Senate President Godswill Akpabio has explained the Senate’s decision to confirm Dr. Bosun Tijani as Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, despite Tijani’s past controversial statements, including referring to Nigerian lawmakers as “morons.”
Akpabio disclosed that Tijani’s screening in the Senate was challenging due to these previous remarks, but ultimately, the senators were persuaded by their confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s decision.
Akpabio made these remarks on Saturday night at a special Iftar held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, celebrating President Bola Tinubu’s 73rd birthday.
President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, released details of the event in a statement titled “President Tinubu: Why I Appointed Bosun Tijani as Minister Despite Past Criticism.”
According to the statement, Akpabio acknowledged that Tijani’s screening was difficult because a senator recalled an incident where Tijani had reportedly called all lawmakers “morons.”
Read Also: Why I Appointed Bosun Tijani As Minister Despite Criticising Me In The Past – Tinubu
Akpabio narrated, “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.’
“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.’ So I asked him, ‘And you have the audacity to stand before us and expect us to confirm you?’”
The Senate President noted that what ultimately swayed the lawmakers was their trust in President Tinubu’s judgment.
“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.
“I went into an executive session and told my colleagues, ‘Let us give this young man an opportunity and see what happens.’
“And today, I am happy to say that he is one of the best-performing ministers in the cabinet,” he stated.
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