Betta Edu: Young progressives seek immediate suspension of Tunji-Ojo

As debates continue to heat up over the involvement of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in the scandalous contract at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Young Progressive Party (YPP), has called for the immediate suspension of the minister. The party said if the president fails to suspend Tunji-Ojo within 48 […]

As debates continue to heat up over the involvement of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in the scandalous contract at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Young Progressive Party (YPP), has called for the immediate suspension of the minister.

The party said if the president fails to suspend Tunji-Ojo within 48 hours, it would mobilize youths across the country to shut down Abuja on Monday, January 15, 2024, at the same time, mobilize for mass action in United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom (UK), where it boasted of large followership.

In an open letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Tuesday night and signed by the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Emmanuel Bishop Amakiri, the YPP cited “abuse of office” as its reason for calling for the head of Tunji-Ojo.

“We have gathered evidence that a company owned by Minister Tunji Ojo, New Planet Project Limited, was paid a total of N438.1 million by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation under the leadership of Dr. Betta Edu, for consultancy services.

“This payment was part of the N3 billion awarded to several consultants for the National Social Register contract, which was intended for cash transfers and social investment programs.

“The payments made to Minister Tunji Ojo’s company, New Planet Project Limited, include N279 million for the verification of the list and an additional N159 million for the same purpose. It is worth noting that the company, which was registered on March 3, 2009, with registration number 804833, has Minister Tunji Ojo and his wife, Abimbola, listed as directors, with Gbadamasi Gbadamasi Clement as the company’s secretary.

“We strongly believe that Minister Tunji Ojo’s actions are in direct violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the Code of Conduct law. Sections 5 and 6 of the Code of Conduct law clearly prohibit public officers from engaging in conflicts of interest and participating in any business other than farming,” the letter reads in part.

The party therefore, called on the President to immediately suspend Tunji-Ojo, while seeking a “comprehensive and independent investigation into the alleged misconduct, involving the appropriate authorities and agencies”.

If found guilty of abusing his office, the YPP urged Tinubu to initiate “appropriate legal actions against Tunji-Ojo”, to serve as a deterrent to others.

Recall that an award of contract for verification of beneficiary’s list in the empowerment programs undertaken by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was linked to a company owned by Hon. Tunji-Ojo.

Although the Interior Minister had since cleared the air that he resigned the ownership of the company, New Planet Project Limited since 2019, when he won election into the House of Representatives, but Nigerians believe he still has shares in the company and as such, an interested party in the firm.