The appointment of Oluseun Onigbinde, Lead Partner of budgIT, as a Technical Adviser in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning under the current administration has sparked significant public discourse. The discussion has largely centered on his past criticisms of the government and the status of his Twitter account. Onigbinde’s transition from a prominent civic advocate to a government official has elicited a range of reactions across Nigeria, highlighting the complexities of public service and accountability.

Prior to co-founding budgIT, Seun Onigbinde gained professional experience at Access Bank for one year and First Bank for three years. It was during his tenure at First Bank that he conceived the idea for budgIT, an initiative aimed at increasing transparency by publicizing government spending to the general public. For years, Onigbinde, often referred to simply as "Seun" online, had been a vocal critic of the administration's policies on Twitter, actively denouncing various government actions. This established history as a government critic made his recent appointment particularly surprising and controversial to many Nigerians.

A substantial portion of the initial public reaction was critical, with many expressing shock and disapproval. Social media users pointed to the perceived hypocrisy of his appointment, given his previous opposition to the administration he was now joining. Several tweets encapsulated this sentiment. For instance, @TosinOlugbenga wrote, "Seun Onigbinde deleted his Twitter account after getting appointment for Buhari's government. The same Buhari that we all detest his government. I am learning a new lesson from this. 'CRITICISE THE GOVT UNTIL THEY APPOINT YOU AND KEEP QUIET'." Other criticisms labeled him a "double agent" (@FuturisticNaija) and questioned his motives, suggesting he was "only looking for what to eat" (@Optimistic_Ade), particularly after previously lambasting government supporters. The assumed deletion of his Twitter account was widely interpreted as a deliberate move to evade backlash, as articulated by @AyoBankole: "Better to delete his account than start defending the things he criticized." Some commentators even questioned if he now "love[d] mediocrity" or had become a "closet ethnic jingoist" (@fimiletoks), reflecting a sense of betrayal among former followers.

However, reactions were not uniformly negative. Many Nigerians supported Onigbinde’s decision, viewing it as a positive step. Supporters argued that rather than criticizing from the sidelines, individuals with expertise should actively participate in governance to address national challenges. Dr. Joe Abah expressed pleasure at the appointment, urging young people to avoid extremism and recognize that the country's interests supersede any single administration. Dr. Ola Brown highlighted Onigbinde’s area of expertise, stating, "Seun has only one area of expertise. It’s the Nigerian budget. We all know that. Now he is in a position to influence it." Others, including Ose Anenih and JJ. Omojuwa, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the best form of activism involves actively solving problems rather than just identifying them. They praised the Minister of Budget & Planning for selecting a competent critic, suggesting that Nigeria ultimately benefits from such engagements.

Amid the controversy, budgIT’s Communication Associate, Shakir Akorede, clarified the status of Onigbinde’s Twitter account, stating: "I know Seun. He would never run away from Twitter. It was a platform on which he talked about governance issues. He didn’t delete his Twitter account; it might have been deactivated." Shortly thereafter, Seun Onigbinde addressed the reactions personally on a new Twitter handle, thanking all who had engaged with him—whether encouraging, critical, or even submitting CVs. He expressed honor at trending on what he called a "special day", signaling his willingness to continue engaging with the public despite the controversy.

As the debate continues, mixed reactions persist, with some still believing his appointment signals selfish ambitions rather than genuine desire for positive change. Ultimately, the future actions of Oluseun Onigbinde in his new role will serve as the definitive measure of his intentions and impact, shaping how Nigerians perceive his transition from a government critic to an insider.