Olujonwo Obasanjo, son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has joined the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation, popularly known as Tinubu Must Stay, a political advocacy group promoting President Bola Tinubu’s policies and reforms.
Mr Olujonwo, who is president of the Buhari Youth Organisation and Project One Nigeria, as well as Senior Special Assistant to the Ogun State governor on Housing, announced his decision at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
The leadership of the movement formally welcomed him into the organisation at the event.
He said his decision was informed by his political experience, understanding of Nigeria’s reform history and the need to sustain government policies across administrations.
Mr Olujonwo said he had been a member of the All Progressives Congress since its formation in 2014.
“I’ve been in the APC since 2014. I was there when my father hosted the late President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to form the movement. I’m not new to the party,” he said.
He argued that some policies of the Tinubu administration had not been adequately explained to Nigerians, creating 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 have access to loans. Nigeria has become a massive construction site and an investors’ haven again. These are things we need to promote,” he said.
Mr Olujonwo said government communication should go beyond political slogans to explain the objectives, implementation and implications of policies for citizens.
The National Coordinator of the movement and Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, welcomed him, saying his background would strengthen the organisation’s advocacy for sustained economic reforms.
Inuwa drew parallels between reforms introduced under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and those being implemented by Tinubu.
“You grew up in a family that led the second wave of reforms in Nigeria. Telecommunications liberalisation, banking reforms — these laid a solid foundation. Being raised in that family, you understand what reforms mean,” he said.
He said policy consistency was necessary to sustain investor confidence and long-term economic planning, warning that reversing reforms could undermine progress.
“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.
Mr Inuwa said the movement would expand its structures nationwide and engage stakeholders from different professional, political and social backgrounds.
He said although the group supported policy continuity beyond 2027, its broader objective was to promote sustainable governance and institutional development.
The Director-General of TMS, Marcel Ngogbehei, also described Olujonwo’s entry as significant, citing his family’s association with economic reforms and democratic consolidation.
Ngogbehei, a former coordinator of the Obidient movement, recalled economic policies introduced under Obasanjo, including telecommunications liberalisation and Nigeria’s external debt relief.
“We’re 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.
He said TMS was established to improve public understanding of government policies, address misconceptions about ongoing reforms and encourage citizens to assess governance based on evidence and measurable outcomes.
“This is not about propaganda. We will engage respectfully, factually and transparently,” he said.
The foundation said its activities would cover strategic communication, civic engagement, policy research, leadership development and community mobilisation.
It said its focus included improving public understanding of the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in economic management, infrastructure, education, digital transformation, social investment and institutional reforms.
The organisation said it would operate through a Board of Trustees, national coordinators and specialised directorates responsible for communication, research, mobilisation, information technology and digital engagement.
It also plans to use digital platforms, virtual town hall meetings and community engagements to explain government policies and encourage public participation.
According to the foundation, its research activities would examine policy outcomes, identify communication gaps and provide information to support public debate on governance and development.
It added that it would deploy fact-checking and credible data to counter misinformation and disinformation.
The foundation said Olujonwo’s entry would strengthen its engagement with political stakeholders, professionals, youth organisations and community leaders as it expands its activities nationwide.