Obasanjo’s son joins Tinubu Must Stay Movement

Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has joined the Tinubu Must Stay Movement, pledging to promote policy continuity and improve public understanding of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

Olujonwo announced his decision at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, where the leadership of the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation (TMS) formally welcomed him into the movement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that TMS is a political advocacy platform established to promote policy continuity, sustainable governance and public understanding of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Explaining his decision to join the movement, Olujonwo said his political experience, understanding of Nigeria’s reform history and belief in sustaining government policies across administrations influenced his choice.

“I’ve been in the APC since 2014. I was there when my father hosted late President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu to form the movement. I’m not new to the party,” he said.

He attributed some of the negative perceptions surrounding the administration to inadequate communication of its policies, arguing that the information gap had created room for misinformation and misinterpretation.

“There’s a lot of noise out there, and people are distorting what’s going on. ASUU has had no strikes. Students now have access to education loans.

“Nigeria has become a massive construction site and an investors’ haven again. These are things we need to promote,” he said.

Olujonwo stressed that effective communication of government policies should go beyond political slogans to explain their objectives, implementation processes and implications for citizens.

The National Coordinator of TMS and Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, welcomed him, saying his family background had exposed him to the significance of economic reforms and their contribution to national development.

“You grew up in a family that led the second wave of reforms in Nigeria. Telecommunications liberalisation and banking reforms — these laid a solid foundation.

“Being raised in that family, you understand what reforms mean,” Abdullahi said.

He emphasised the importance of policy consistency, warning that frequent reversals could weaken investor confidence and disrupt long-term economic planning.

“We are building investors’ confidence; the naira is becoming strong, our stock exchange is one of the fastest-growing.

“The Dangote Refinery is a game changer. If we start reversing these policies, we’ll go back to where we were,” he said.

Abdullahi said the movement would expand its nationwide structures and engage stakeholders across professional, political and social groups to promote its objectives.

He added that TMS supported policy continuity beyond 2027, with a focus on strengthening institutions and ensuring the sustainability of government programmes.

The Director-General of TMS, Marcel Ngogbehei, also described Olujonwo’s entry into the movement as significant, citing his family’s association with economic reforms and democratic consolidation.

Ngogbehei, a former coordinator of the Obidient movement, recalled former President Obasanjo’s telecommunications liberalisation policies and Nigeria’s external debt relief, saying the reforms helped establish foundations for subsequent economic development.

“We are happy you have decided to take this step. Your father was one of those who revolutionised this country.

“The debt was paid off, and major innovations were introduced in liberalising the economy,” he said.

Ngogbehei said TMS was established to promote informed public engagement on government policies, counter misconceptions about ongoing reforms and encourage assessments based on evidence and measurable outcomes.
NAN