Hon. Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesperson for the House of Representatives, praised Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, calling him “more than just a performing minister, but a priceless asset to the National Assembly.” He dismissed the recent controversy surrounding his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate as “baseless political propaganda from forces opposed to progress.”
Agbese told reporters on Tuesday in Abuja that the accusations were a part of “a deliberate plot to distract a visionary reformer whose groundbreaking initiatives have transformed the operations of Nigeria’s public institutions.”
The senator said, “Dr. Tunji-Ojo has transformed the Ministry of Interior into a symbol of innovation and efficiency in less than a year.”
In just three weeks, he cleared a backlog of more than 200,000 passports, implemented a fully automated system that did away with intermediaries and corruption, and opened new passport offices overseas to serve Nigerians living abroad. Thanks to his visionary leadership, Nigerians can now obtain their passports in a matter of days as opposed to months.
Agbese pointed out that Tunji-Ojo’s influence extends beyond the Immigration Service to the ministry’s other agencies and the prison industry.
He has brought discipline and order back to the prison system. In order to relieve congestion, more than 4,500 prisoners have been released, escapees are now tracked using biometric data systems, and jailbreak instances have all but vanished, he claimed.
The congressman claims that the minister’s focus on staff welfare and human capacity development has boosted morale among the paramilitary organizations.
“He has improved officers’ welfare packages, implemented digital performance tracking systems, and prioritized prompt promotions. Today, the ministry is renowned for its honesty and efficiency. This year alone, it has brought in almost ₦6 billion, demonstrating that efficiency and accountability can coexist,” Agbese continued.
Agbese argued that Tunji-Ojo’s stellar record threatened those responsible for the NYSC certificate scandal, calling it “a desperate smear campaign.”
“Those who are unable to compete with greatness are responsible for the certificate claim, which is pure fabrication. It’s a recurring strategy: whenever a youthful, goal-oriented leader starts to challenge the established quo, critics surface with made-up narratives. However, Nigerians are now more astute, he claimed.
Agbese urged the people to concentrate on observable outcomes rather than baseless assertions.
“Performance, not rumors, should be used to evaluate governance. He remarked, “Every Nigerian can attest to the improvements in the Interior Ministry, faster services, improved transparency, and greater accountability.”
Additionally, he warned against the increasing abuse of social media to disparage public employees, stating that valid complaints should be directed to the appropriate authorities.
“If someone has legitimate concerns, they can be addressed by established institutions. Agbese cautioned that using online mob trials would simply erode due process and harm our democracy.
The deputy spokesperson lauded Tunji-Ojo as a brilliant example of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, pointing out that his combination of youth, skill, and patriotism had restored public trust in government agencies.
“Dr. Tunji-Ojo represents a new generation of leaders who are creative, methodical, and results-oriented. He is creating mechanisms that will outlive political noise, not chasing attention. Agbese said, “Those who propagate lies will eventually disappear, but his record of excellence and reform will endure.”
