Olusegun Ariyo
A former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, has advised President Bola Tinubu to shun nepotism in key appointments.
This was as he decried what he described as the practice of most African leaders who tend to fill important positions with people from their ethnic group once they assume power.
The former senator advised on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television on Thursday, and which is being monitored by Urban Express News Online
Urban Express News Online reports that Tinubu has been criticised by many Nigerians, including opposition political leaders and even some top political figures within his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, over what they perceive as lopsided appointments by him.
“I will say that President Asiwaju should also be very careful. He shouldn’t toe that line because it has been in African political geography that each time a person takes over a position of office, he fills the major positions with people from his ethnic group, and it is happening everywhere.
“So, people who find themselves in power should see it as an opportunity to serve not as those who have conquered and as such, they have to put their people everywhere,” Senator Sani said.
The president was accused of appointing mainly those from his Yoruba Ethnic group into key offices in his cabinet, an accusation the Presidency has continued to deny.
Recall that an APC Senator, Ali Ndume, had accused the Tinubu administration of violating the federal character principle in its appointments, warning that the trend could have far-reaching consequences if not corrected.
However, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, replied to him in a statement, accusing the Borno South lawmaker of hypocrisy and misinformation.
While speaking further on the programme, Senator Sani condemned the hypocrisy of some opposition politicians, whom he said kept quiet when the lopsided appointments were perpetrated by people from their own ethnic group, but suddenly found their voice when someone from a different ethnic group did it.
