When the World Celebrated a Brilliant Promise Keeper, Tunji-Ojo

Ask those who know him or have had cause to meet Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, and you will hear good stories about a young man and his contribution to the development of his immediate political constituency and the Nigerian nation.

Tunji-Ojo, better known as BTO to his people, has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he has a magic wand that is adept at solving problems that many before him had found too knotty to unravel.

He has demonstrated so much brilliance that confounded many of his mates and left even the worst of his enemies to come to terms with reality.

The Ondo State-born politician is a remarkable goal-getter who takes delight in setting targets for himself and going after them with vigour and determination. You could not but be enthralled by his articulation and aplomb whenever he discusses matters of national interest with a well-articulated grasp of the subject.

So, you won’t expect anything less when a man with such an intimidating profile, who in such little time has contributed in high measures to the growth of Nigeria, celebrates his birthday.

On Tuesday, May 1, when the minister added yet another glorious year to his age, it was not surprising that his people trooped in large numbers to celebrate a man who has opened their eyes to the reality that a Nigerian politician can indeed contribute so much to the development of his people.

Although the quiet and easy-going minister is not given to frivolities or wanton revelry, he was celebrated by families, friends, close associates, staffers as well as admirers who poured encomiums on him for his impact in the lives of many of them.

In one of his oft-quoted statements, the popular Bishop of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great, said: “A good deed is never lost. He who sows courtesy reaps friendship; he who plants kindness, gathers love; pleasure bestowed on a grateful mind was never sterile, but generally gratitude begets reward.”

This largely played out as the people gathered to worship God with a man who has never hidden the fact that he enjoys the amazing grace of God in his life and at all times finds reasons to give thanks to his Creator.

 An engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and politician, BTO belongs to the rare breed of Nigerian politicians who never forget to ensure that a leader’s success is measured by the amount of smiles he puts on the faces of the people.

As a member of the House of Representatives representing Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State (2019 to 2023), he successfully put to lie the various excuses of the previous holders of the by ensuring that all the communities in the federal constituency benefitted one form of outstanding project or the other.

It was no surprise that he broke an age-long jinx of any House of Representatives member getting a second term since the creation of the constituency as the people spoke with one voice and returned him to the House.

He was, however, primed by President Bola Tinubu as Minister of the Interior Ministry in August 2023. His streaks of successes in the ministry have confirmed that the huge successes he recorded as a member of the Lower Chamber are no flukes.  He, no doubt, is ready for greater assignments.