Amid the glowing success of the 2025 Digital Media Summit in Abuja, one voice has drawn sharp criticism for his controversial stance on citizen participation in national discourse. Osaro Adamu Jibrin, a key participant at the event, has called out former Kaduna State Governor and opposition figure, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, accusing him of harboring elitist views and refusing to align with the nation’s evolving digital and inclusive future.
Speaking after the gala dinner held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Jibrin praised the energy and intellectual engagement that marked the event. However, he expressed disappointment over El-Rufai’s comments, which he described as disconnected and dismissive of ordinary Nigerians. According to Jibrin, El-Rufai lamented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s openness in allowing regular citizens to be part of a high-level platform like the summit, arguing instead that such initiatives should be reserved for elite political figures like himself, Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Rotimi Amaechi.
Jibrin swiftly countered that narrative, stressing that the Digital Media Summit was never about political entitlement but about empowerment and national progress. He credited Hon. Dada Olusegun, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Media and the brain behind the summit, for pushing the envelope on inclusive dialogue. Under Olusegun’s leadership, the summit united tech minds, creators, media influencers, and civic voices to explore the transformative power of digital media in reshaping Nigeria.
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He emphasized that this kind of platform exemplifies what Nigeria needs, visionary leadership, open innovation, and national unity, not gatekeeping by entrenched political elites. Jibrin warned that clinging to such outdated hierarchies threatens to stall progress and silence the millions of Nigerians who deserve to be part of the country’s digital and democratic growth.
“El-Rufai’s bitterness reflects an outdated mindset,” Jibrin asserted. “This country must move forward with people-first policies, not ego-first politics. I refuse to share in that bitterness. My loyalty lies with Nigeria’s future, one built on access, innovation, and inclusion.”
As conversations from the summit continue to trend online, Jibrin’s strong rebuttal to El-Rufai has sparked a wider debate about elitism, digital empowerment, and the evolving role of everyday Nigerians in national development. With digital platforms now at the center of governance and civic engagement, voices like Jibrin’s are gaining traction, demanding a future where leadership is defined not by privilege, but by purpose.
