In a stunning turnaround, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Olatunbosun Tijani, has lavished praise on President Bola Tinubu—despite previously being one of his fiercest critics.
Tijani, who once described lawmakers as “morons” and lambasted Tinubu’s administration, now claims Nigeria is “fortunate” to have Tinubu as president. He made these remarks on Monday during the inauguration of a solar-powered community ICT center in Abeokuta, facilitated by the National Information Technology Development Agency.
The minister justified his shift, stating that his past criticisms were driven by his desire for a better Nigeria. “When you come close to President Bola Tinubu, you will know that Nigeria is fortunate to have someone like him. Let’s leave politics aside and examine the development trajectory under his administration,” Tijani said.
He pointed to Tinubu’s controversial policy decisions, such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the introduction of a student loan scheme, as proof of the president’s transformative leadership.
Tijani’s appointment was initially met with resistance in the Senate due to his history of criticizing lawmakers and the government. Senate President Godswill Akpabio admitted that Tijani’s nomination sparked strong opposition, but the Senate ultimately approved him, trusting Tinubu’s judgment.
Tinubu himself acknowledged that many of his close allies were against Tijani’s appointment. “My close confidantes, who had read his comments on social media, objected, saying, ‘No, never.’ But I saw his talent. Just because he criticized me doesn’t mean he has nothing to offer,” Tinubu stated.
This dramatic shift in loyalty raises questions about political expediency and the true nature of criticism in Nigeria’s political landscape. Is Tijani genuinely convinced of Tinubu’s leadership, or is this yet another case of a former critic embracing power when given a seat at the table?
