The Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Olatunbosun Tijani, says Nigeria is fortunate to have President Bola Tinubu in the leadership saddle, saying his policies have liberalised education and resolved the fuel subsidy, which was draining the country’s resources.

Tijani, who spoke with journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday, also said his past criticism of Tinubu and other political leaders in the country was borne out of his desire for a better Nigeria.

The minister was in Ogun State for the inauguration of solar solar-powered community ICT centre facilitated by him and built by the National Information Technology Development Agency for the residents of Abeokuta.

Asked how easy it was for him to accept Tinubu’s ministerial appointment, having criticised the President in the past, Tijani said, “It was not about how easy, it was about intention because leadership is about intentions.


“And when you come close to President Bola Tinubu, you will know that Nigeria is fortunate to have someone… let’s leave politics aside for those who are not politicians, let’s watch the pattern, the path and the trajectory of the development under the President.

“People are not talking about what the President has done. This is the first President that has now made it easy for every young one to go to school, it doesn’t matter if your parents are poor because there are now student loans.

“This is the President who removed the fuel subsidy that was already a pain in our necks and now using the resources to develop the country.

“He has been able to save a whole lot of our money being used to service debt and we can now use these resources to take care of our other needs and develop the country.

“So, for me, it was not difficult to accept to work under such a man because I wasn’t complaining because I was a politician, I was complaining because I wanted a better society for people like me and there is no other person to work for to achieve that than President Bola Tinubu.”

President Tinubu had at the weekend recounted how his decision to appoint Tijani as a minister was met with strong reservations from close associates who objected to Tijani’s past critical statements on social media.

Despite these objections, the President said he remained steadfast in his choice, acknowledging the minister’s talent and potential for contributing meaningfully to his administration.

“Because he criticises me does not mean he has nothing to offer,” Tinubu insisted.

The President emphasised that the minister’s past criticisms were insufficient reason to discount his ability, suggesting instead that his once-vocal dissatisfaction could fuel a deeper commitment to public service.

“When I picked him, it was tough. My very close confidantes, who had read his comments on social media, came to me and said, ‘No, never.’

“I said, ‘Yes, he is talented. Because he criticises me and pours abuse on the parliament, it does not mean he has nothing to offer.

“Maybe his frustration at that time will drive him to contribute more to governance. And today, he is doing that, and I am very proud of him,’” President Tinubu stated.

Also, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said though Tijani once described senators as morons, they went ahead to confirm his appointment, trusting Tinubu’s judgment.

Akpabio said, “Mr. President, we confirmed him because we knew you must have seen something special in him. You are never wrong when it comes to your judgment of people.

“I went into an executive session and told my colleagues, ‘Let us give this young man an opportunity and see what happens.”

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