Foot Soldiers, Party Chieftains Kick Against Tinubu’s Recent Appointments

President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointments have stirred growing unease within the political landscape, with critics arguing that they lean heavily towards his friends and political allies, neglecting considerations of competence, contrary to his earlier commitments.

Just a month after his victory in the 2023 presidential election, President Tinubu pledged in a statement that appointments into his government would be solely based on merit, devoid of religious or ethnic biases.

“As your incoming president, I accept the task before me. My aim is higher than a government of national unity; I seek a government of national competence. I shall not be swayed by extraneous considerations but will assemble competent individuals across Nigeria,” Tinubu declared emphatically.

However, contrary to these assurances, concerns have arisen regarding appointments seemingly favoring acquaintances and family members over qualified candidates, sparking discontent among some party members who feel sidelined.

Critics have pointed to various appointments, including those of individuals with familial or political connections to Tinubu, as evidence of nepotism. Examples cited include Oyetunde Ojo’s appointment as CEO of the Federal Housing Authority and Temitope Ilori’s appointment as Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS.

Also, stakeholders, under the aegis of South West APC Support Groups (SASG), alleged that states in the zone were being sidelined in the appointment of presidential aides announced, as only the ‘Lagos boys’ were snatching the slots.

Similarly, a source familiar with the workings around the presidency said, “The president had asked governors to submit names for chief executive officers of agencies, which they did, but he failed to act on those names till date. “Instead, he has gone ahead to appoint his people into those agencies, including those that governors nominated party members to fill and CVs attached to them. Look at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and other agencies recently announced. Certain names were pencilled earlier, but when the announcements were made, different names emerged.”

Furthermore, questions have been raised about the vetting process for these appointments, with some nominations being withdrawn following public outcry.

In response to the discontent, Bayo Onanuga, the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, defended the appointments, emphasizing competence as the primary criterion.

Onanuga dismissed allegations of favoritism, citing examples from global politics and asserting that appointments based on merit are not uncommon.

He said, “This is not abnormal. It is done everywhere in the world. In the United States, President Kennedy appointed his younger brother as attorney-general; recently, President Donald Trump appointed his son-in-law; and even this week in Kano State, alluding to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s appointment of the elder son of his political godfather and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as a commissioner in his cabinet.”

However, concerns persist among APC stalwarts and foot soldiers who feel overlooked in the appointment process, fueling anxieties about the party’s unity and support base.

Similar concerns were raised during the Buhari administration, with accusations of cronyism leveled against the president and his associates.

As criticisms mount, President Tinubu faces increasing pressure to address allegations of nepotism and ensure a more transparent and inclusive appointment process, lest his political ambitions suffer repercussions.