ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- As criticism continues to mount against President Bola Tinubu’s administration over alleged nepotism, former Senator Shehu Sani has asserted that the previous government under Muhammadu Buhari was even more guilty of favoritism.
Vanguard reports that President Tinubu has recently come under fire, especially from northern politicians, who argue that his appointments disproportionately favour his native South-West region.
One of such critics, Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South, recently accused Tinubu of running a “non-inclusive” government, saying the pattern of appointments violates the federal character principle.
However, speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Senator Sani defended Tinubu against the allegations, pointing fingers instead at the Buhari administration.
“It is clear the nation has a very short memory, and then we simply forget what happened the last time Buhari was in power. What was the profile of nepotism at that time?” Sani asked.
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The former senator recalled that under Buhari’s leadership, around 30 federal appointments were handed to individuals from Katsina State, the former president’s home state.
“The DG of SSS, Daura was from Katsina State, the DG of NIA, Rufai was from Katsina State, the MPA, my sister Hadiza, she’s from Katsina State, Director of Federal Mortgage Bank, Katsina State, SMEDAN, Katsina State, FRCN Katsina State, NIMET Katsina State, NIMASA Katsina State, Railway Corporation, Katsina State, all those things.
“You don’t talk of Chairman of Federal Civil Service—about 30 (of them). We don’t have time, I can state all of them. All from Katsina State”, he stated.
To bolster his argument, Sani highlighted how military and paramilitary leadership appointments were dominated by northerners under Buhari.
“At a certain time in this country, the Controller General of Immigration, which is Babandede, is from northern Nigeria. Customs, Hamid Ali is from northern Nigeria, Civil Defense, Audi is from northern Nigeria, Chairman of Federal Road Safety Corps is from northern Nigeria.
“Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba is from northern Nigeria, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, they’re all from northern Nigeria. We have had all these things here, and you have never had any person from the southern part of the country raising issues,” he said.
Sani further criticized some of Tinubu’s northern critics, suggesting their discontent stems from their personal grievances with the current administration rather than a genuine concern for national balance.
“I will appreciate the morality of your position if I can hear your voice when your own man from your tribe, from your ethnic group and from your own tribal identity [was] perpetrating those evil attitudes.
“And when you keep quiet when it favoured you, and now you speak out when it doesn’t favour you,” he said.
While emphasizing that “two wrongs don’t make a right,” Sani still advised President Tinubu to tread carefully.
“The President does not have to toe the line because his predecessor filled major positions with people from his state and region,” he warned.