BOSUN TIJANI INSULTS CRITIC ON X, CALLS HIM ‘OMO ALE’

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has sparked outrage after replying to a critic on X with a Yoruba insult that translates to “bastard.”

The bastard critic exchange began after the minister announced the launch of the National Universal Communications Access Project on his verified handle on October 15, 2026, and a user responded with a dismissive comment.

THE EXCHANGE

The minister had posted about NUCAP, describing it as “another major step towards connecting every Nigerian,” and detailing plans to deliver 3,700 telecommunications towers across the country, connecting close to 20 million Nigerians currently without access.

An X user, @chelssy506, commented on the post, writing, “Nigga you don’t know what you’re doing at all,” with a sad emoji .

The minister replied on October 16, 2026, at 8:15 p.m., writing: “Omo a le!”.

In Yoruba, “Omo ale” means bastard, a child born out of wedlock.

The minister’s reply also included a second part in Yoruba that translates to: “It is members of your family who are niggas”.

Screenshots of the exchange seen by reporters showed the minister’s reply had garnered over 4,700 views.

THE CONDEMNATION

Critics say the incident raises moral questions because Tijani heads the ministry that regulates Nigeria’s digital space and champions digital civility, online safety and responsible communication

The Ministry of Communications is currently driving Project BRIDGE and NUCAP to connect unserved communities, and the minister has repeatedly called for responsible use of digital platforms.

A public communication expert said that while a minister has the right to defend himself against insults, using a slur like “Omo ale,” which attacks a person’s birth status and drags their family into the insult, lowers the moral standing of the office.

Others argue that Nigerians should also stop insulting public officers, as the X user who called the minister “nigga” started the abuse.

As of the time of the report, Tijani had not deleted the post and had not issued any clarification.

A PATTERN OF CONTROVERSY

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This is not the first time Tijani has been embroiled in controversy over his social media conduct.

In 2023, during his ministerial screening, senators confronted him over past tweets in which he reportedly described Nigerian lawmakers as “morons”.

Tijani apologised at the time, saying the tweets did not represent him and that he was “profusely sorry”.

President Tinubu defended the appointment, saying that criticism should not disqualify a talented individual from serving.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio later said Tijani had become one of the best-performing ministers in the cabinet.

WHY IT MATTERS

The exchange highlights a recurring tension in Nigerian public life: the expectation that public officials maintain decorum, even when provoked, versus the reality that social media is an unregulated space where insults are common.

For Tijani, the incident is a reputational setback. He leads a ministry that promotes digital civility and responsible online conduct.

Calling a critic a “bastard”, even in response to provocation undermines that message.

For Nigerians, the episode raises a question: if the minister responsible for digital economy cannot restrain himself on X, what hope is there for the rest of the country?

ValidViewNetwork reports that Tijani has not deleted the post or issued a clarification. The exchange remains live on X.