By Abubakar Yunusa
President Bola Tinubu says he appointed Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation, and digital economy, despite his criticism of him.
Tinubu spoke while responding to Tijani’s comment during a special Iftar held in the president’s honour at the presidential villa to mark his 73rd birthday.
While delivering a goodwill message to the president during the event, Tijani reflected on his appointment by Tinubu despite his past activism and criticism of the president and the national assembly.
“Before my appointment, I had never met Mr. President. But after my confirmation, he told me, ‘I have looked at your records and activism, and I have seen there is something in you,’” Tijani said.
“’I am giving you the opportunity to represent your country and contribute to making it a better place’.
“I was expecting a proper scolding because of my records, but the magnanimity of the president is one that I experienced for the very first time in my life.
“I remember that in that meeting, some people brought out my record again and told Mr. President, ‘He said this, he did this.’ But the president said, ‘Shut it.’”
Responding to the minister, Tinubu confirmed that nominating Tijani as a minister was difficult due to reservations from the president’s close associates.
Tinubu said Tijani’s past frustration now fuels his work in government, making him “very proud”.
“When I picked him, it was tough. My very close confidantes, who had read his comments on social media, came to me and said, ‘No, never.’ I said, ‘Yes, he is talented,” Tinubu said.
“Because he criticises me and pours abuses on the parliament, it does not mean he has nothing to offer.
“Maybe his frustration at that time will drive him to contribute more to governance. And today, he is doing that, and I am very proud of him.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised Tinubu’s ability to forgive critics, recalling the intense debate that preceded Tijani’s confirmation as a minister.
“When he came to the senate for screening, senators said, ‘No, no, we can’t have him.’ One senator quoted from the internet where he described all Nigerian senators as ‘morons’,” Akpabio said.
“I had to stop proceedings and ask Bosun, ‘Did you write this?’ And he admitted, ‘Sir, I did because that was how I felt then.’”
Akpabio said he then asked Tijani, “You have the audacity to stand before us and expect us to confirm you?”
The lawmaker said Tinubu’s judgment and the lawmakers’ trust in the president was what ultimately swayed the lawmakers to approve Tijani’s appointment.
“Mr. President, we confirmed him because we knew you must have seen something special in him. You are never wrong when it comes to your judgment of people,” Akpabio said.
“I went into an executive session and told my colleagues, Let us give this young man an opportunity and see what happens.”
Akpabio added that Tijani is one of the best-performing ministers in the cabinet.
