Tunji-Ojo Resigns As Federal Lawmaker, Becomes Tinubu's Minister

Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has resigned as the member representing Akoko North-East/West Federal Constituency of Ondo State in the House of Representatives.

Tunji-Ojo, resigned to formally take over as the minister for Interior.

His resignation letter which was said to have been submitted at the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, since Friday, was made available to newsmen on Monday, few hours before his inauguration.

In the letter, Tunji-Ojo explained that his resignation was necessitated by his appointment to serve Nigerians as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in President Bola Tinubu's administration.

He noted that he had been chosen at a time when the country was in dire need of technocrats to help contribute their quota to the advancement and economic growth of the nation.

A part of the letter read, "Our dear country is in dire need of collaborative and concerted efforts that would engender the much-needed advancement to greater heights and I have been appointed to contribute my quota to achieve that enviable objective as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.ÔÇØ

Taking to his Facebook handle, Tunji-Ojo wrote;

On February 23, 2019, you gave me your mandate to represent you at the green chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.

It was a huge confidence and trust reposed in me, and I had an unusual record of rewriting, reshaping, and redefining our stories, delivering effective and responsive representation when I toiled the length and breadth of the two local government areas of the Federal Constituency.

We rose above the attendant challenges, which used to serve as excuses for not delivering the good of the land to the people. Within the period, we changed the narratives. We rewrote the history of our land so that generations unborn will not only read about it but will also benefit from it. We raised the bar for representative democracy. Evidence of this commitment is scattered across the constituency.

From the Oyinmo by-pass road to the once-dreaded Arigidi Akoko to Okeagbe Akoko road to the forgotten Ase road to the Auga road and other roads, over 100 km of road projects were facilitated.

Several industrial boreholes were installed, and transformers were provided to all the communities for the use of our people. Our enterprising market women were empowered with grants to support their businesses, and our students enjoyed bursary provision to support their education.

The agricultural and health sectors, as well as security, received attention through so many intervention projects. I have always held the belief that it is Akoko that will develop Akoko, and my actions have proved that postulation to be true.

In the midst of this, I did not forget the core legislative duties. In four years, I drafted bills and ensured they were passed by the National Assembly to change the economic and administrative landscape of our country.

You proved to me that hard work is the most important virtue if we are to achieve a society where the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people, especially at the grassroots. You rewarded me with a second term in office when you went to the polls on the 25th of February, 2023, where you returned me with over eighty percent of the votes cast. Nothing could be more humbling!

His Excellency, President 'Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), has found your son worthy to serve in the federal cabinet in his quest to deliver on his #RenewedHope promises. I consider this a thing of pride for you, for Akoko, for Ondo State, and for the young Nigerians at home and abroad.

I thank His Excellency, Asiwaju 'Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the opportunity to join his team as he leads the nation to freedom. I reaffirm my belief in his mandate, and I cannot wait to serve in the cabinet.

Today, as I bow out as your lawmaker, I thank you for your support, which I know will not droop.

While I will miss drafting bills and defending the Nigerian people on the floor of the house, I am delighted to take up this huge task ahead of me as we work towards giving back to Nigeria and Nigerians, both home and abroad.