Shehu Sani: Buhari’s Nepotism Was Worse Than Tinubu’s
As President Bola Tinubu’s administration faces accusations of nepotism, former federal lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani has claimed that the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari was even more biased in its appointments.
Tinubu’s government has come under heavy scrutiny, especially from northern politicians, who argue that his appointments favor his home region, the southwest, to the detriment of the rest of the country.
In a recent interview, Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, called the president’s government “non-inclusive” and criticized the lack of adherence to the federal character principle in political appointments.
However, in a response aired on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sani countered the accusations against Tinubu, asserting that Buhari’s government had been far more nepotistic.
“It’s clear that we have short memories in this country. We easily forget what happened during Buhari’s time in power,” Sani said. “What was the profile of nepotism during that time?”
Sani pointed out that during Buhari’s administration, nearly 30 key federal appointments were made to people from his home state of Katsina.
“For example, the DG of the SSS, Daura, was from Katsina; the DG of NIA, Rufai, was from Katsina; the MPA, my sister Hadiza, is from Katsina; Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Katsina; SMEDAN, Katsina; FRCN, Katsina; NIMET, Katsina; NIMASA, Katsina; the Railway Corporation, Katsina — the list goes on,” he said, listing several appointments and adding, “We don’t have time to list all of them, but they were all from Katsina.”
The former senator also highlighted the disproportionate representation of northern individuals in the military and paramilitary sectors.
“At one point, the Controller General of Immigration, Babandede, was from northern Nigeria; the Customs head, Hamid Ali, was from northern Nigeria; the Civil Defense boss, Audi, was from northern Nigeria; the Chairman of the Federal Road Safety Corps, from northern Nigeria; the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, from northern Nigeria; the Chief of Naval Staff and the Chief of Army Staff, both from northern Nigeria,” Sani pointed out. “We had all of these positions held by people from the north, and no one from the southern part of the country raised any concerns.”
He added that some northern politicians opposing Tinubu’s appointments were only speaking out because they had personal grievances with his government.
Sani also questioned the integrity of Tinubu’s critics, suggesting that many were silent when Buhari’s nepotism favored them.
“I would respect your stance on this issue if you had spoken out when nepotism benefitted you and your people. But when it worked in your favor, you remained quiet, and now you speak out when it doesn’t,” Sani remarked.
While acknowledging that two wrongs don’t make a right, Sani warned President Tinubu to be cautious. He advised the president not to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps of filling key positions primarily with individuals from his home state and region.
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