The founder of BudgIT, Seun Onigbinde, has firmly defended his decision to delete old social media posts that criticised Peter Obi’s tenure as Anambra State governor.
He stated that he does not owe anyone an explanation for the removal of those tweets, which date back to 2015.
Recently, some social media users resurfaced Onigbinde’s past tweets, in which he harshly criticised Obi’s governance. These resurfaced posts have led to a storm of online debates, especially since Onigbinde later endorsed Obi’s presidential bid.
Explaining his actions, Onigbinde stated that his decision to “protect my tweets” was driven by the need to shield himself from a wave of falsehoods, personal insults, and curses directed at him.
He pointed out that the nature of discourse on platforms like 𝕏 often leaves little room for nuance, instead fostering a “you’re either with us or against us” mentality.
“I don’t owe you that explanation, nor do I have the time or interest to engage in such distractions,” Onigbinde remarked. He emphasized that social media, for him, has always been a space to share ideas, learn, and unwind.
He continued, “If I find a tweet that lacks context or no longer serves clarity, I’m happy to remove it. That doesn’t change my lifelong commitment to public accountability—a principle I believe remains one of the strongest levers for a better society.”
Onigbinde lamented the current state of 𝕏, calling it a “poisoned well,” where anonymity, virality, and troll farms work together to undermine honest discussions and amplify toxicity.
He expressed hope for younger Nigerians to resist harmful stereotypes and focus on building their potential without being swayed by online negativity.
“My hope for younger Nigerians is to resist the harmful stereotypes that shrink their worldview and undermine their potential. “I have been shaped by friendships and support from people across faiths, races, and genders,” he said.
Onigbinde further added, “What I long for is a civic culture where people respect differing views, hold government accountable through facts and data, and collectively build a country where everyone can thrive.”
Onigbinde also made it clear that anyone who engages in “vile commentary” without understanding his work with BudgIT, Tracka, or Ogbomoso would likely find themselves muted or blocked.
He explained, “These are not acts of malice—they’re simply boundaries,” reinforcing his commitment to maintaining a respectful and productive online space.
