In Nigerian politics, an informal understanding has long existed: presidential appointments should carefully balance many racial and religious differences in the country. Today, people are increasingly worried that this is being ignored.
Although the Constitution requires regional representation in cabinet posts, the wider distribution of other prominent roles has traditionally followed a convention designed to promote national cohesion.
The past, Nigeria's fragile divisions have tear apart the country – Africa's most populous population.
Concerns about the fairness of presidential appointments are nothing new, but the chorus of criticism is growing in draft picks for President Bola Tinubu, some accusing the head of state of power for two years, and he has been favored by people from his own Yoruba tribe.
The president serves as the charge.
There has long been concerns that members of a ethnic group will dominate – meaning whenever a presidential appointment is announced.
The country has more than 250 ethnic groups, namely Hausa-Fulanis, Ibo and Yoruba from the north, southeast and southwest, and is the three largest ethnic groups.
Critics say Tinubu, a southern Muslim, showed signs of ignoring precedents from the beginning when he picked another Muslim (although from the north) to be his companion in the last election.
Since the return of democracy in 1999, major political parties have been proposing a mixed Muslim Christian ticket because the country is roughly distributed evenly among the followers of the two religions.
Tinubu's appointment is facing a growing Cricisim since becoming president in May 2023.
The rich traditions of many ethnic groups in Nigeria are often celebrated, but tensions between these groups threaten the unity of the state [AFP via Getty Images]
Although political analysts and barristers Laws say that while a head of state has many roles for the head of state to fill, “is the most critical task for every government.”
These are:
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State-owned oil company NNPC
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Anti-corruption agencies and
There is no position of constitutional ranking, but these roles collectively control the country's key financial and security institutions.
Each president inherited his predecessor’s appointment, but had the privilege of replacing them.
As of April, all eight positions under Tinubu are now filled by Yorubas.
The recent appointment of former Shell boss Bayo Ojulari to lead the state-owned oil company Nigeria National Oil Corporation (NNPC), replaced the Northerners' turbocharge debate, which clearly monopolized a group of people.
Watch who filled the same position under two direct predecessors of Tinubu, without such dominance at the same stage of the presidential stage.
Goodluck Jonathan served from 2010 to 2015 – two people composed of two Fulanis, two Hausas, one Atyap, one Igbo, one Yoruba and one Calabar.
When it comes to Muhammadu Buhari (from 2015 to 2023), the situation is not very clear.
Among the top eight, he has three Hausas, two kanuris, one Igbo, one Yoruba and one Nupe.
But, in the minds of many Nigerians, Hausas, Kanuris and Nupus, they are considered northerners – so it is believed that Buhari from the north show favoritism.
Some believe that the appointment of Tinubu only continues this trend, but 100% of the eight key positions – Yuruba composition is unprecedented.
History professor Tijjani Naniya told the BBC: “For a democratically elected president, I don’t remember any moment in Nigerian history that you had such a high ethnic group.
The professor said it was not only related to what happened in the past, but could also affect the unity and even the future of the country.
“For me, the fear is that if the next president continues to follow this path and chooses most sensitive positions from his ethnic group, it reduces the rest of the sense of belonging and the belief in democracy,” he said.
Many northerners, mostly Hausa-Fruani, have looked in panic in the obvious direction of travel.
The man (no women) currently in charge of the NNPC, police, customs and economic and financial crime commission (EFCC) replaced the Northerners.
Hausa's Abdulrasheed Bawa is particularly controversial as the owner of the EFCC after being appointed two years in 2023.
He was arrested, charged with abuse of his post and was detained for more than 100 days before the charges were dropped.
He was replaced by the Yoruba people Ola Olukoyode.
Some people from the north believed that Mr. Bawa was treated unjustly and pushed it away to make way for Mr. Olukoyode.
“The president needs to know that the Yoruba is only part of the country and all appointments should be distributed across all races and regions,” social affairs analyst Isah Habibu told the BBC.
A spokesman for Tinob said without resolving specific cases that the president’s broader view of all appointments is fair and balanced.
Some Nigerians are worried that President Tinubu's Yoruba people are ruling the government [AFP via Getty Images]
Media aides did try to elaborate on Sunday, and overall, Tinubu has appointed 71 Northerners and 63 Southerners. But his April 9 post on X was later removed after people pointed out that his claim was wrong.
He promised an updated list, but Slater, which is more than six months old, has not yet appeared.
Tinubu faces critics even within his own party.
Senator Ali Ndume comes from the north, just like Tinubu, belongs to the Congress of All Progressives. In a TV interview, he said he had aired, talking about the president's appointment “illegal behavior.”
Ndume said he was shocked, describing them as “not including and does not reflect the president’s “renewable hope” agenda that promises to be carried along every region of the country”.
Another presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, disputed the idea that some positions are more important than others.
“What I know is the constitutional provisions [regarding appointments] The President has taken care of – There is no place in the Constitution [where it is] The top five, top ten and the rest were mentioned. ” he told the BBC.
“The way we’re seeing is that any position or appointment with privileged services is very critical and important.
“National security advisers are from the Northeast, defense personnel are from the Northwest, and federal secretaries are from the North Central.”
The Office of the Federal Secretary’s Office coordinated policies on behalf of the president and issued a statement on April 12 saying Tinubu is fair.
It said: “This Government is committed to ensuring that all regions and demographics in the country are fully represented in its institutions and institutions.”
Political analyst Lawal said the president should appoint the best workers, regardless of their ethnic origins, and what Tinubu is doing.
“It’s time for Nigeria to transcend race,” he said.
There was a time when Nigerians were no longer obsessed with the racial origins of the government’s upper echelons, but historian Professor Naniya said it was still a way to go.
He believes this can only happen if at least four consecutive presidents of the country have given each part the sense of belonging.
“I think it can be done, but it needs the right leaders.”
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