President Bola Tinubu’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is facing fresh criticism over what many see as misplaced priorities. Instead of delivering on his mandate, opposition voices allege that the minister is more focused on plotting his next political move ahead of 2027.
Chukwuka Eneh, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused Nnaji of secretly preparing to abandon the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to him, Nnaji held closed-door talks with opposition figures in his hometown, Akpugo, during the burial of football legend Christian Chukwu in Enugu State.
Eneh described the minister’s alleged plan as “a betrayal of office,” warning that Nnaji’s attention is divided between politics and his cabinet seat. He noted that while the ministry often releases glossy statements about billions in foreign investments, satellites, AI-driven hospitals, and youth training programmes, most Nigerians see little or no impact on the ground. “These achievements look good on paper, but where are the results ordinary citizens can actually feel?” Eneh asked.
The PDP stalwart contrasted Nnaji’s record with that of his predecessor, the late Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who launched visible initiatives such as the Made in Nigeria policy, methanol fuel promotion, local vaccine production steps, and the annual Techexpo that brought together innovators across the country. “Those were tangible efforts. Nnaji’s record, on the other hand, is noise without substance,” he added.
Eneh didn’t stop there—he also criticized Nnaji’s political missteps. Pointing to the minister’s failed 2023 governorship bid, he said, “Nnaji has no electoral base, no charisma, and no grassroots structure. His only political asset today is the ministerial seat gifted to him through Tinubu and Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma.”
According to Eneh, Nnaji’s saga is less about innovation and science, and more about a politician struggling to stay relevant—caught between unfulfilled promises and looming political ambitions.
