The appointment of Oluseun Onigbinde, the Lead Partner of budgIT, as a Technical Adviser in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning within the current administration has ignited a significant public discourse, primarily centered around his past criticisms of the government and the subsequent status of his Twitter account. Onigbinde's transition from a prominent civic advocate to a government official has led to 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 formed with a partner with the specific aim of 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 and decisions. 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 Nigerians expressing shock and disapproval. Social media users quickly pointed out the perceived hypocrisy of his appointment, given his previous strong opposition to the very administration he was now joining. Several tweets encapsulated this sentiment, such as one from @TosinOlugbenga which stated, "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 he had previously lambasted those who supported the current government. The widely assumed deletion of his Twitter account was often interpreted as a deliberate move to evade the expected online backlash from those who felt he had abandoned his convictions, as articulated by @AyoBankole who remarked, "Better to delete his account than start defending the things he criticized." Comments also emerged questioning if he now "love[d] mediocrity" or had become a "closet ethnic jingoist" (@fimiletoks), reflecting a sense of betrayal among some of his former followers.

However, the reactions were not uniformly negative. A significant number of Nigerians came out in support of Onigbinde's decision, viewing it as a positive step. These supporters argued that rather than merely criticizing from the sidelines, individuals with expertise and capacity should actively participate in governance to help resolve national issues. Dr. Joe Abah, for instance, expressed pleasure at the appointment, urging young people to avoid extremism and to recognize that the country's interests supersede any single administration. Dr. Ola Brown highlighted Onigbinde's specific area of expertise, stating, "Seun has only one area of expertise. Its the Nigerian budget. We all know that. Now he is in a position to influence it." Others, like Ose Anenih and JJ. Omojuwa, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of competence and the idea that the best form of activism involves actively fixing problems rather than just identifying them. They lauded the wisdom of the Minister of Budget & Planning for selecting a competent critic, believing that Nigeria ultimately benefits from such engagements.

Amidst the swirling controversy, budgIT’s Communication Associate, Shakir Akorede, provided a clarification regarding the status of Seun Onigbinde’s Twitter account. Akorede stated, "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 himself addressed the ongoing reactions, taking to a new Twitter handle to post a message. His tweet acknowledged and thanked all those who reacted, whether with understanding, encouragement, hurtful words, or even those who had sent their CVs. He expressed honor at trending on what he called a "special day" and linked to a "Saturday post," indicating his willingness to engage with the public despite the controversy.

As the debate continued, mixed reactions persisted, with some still believing his appointment signaled selfish ambitions rather than a 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.