.
Let us set the facts straight. Ondo State’s 2025 budget stands at ₦655 billion, with over ₦406 billion earmarked for capital projects across infrastructure, agriculture, health, and education. With such vast resources, citizens should be seeing visible results—better schools, functional hospitals, accessible roads, and expanded youth employment opportunities. Yet what do we find? Instead of showcasing progress, traducers have chosen to expend all their energy targeting Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, a Minister who is delivering results nationally, simply to weaken the President’s image.
Now, compare this with Imo State, a non–oil-producing state with far fewer resources. Governor Hope Uzodimma has not only stabilized state finances but also approved a minimum wage of ₦104,000 for workers—far above the ₦70,000 national benchmark. At the same time, Imo’s Internally Generated Revenue has jumped from under ₦400 million to over ₦3 billion monthly, while federal allocations have grown from ₦7.5 billion to more than ₦13 billion. These reforms are matched with visible development: improved wages, pensions, and infrastructure. In short, Imo is achieving more with less. Shouldn’t this comparison compel the people of Ondo State to demand better from those managing their huge allocations, instead of being distracted by politically motivated attacks on a federal Minister?
It is clear that the real target is not Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo but President Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself. By attacking one of his most capable lieutenants, traducers are attempting to weaken the administration, undermine its reforms, and sow discontent among the people. Even support groups working for the President in Ondo are now being hounded by forces linked to the state government. This raises serious questions: Why should loyal Tinubu support structures be treated as enemies? What exactly is the endgame? Is the goal to frustrate the President’s 2027 reelection bid? Or are some forces within APC secretly romancing the opposition—PDP, Labour Party, even ADC—while pretending to stand with the ruling party? If so, this is not only disloyalty, it is open sabotage.
Ondo State must not be deceived. Accountability is welcome, but it must be consistent. We cannot close our eyes to how state allocations are being managed while amplifying unverified claims against a Minister whose performance is strengthening the federal government’s image.
The real questions the Ondo people deserve answers to are these: Why does public service delivery remain stagnant despite massive capital budgets? Why are wages not reflecting rising allocations, while Imo, with less, is leading by example? Why are indicators in health, education, and infrastructure not improving at the expected rate in a state better resourced than many of its peers? These are the issues of genuine accountability.
We stand firmly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and reject every attempt to turn governance into a political chess game. Ministers who are delivering on their mandate—like Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo—must be shielded from baseless blackmail. The Presidency must not be weakened through indirect attacks disguised as public concern. If accountability is truly the goal, let it be demanded across the board—not as a weapon of political survival, but as a duty to the Nigerian people.
Nigeria cannot afford distractions. What we need is progress, fairness, and truth. And the truth is simple: traducers may try to divert attention, but Nigerians know where accountability must truly begin.
