TINUBU favouring his Yoruba ethnic group in appointments – Arewa Youths

Friday, December 13, 2024 - The Arewa Youths Integrity Network (AYIN), a socio-political group from northern Nigeria, has accused the President of prioritizing the Yoruba ethnic group while neglecting other tribes in the country.

The group particularly condemned the recent appointment of Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi as Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGoF).

In a statement, the group expressed disappointment in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing his Lagos kinsman to this critical position, particularly as other Yoruba individuals are already holding several key roles in the government.

Recall that on Tuesday, President Tinubu, through his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, announced Ogunjimi’s appointment as Acting AGoF, a position he is expected to occupy until Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein’s retirement in March 2025.

Ogunjimi’s appointment comes just months before Madein’s scheduled retirement and pre-retirement leave.

In a reaction issued on Friday, AYIN’s spokesperson, Barr. James Ismaila, said the group views the appointment as a disregard for the northern region, stressing that northerners are equally qualified for such high-level positions.

The statement read, “Appointing another Yoruba man, who is also nearing retirement, to replace an outgoing Yoruba woman in such a sensitive role is a great disservice to the north. We, at AYIN, strongly oppose this, and we will not tolerate it.”

“We supported Asiwaju during the 2023 election, putting aside regional pressures for a northern candidate because we believed in the unity of Nigeria. We wanted a southern president after eight years of northern leadership, in the spirit of fairness and justice. But it seems President Tinubu is not following the same principles. It appears that only his kinsmen are considered qualified for key roles.

“This country cannot move forward in this direction. Nigeria belongs to all tribes—Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, and the many others. Asiwaju should be president for all Nigerians, not just for a particular section. He must rid himself of any tendencies of nepotism and favoritism. We supported him because we believed in his vision; now he must live up to that confidence,” the group added.