By Oluwatoyin Adegbenro
Ordinarily, one would have ignored the rantings of one Tope Adefemiwa, who authored the piece with the above title, for he is an inconsequential figure in the political firmament of Ondo State. More importantly, he wrote from a place of searing ignorance; perhaps he must have been induced.
Given the tone and direction of the partisan piece, it’s pretty obvious to the politically discerning that the obscure writer is one of the lapdogs on the satellite payroll of the “powers that be” in government, with a teleprompter in Alagbaka, the seat of government in the state.
The character called Adefemiwa, based on my profiling, was a member of the PDP and a purported gubernatorial aspirant in 2021. No one knows exactly when he became a member of the ruling APC. If he indeed was a governorship aspirant in the state in 2024, he must be one of those colourless e-aspirants with no structure and no taproot anywhere.
That said, it is important to expose the puerile argument in his watery piece for what it is so that he won’t mislead members of the public who may not know much about the political happenings in the state.
To start with, the call by the so-called Adefemiwa urging the Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to choose between federal office and participation in Ondo State politics is misplaced and lacks any legal or constitutional foundation.
Although I am no lawyer, I am a constitutionalist. No law in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or in any extant statute precludes a serving minister from engaging in the political affairs of his state or political party in a democracy where one’s involvement in politics is a major yardstick for landing a ministerial appointment.
Until this moment, Nigeria has operated a constitutional democracy anchored in freedom of association and political participation. If the foregoing has changed in the political lexicon of Mr Adefemiwa, it has not changed a bit in the dictionary of over 200 million Nigerians.
A minister does not cease to be a political actor simply because he has been appointed to serve at the federal level. So long as official duties are not neglected and no law is breached, political engagement remains entirely legitimate and within the ambit of plural democracy.
Second, Tunji-Ojo’s performance as Minister of Interior speaks for itself. Under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he has emerged as one of the most visible and results-driven members of the Federal Executive Council. His stewardship in areas such as immigration reform, passport processing efficiency, correctional services administration, and civil defence coordination has attracted widespread commendation. As recently as a week ago, some committees of the National Assembly commended the ebullient minister for his sterling performance.
There is no whiff of evidence that his involvement in party matters in Ondo State has, in any way, diminished his capacity to discharge his national responsibilities. Assuming his involvement in subnational politics has incapacitated him in any way, his performance as a minister would not have been this stellar.
Third, Tunji-Ojo is not a peripheral figure in Ondo politics; he is a recognised leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. Leadership within a political party carries responsibilities, which involve mobilisation, reconciliation, strategic coordination, and strengthening grassroots structures. His engagement in party affairs, particularly efforts to consolidate support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, is not only legitimate but also expected of a committed party stalwart who wants the best for his principal and the party at large.
It is also important to distinguish between “interference” and “participation.” Participation in party activities does not equate to undermining the constitutional authority of the sitting governor or destabilising state governance. Political engagement within one’s party structure is a normal and integral part of democratic life. It is only those who are scared of intra-party competition who resort to name-calling and violence to inhibit those with more grassroots support and street credibility, which the minister has in ample supply.
The suggestion that a minister must be politically sequestered from his home state sets a dangerous precedent. By that logic, every federal appointee would be required to abandon legitimate political associations in their constituencies. This is a notion unsupported by law, convention, or democratic practice. It is dangerous and must be condemned by every right-thinking person.
By and large, Tunji-Ojo remains fully within his constitutional rights to contribute to the political development of Ondo State and to the strengthening of his party while simultaneously serving the nation diligently. His record at the Ministry of Interior demonstrates that he is capable of balancing both responsibilities effectively and seamlessly.
Public discourse should be guided by facts, not assumptions or impulses lacking empirical evidence and a coherent sequence of facts. Until there is evidence of dereliction of duty, which there is not, calls for resignation are premature, unwarranted, and politically motivated.
To Tope Adefemiwa and his shadowy backers in government at Alagbaka, here’s a nugget for your digestion and internalisation: democracy thrives not by silencing participation but by respecting constitutional freedoms and institutional boundaries. I know this may be difficult for you and your ilk to comprehend, given the level of shallowness and hollowness that pervades the cabinet, but it is nevertheless pertinent to say it for the few who will understand and serve as interpreters to the majority.
Oluwatoyin writes from Akure, Ondo State.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this page are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Starnews NG.
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