…Sunday Dare’s intervention deepens controversy
…Atiku accuses president of ‘institutionalising nepotism’
…SSG says administration committed to fairness, equity
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is facing growing scrutiny over alleged lopsided appointments that critics argue disproportionately favour his South-Western base.
The accusations, coming from both opposition figures and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have ignited a fierce political debate and placed the presidency in a defensive posture.
At the heart of the criticism is Section 14(3) of the Constitution, which mandates that the composition of the federal government and its agencies must reflect the country’s federal character. The goal, as stated in the Constitution, is to promote national unity, foster loyalty, and prevent the dominance of a few states or ethnic groups in national affairs.
Yet, many observers say that Tinubu’s appointments so far have tilted heavily in favour of individuals from the South-West. One of the most prominent voices in this debate is Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate. Speaking during a recent interview on Arise News, Ndume posited that Tinubu’s appointments so far contravened the constitution.
“Section 14.3 of the Constitution is very, very clear. When you look at it vis-a-vis the appointments made so far, and they are political appointments… the Constitution clearly states that such appointments should reflect the federal character. And that is not the case here,” Ndume said.
While the senator acknowledged that professional appointments such as military and police chiefs must adhere to professional qualifications, he drew a line at political appointments.
“You can’t appoint somebody who is not a soldier to become the Chief of Army Staff. Or appoint somebody that is not police (officer) to be the I.G. of Police,” he added. “But when it comes to political appointments, the Constitution is very clear.”
Ndume issued a cautionary note, saying: “All I’m saying is to call the attention of Mr. President to such infractions so that it can be corrected. Otherwise, you know, these things can boomerang at a certain period of time.”
Presidency fires back
The presidency quickly moved to counter Ndume’s claims. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to Tinubu, immediately issued a statement describing the senator’s comments as “selective perception” and “headline-chasing.”
“Senator Ali Ndume’s latest outburst on TV about so-called ‘lopsided appointments’ by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reeks of hypocrisy and selective perception,” Onanuga stated.
He highlighted the fact that two of Ndume’s kinsmen were recently appointed to top positions in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), including the Chairman, who hails from Ndume’s senatorial district.
“If Tinubu and his surrogates’ choices are so ‘tribal,’ how did two of Ndume’s kinsmen clinch NNPC’s top roles?” he queried.
Onanuga argued that Tinubu is committed to inclusive governance, insisting that appointments are based on merit, integrity, and national spread.
An incomplete list, a deeper controversy
In an effort to douse the flames of criticism, Sunday Dare, special adviser to the president on media and public communication, released a list of presidential appointees and their geopolitical distribution since the inception of the administration.
According to the figures, the North-West led with 35 appointments, followed by the South-West with 29, North-Central with 25, North-East with 24, South-South with 22, and South-East trailing with 16.
However, rather than settle the debate, the list stirred more controversy. Critics pointed out that key figures were conspicuously missing, including the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the minister of youth, Ayodele Olawande; and the comptroller general of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, all from the South-West.
The omission fuelled further accusations of bias and lack of transparency. Dare later took to X (formerly Twitter) to apologise for the oversight and promised a revised version of the list. Yet, he offered no explanation for the omission of Gbajabiamila’s name, a central figure in the administration.
“We have noticed a number of errors in the list of appointments tweeted. We are sorry. We will provide an updated list later. Thank you,” he posted on his X account.
Opposition weighs in
The opposition has been quick to capitalise on the controversy. Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, accused the Tinubu administration of institutionalising nepotism.
“It is getting worse under Tinubu. Bigotry must not be a policy of states, bigotry should not be tolerated; bigotry and nepotism must never be adopted as a state policy, as is being done by Tinubu’s administration,” said Atiku, through his media aide, Paul Ibe, in an interview with The Punch.
He warned that excluding regions from federal appointments and infrastructure could “inevitably enable divisions and instability.”
“Inclusivity is a tool for national unity, peace, and stability,” Atiku added.
Bwala joins the defense
Daniel Bwala, another presidential spokesperson, also dismissed Ndume’s claims, describing the allegations as “falsehood and disinformation.”
“The principle of federal character, as contained in Section 14 of the Constitution, is meant to ensure inclusiveness and prevent domination by one part of the country,” Bwala said in an interview. “But is the constitutional provision consistent with the facts of that senator? No. What he railed out are falsehood and disinformation.”
Bwala chastised Ndume for failing to provide supporting data during his interview, despite referencing a document he held.
According to Bwala, all regions are represented in Tinubu’s administration. He dismissed the senator’s remarks as part of an effort to mislead the public.
“This is not misinformation, this is disinformation, deliberate use of false information to push an agenda,” he said.
SSG says administration committed to fairness, equity
In a bid to further contain the controversy, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) issued a press release on Friday, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to fairness and equity.
“The Government categorically refutes claims of lopsidedness and emphasises its unwavering commitment to the principles of fairness, equity, and national unity,” the OSGF stated.
The OSGF in a statement signed by Segun Imohiosen, director of information and public relations, warned against divisive rhetoric and urged Nigerians not to take seriously those spreading misinformation.
“Pokers of embers of hate and disunity who carry tendentious and unfounded allegations should never be taken seriously by Nigerians,” it stated.
The bigger picture
As the Tinubu administration continues to weather the storm of accusations, the debate underscores a larger issue that has long plagued Nigerian politics, balancing competence with equitable representation in a multi-ethnic society.
Whether the controversy dies down or escalates into a deeper political crisis may depend on how the President navigates future appointments and whether he can convince Nigerians that he truly governs with a national lens. (BusinessDay $
