‘Yorubanisation’: Northern group slams Tinubu for appointing only Lagosians in key positions

• The group said northerners have been sidelined in appointments into these key positions despite playing a vital role in the victory Tinubu in the February 25th election
• It implored president Tinubu to address the situation before it’s too late

The Arewa Economic Forum (AEF) has accused President Bola Tinubu of nepotism and favouritism in appointments into key and sensitive positions and offices.

The group claimed that the finance and ICT sectors, which are crucial to the country’s economic development, are dominated by individuals from the South-West.

The forum’s chairman, Ibrahim Dandakata, said northerners have been sidelined in appointments into these key positions despite playing a vital role in the victory Tinubu in the February 25th election.

He bared his mind in Abuja on Wednesday at a press conference organised by the forum to table its dissatisfaction with the palpable nepotistic appointments made by Tinubu.

“We are afraid to state that a situation whereby the appointees in crucial economic sectors are not only from the South-West but also connected to the Lagos axis suggests a deliberate ‘Yorubanisation’ and ‘Lagoslisation’ of the polity,” said

Mr Dandakata stated that the finance minister, Wale Edun, and acting governor of CBN, Folashodun Shonubi, are South-Westerners, but admitted that the duo was qualified for the positions.

He added, “The Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, is from the south-west and even the Chairman of Senate Committee on ICT, Senator Afolabi Salisu, and that of House of Representatives, Hon. Adedeji Olajide Odidiomo, are also from the South-West.

“As a patriotic, refined statesman who won a credible national mandate on February 25, 2023, President Bola Tinubu has a duty to not only be fair to all parts of the country but also to be seen to be fair to all parts,” Mr Dandakata said.

Mr Dandakata also pointed out that the chief executive officers of some key government agencies who were previously Northerners were replaced with Lagosians by the the current administration.

“It is not too late for Mr President to turn the corner and do the needful in upcoming appointments and crucial decisions.

“We expect President Tinubu to be fair, just and equitable in his decisions not only because the Northerners overwhelmingly voted for him but because that is the right thing to do,” Mr Dandakata said