Debate rekindles online as Nigerians urge Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo to submit to probe amid renewed allegations

Fresh controversy has erupted on social media over the academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) records of Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, following renewed public scrutiny and heated exchanges among supporters and critics.

The dispute resurfaced after a supporter of the minister, Omolere Festus Dayo, circulated a lengthy defense titled “Facts Over Falsehood: Setting the Record Straight on Hon. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo Academic and NYSC Records.” The statement sought to counter what he described as “deliberate misinformation” regarding the minister’s educational background and NYSC participation.

Supporter Defends Minister’s Credentials
In his post, Dayo insisted that Tunji-Ojo’s academic records are “verifiable and authentic,” stating that the minister began his tertiary education at Obafemi Awolowo University in 1999 before transferring to the University of North London, where he completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication. He added that, following the 2002 merger that formed London Metropolitan University, the minister’s degree was formally issued under the new institution.

Dayo further claimed that Tunji-Ojo obtained a Master’s degree in Digital Communication and Networking in 2006 and emphasized that the NYSC had confirmed the authenticity of the minister’s service certificate.

According to him, the NYSC revealed that the minister was initially mobilized in 2006 but was remobilized in 2019 after failing to complete his service due to personal reasons. His certificate, Dayo said, was formally issued on February 28, 2023.

He argued that no laws were violated in the process and described continuing allegations of forgery or misconduct as “mischievous,” urging journalists to uphold accuracy and responsible reporting.

Critics Push Back
However, Dayo’s defense was met with swift and forceful opposition from several Nigerians who insisted that the minister must submit to an independent investigation.

One commenter, Comrade Smith Smith, dismissed the defense as “not genuine,” arguing that performance in office should not be used to overshadow allegations.
“No Minister of Interior has performed more than him, but performance cannot be used to justify illegality,” he wrote. “Let the man in question just submit himself to undiluted investigation.”

Dayo fired back, insisting that since the NYSC had cleared the minister, no individual had the authority to question his credentials further.

A civic accountability group, Integrity Watch Nigeria, also joined the debate, accusing the minister’s defenders of inconsistency. The group raised questions about conflicting dates in the minister’s educational history, the timing of his NYSC mobilization, and the issuance of his certificate.

They argued that several of the explanations “contradict themselves,” citing, among other issues, the timeline of his admission to foreign institutions and his simultaneous NYSC and political engagements.

Their criticisms were echoed by Hon. Osanyinlusi Ayokunle Idowu, who suggested that the minister’s associates were struggling to reconcile conflicting narratives surrounding his records.

More Nigerians Weigh In
Other participants in the debate challenged Dayo directly. While some supporters argued that critics were free to travel to London to verify records if they doubted them, others maintained that public accountability required transparency from the minister himself.

Comr Smith Smith countered such arguments, noting, “Too busy to clear the air on this weighty allegation? Nawa for you.”

Another participant, Idowu Oluwole, posed further questions regarding whether the minister held public office or earned salaries at any time when he allegedly did not possess a valid NYSC certificate. He argued that these were critical details requiring clarification.

Call for Clarity Continues
As the online debate widens, many Nigerians maintain that only a transparent investigation can settle the matter. While Tunji-Ojo’s supporters insist that all allegations have already been clarified through official channels, critics argue that accountability in public office requires more than statements shared on social media.

The minister has not personally responded to these latest controversies.