By John Ogunsemore
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu to continue to support Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
President of the NANS Senate, Usman Adamu Nagwaza made the call in a statement sent to The Sun on Sunday.
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Nagwaza said the call has become necessary in light of a phantom corruption allegation made against the minister by some “unpatriotic” Nigerians.
The statement reads, “It is so disheartening and melancholic that some unpatriotic and retrogressive Nigerians, who ought to get better with the nation’s progress, are often the ones calling for the head of those who serve as catalysts for such progress, persistently doing everything possible to bring them down.
“These individuals have no love for the country, lack conscience, and detest the growth and development of the nation.
“The continued backlash, defamation, and maligning of Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo (BTO), the Minister of Interior, point in one clear direction that the enemies of Nigeria’s progress and growth remain unyielding and unrepentant in their pursuit to bring down the Renewed Hope “Starboy.”
“While the unprecedented achievements and monumental strides of BTO continue to leave us in awe, these individuals, driven by bitterness and envy, have resorted to constant name-calling and blackmail.
“This attitude is utterly unpatriotic and must be condemned.
These pathetic individuals flooded the media space in the last couple of months to peddle a corruption agenda against the astute and hardworking Minister of Interior. However, their plot failed and was met with staunch resistance. Is it not ridiculous that, having failed in their previous attempt to malign the Honourable Minister, these same individuals have resurfaced with yet another fabricated scandal?
“This is a direct attack aimed at bringing disrepute to the Honourable Minister and must be completely discarded.”
According to Nagwaza, it is laughable and suspicious that those now peddling falsehoods and fabricating an NYSC-related scandal against Tunji-Ojo have suddenly found their voices only after his historic achievements as Minister of Interior began making national headlines.
“Where were these self-acclaimed crusaders of truth when he served meritoriously as a distinguished member of the House of Representatives, sponsoring impactful bills and touching lives across Nigeria?
“Where were they during his nomination, screening, and ratification as Minister when every detail of his background was meticulously scrutinized and cleared by the relevant authorities?
“Their sudden emergence at a time when the Honourable Minister is breaking records and transforming the Ministry of Interior clearly exposes their mischief and envy.
“This desperate attempt to tarnish his hard-earned reputation is not only baseless but also a calculated distraction from his laudable achievements and must be seen for what it truly is, a failed smear campaign by frustrated detractors.”
Nagwaza commended the president’s visionary leadership and meticulous judgment in appointing Tunji-Ojo as a cabinet member to drive the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He added, “Your decision to entrust him with the responsibility of overseeing the Ministry of Interior has proven to be one of the most impactful and transformative choices of your administration.
“Hon. Tunji-Ojo has not only justified the confidence reposed in him but has also become a major catalyst in the actualization of your Renewed Hope vision through his unprecedented reforms, innovation, and commitment to service delivery.
“It is, therefore, imperative to bring to your attention that the ongoing attempts by certain individuals to peddle baseless scandals against him are nothing more than a calculated plot to tarnish his image and, by extension, cast aspersions on your administration’s integrity and success.
The NANS Senate President noted that under Tunji-Ojo’s stewardship, the Ministry of Interior has achieved unprecedented milestones that have brought pride to the current administration and renewed the faith of Nigerians in effective governance.
“In less than two years, over 3.5 million passports have been issued, about 3,080,141 locally and 466,117 to Nigerians in the diaspora, while saving the government over ₦1 billion annually through the automation of breeder document uploads.
“In partnership with IRIS Smart Technologies Ltd., BTO also introduced Nigeria’s first high-capacity passport production engine, boosting daily output from 300 to over 5,000 booklets per machine and enabling citizens to receive passports within 24 hours.
“Remarkably, this historic achievement was realized without direct government funding, a testament to his integrity, creativity, and dedication to national service.”
He said, “We urge you, Mr. President, to do everything within your power to protect Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, who remains a symbol of excellence, integrity, and the true spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
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