By: Olumide Obadele
It is without any form of equivocation that Hon. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo is one of the most vilified and celebrated politicians in the political trajectory of Nigeria in the recent time as it concerns appointment of new ministers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However, this is not uncommon with the young man considering his antecedents as a politician and businessman.
Looking back to 2019 when he ran for the Federal House of Representatives election on the platform of the All Progressives Party (APC), Bunmi Tunji Ojo popularly known as “BTO” had the toughest political battle of his life then, when the government of the day at the State level felt shortchanged by the APC and decided to sponsor another candidate on the platform of Action Alliance (AA) against him then. Following this arrangement, the “candidates of the government of the day” who failed to pick tickets of the APC in their various districts suddenly transform to become AA candidates.
Hence in Tunji Ojo’s federal constituency, he had the sitting Reps member then Stephen Olemija to contend with. However, against all odds he emerged victorious at the polls by defeating Stephen Olemija blue and black.
His tenure was a total paradigm shift in terms of quality representation and promise delivery. It has been described by many as the golden era of the constituency.
After the first tenure, Bunmi Tunji Ojo again threw his hat into the ring to seek for a second tenure, which was against the much touted rotational arrangement in the zone. His aspiration did not go well with many politicians who held religiously to the said rotation. This pitched many of them against him, as they came out with fury to malign, assassinate and defame his character. Again, he survived the conspiracy and recorded a landslide victory. He broke the jinx of one term representation in the zone and his giant strides gave him landslide victory.
Shortly after his inauguration as a member of the 10th National Assembly, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated Bunmi Tunji Ojo as a Ministerial Nominee to the Senate of the Federal Republic 9f Nigeria. This nomination was followed by different reactions, especially by politicians in Ondo State. While a good number of them commended the President’s gesture, a few selfish ones took their reactions too far by sponsoring protests and allegations against him. Few others went too far by taking to the internet to malign the image of the rising young man.
The height of this persecution was during the screening at the red chamber where the authenticity of his NYSC certificate was challenged and without finding out the truth, his detractors went wild again. However, the National Youth Service Corps came out with full evidence to vindicate him by declaring his NYSC certificate as authentic. Again, BTO wins.
One keeps wondering how this young man was able to weather the storms and survived the vicissitudes. Despite all, he was neither broken nor destroyed, but rather keeps waxing stronger. One can safely conclude that he is made of steel.
Now that the coast is clear having crossed all hurdles, Nigerians can expect the best from one of the foremost and most cerebral young men of his age and this dispensation. Of a truth and without any equivocation, Bunmi Tunji Ojo has a lot to offer Nigeria and Nigerians, as all eyes are on him to showcase his huge potentials at the Federal Executive Council member from Ondo State.
Written by: A Public Affairs Commentator, Pastor Olumide Obadele
