Journalists barred from interior ministry as Tunji-Ojo assumes office

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo

There was a mild drama at the Ministry of Interior on Monday, August 21, 2023, following attempts by security operatives attached to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to shut out journalists and some ministry officials from the ministry’s conference hall.

Tunji-Ojo assumed office after his inauguration, alongside 44 others, by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

A drama however ensued after the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Oluwatoyin Akinlade, ordered security operatives to throw out journalists who she had invited for the event.

After waiting for over two hours at the minister’s Waiting Room to see the possibility of interviewing him on his blueprint for the ministry, most of the journalists then decided to stage a walk-out.

Tunji-Ojo, who was initially assigned to the new Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, arrived at the old federal secretariat at about 2:20 p.m., more than two hours after the time announced for the event.

Speaking at the event, the minister charged paramilitary service chiefs in the ministry to discharge their mandates in line with extant laws, saying he would hold them accountable for any infraction.

He said: “I am here to work but in working we must have a good environment. The work of this ministry affects everyone whether you are rich or poor.

“I don’t lead from the back, I lead from the front. We will try, we will do our best to provide leadership, built on the foundation of your support.

“I do not inherit enemies and I do not inherit friends. I make my own enemies and I earn my own friends. I am here to make a change and I am here to deliver results and I need you to help me to do that.

“Just as Mr President will hold me accountable for whatever happens in the Ministry of Interior, I will never hold your subordinates responsible for anything; I will hold you responsible for anything that goes wrong.”

The Star