HURIWA accuses Tinubu of ignoring other zones through ‘ethnic nationalism’
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
President Bola Tinubu has been accused of nepotism by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), seen in the key appointments in his administration given to people from his Yoruba ethnic group in the South West.
HURIWA Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko cited as examples the recent appointments of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
“With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent approval of the nomination of Olayemi Cardoso to serve as the substantive new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), some 48 hours after appointing Zachaeus Adedeji as the acting Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the strong perception that the President is pushing an unseemly pro-ethnic agenda became worryingly stronger,” Onwubiko alerted in a statement.
“Adedeji is to serve in an acting capacity for 90 days before his subsequent confirmation as the substantive chairman of FIRS for a term of four years in the first instance.
“With a little over 100 days in the saddle, the President’s appointments have shown he appears to have special consideration for people from his South West region, especially those with links to Lagos State.”
HURIWA cautioned Tinubu not to follow the path trod by former President Muhamamdu Buhari who was all out nepotistic during his eight years in power.
“If … Tinubu’s appointment of new service (chiefs) sparked new hope and drew deserved plaudits in that it recognised the nation’s diversity, his subsequent appointments curiously depart from that template.
“That the disastrous previous administration of … Buhari towed a visionless, divisive path, in the overwhelming tribalistic appointments it made, should never excuse this course that fundamentally degrades the legitimate dream of a new, progressive, inclusive Nigerian state.
“Today, the stakes are extremely high and Nigerians are mindful that a failure to achieve democratic stability, through a meritorious, transparent, inclusive governance process may imperil the country’s future as a coherent state.”
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Political rewards, ethnic nationalism
“Mere political rewards and seeming ethnic nationalism should not drive the national journey. It is a perilous, avoidable option,” Onwubiko added, per Daily Trust.
“HURIWA strongly believes that this is the wrong path to tread, especially against the background of deep mistrust, misery, political and economic dislocations brazenly birthed by the predecessor administration.
“We believe that like Caesar’s wife, the Tinubu administration ought to be above suspicion.
“We recall here that the central driving mantra and foundational philosophy on which the ruling All Progressives Congress sold its presidential candidate … Tinubu, now President, to Nigerians, was ‘Renewed Hope’.
“Nigerians bought into it and voted [Tinubu] and APC to power because it deeply resonated with the populace. But what is the reality?
“Key appointments traversing the nation’s crucial security, judicial and economic sectors are now unabashedly cornered by the South West region.
“A quick, non-exhaustive check-list would include:
- “Petroleum Minister: Bola Tinubu;
- “Chief of Staff: Femi Gbajabiamila;
- “Minister of Justice: Lateef Fagbemi;
- “Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun;
- “Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Folashodun Shonubi who now gives way to a substantive CBN boss Olayemi Cardoso;
- “Minister of Marine & Blue Economy: Bunmi Tunji-Ojo;
- “Minister of Communication, Innovation & Digital Economy: Bosun Tijan;
- “Simultaneously, the Chairman of Senate Committee on ICT, Afolabi Salisu, and that of House of Representatives, Adedeji Olajide Odidiomo are both from the South-West;
- “Minister of Power: Adebayo Adelabu;
- “Minister of Transport: Adegboyega Oyetola;
- “Minister of Solid Minerals: Dele Alake
- “Chief of Army Staff: General Taoreed Lagbaja;
- “Police IG: Kayode Egbetokun;
- Comptroller-General Customs: Adewale Adeniyi;
- “Comptroller-General Immigration: Adepoju Carol Wura-Ola;
- “FIRS Chairman: Zacchaeus. Adedeji, et cetera.”
Muhammad-Baba knocks Tinubu for giving ‘sensitive and lucrative’ posts to South Westerners
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) National Publicity Secretary Tukur Muhammad-Baba also knocked Tinubu for giving sensitive and lucrative appointments to people from the South West.
Muhammad-Baba, a professor of sociology, disclosed this in an interview with New Telegraph but stressed he spoke in his personal capacity because ACF had yet to deliberate on the matter.
In his view, such appointments should not be encouraged in a “deeply fractious federation” country like Nigeria.
He equally berated Buhari for having made sectional appointments but added it is not an excuse as someone has to break the myopic cycle.
“From all indications, most, if not all, sensitive or ‘lucrative’ assignments are being given to persons of South West extraction,” Muhammad-Baba stressed.