BTO'S VANGUARD

Today, as Nigeria marks another Democracy Day, the air is filled not just with the memory of June 12 but with the living proof that democracy can indeed deliver. And for those of us from Ondo State, this day feels extra special. Because one of our own, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Honourable Minister of Interior, has been quietly but firmly reshaping how this country serves its people. When you think of the long, frustrating queues at passport offices – the kind that made grown men and women shed tears of helplessness – you will smile at what has changed. Under Tunji-Ojo’s watch, getting a Nigerian passport has become almost seamless, with online applications, faster processing, and a new respect for the citizen’s time. That is democracy working. That is a minister who understands that governance is about easing the small but heavy burdens people carry every day.

But his work goes far beyond travel documents. Walk into any of our correctional centres today, and you will see a different story – fewer innocent souls rotting away on awaiting trial, more focus on reform and dignity. The Minister pushed hard for decongestion, working with judges and state officials, and thousands of Nigerians have been given a second chance to rejoin their families and communities. That is not just policy; that is humanity. And when you add the modernisation of the fire service, the strengthening of border security to keep us safe from smuggling and human trafficking, and the empowerment of the civil defence corps to protect our electricity towers and water pipes, you begin to understand the scale of what this one man has done in a few years.

For us in Ondo State, pride swells in a very personal way. From the villages of Akoko to the city of Akure, people speak of him not as a distant Abuja big man, but as a son who remembers his roots. He has brought federal attention to our farmlands, ensuring agro-rangers protect our farmers from bandits. He has ensured that our local government areas benefit from interior ministry programmes that create jobs and build trust. Traditional rulers bless him, market women mention his name with a smile, and young people see a reflection of what they too can become. On this Democracy Day, Nigeria has many heroes, but few have touched the everyday life of the common man as deeply as Dr. Tunji-Ojo. Ondo is proud. Nigeria is grateful. And BTo’s Vanguard salutes a minister who proves that democracy, when placed in caring hands, can truly light up a nation.

Rt Hon.(Amb) Wealth Akerele
Director/Cordinator BTO’s Vanguard
12th June 2026