A civil rights advocacy organization, League for Good Governance (LEGOG), has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist pressure from vested interests allegedly pushing for the protection of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over claims that he forged his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.
The group, in a statement signed by its Convener, Isaiah Davies Ijele, on Tuesday in Abuja, said although the Minister has been widely acknowledged for his performance in office, every public official must be held accountable under the law.
“There is no doubt that Tunji-Ojo is a performing Minister, but Nigeria operates under the rule of law. Any attempt to ignore the allegations against him will amount to undermining the very principles on which this government stands,” the statement said.
LEGOG maintained that the President’s credibility and commitment to justice would be reinforced if he allows a transparent investigation into the matter.
“Rather than overlook the allegations, President Tinubu should direct the Minister to subject himself to proper scrutiny. Coming clean on the NYSC certificate he presented will only strengthen public trust in this administration,” the group added.
The organization cautioned that bowing to pressure from individuals calling for the issue to be swept aside could damage the President’s reputation for fairness and integrity.
“Allowing such a sensitive matter to be ignored could erode confidence in the government’s stance on good governance and accountability. This is especially so now that another Minister recently resigned under similar circumstances,” LEGOG noted.
The group further warned that shielding any official from investigation could introduce unnecessary ethnic interpretations and embolden critics of the government.
“The President must tread carefully. Shielding Tunji-Ojo could send the wrong signal and hand the opposition a weapon to question his integrity. Former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun faced a similar issue and resigned without creating political distractions,” the statement continued.
LEGOG stressed that the issue should not be politicized and called on the Minister to personally seek verification of his NYSC certificate from the appropriate authorities.
“This is not a witch-hunt. The Minister should go to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja for verification. Every Nigerian, regardless of position, must be accountable. Those attempting to distract the President should desist,” the statement concluded.
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