The president has been charged by the northern Nigerian sociopolitical group Arewa Youths Integrity Network (AYIN) of giving preference to the Yoruba ethnic group while ignoring other Nigerian tribes.
The recent selection of Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi as the Acting Accountant General of the Federation (AGoF) was specifically denounced by the group.
The organization said in a statement that it was disappointed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had chosen to assign his Lagos kinsman to this important position, especially when other Yoruba people already occupy a number of important positions in the administration.
Recall that President Tinubu confirmed Ogunjimi’s appointment as Acting AGoF on Tuesday through his spokeswoman, Bayo Onanuga. He is anticipated to hold this role till Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein retires in March 2025.
Only a few months before Madein’s planned retirement and pre-retirement leave, Ogunjimi was appointed.
Barr. James Ismaila, AYIN’s spokesperson, said in a statement released on Friday that the organization sees the appointment as a disdain for the north and emphasized that northerners are just as suited for such high-level roles.
“It is a great disservice to the north to appoint another Yoruba man, who is also approaching retirement, to replace an outgoing Yoruba woman in such a sensitive role,” the statement said. At AYIN, we vehemently disagree with this and will not put up with it.
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“Believing in Nigeria’s unity, we voted for Asiwaju in the 2023 election, ignoring regional pressure for a candidate from the north. After eight years of northern leadership, we wanted a southern president in the sake of justice and fairness. However, it appears that President Tinubu does not adhere to the same values. Only his relatives seem to be deemed eligible for important positions.
“our is not the path that our nation can go. All tribes, including the Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, and several more, own Nigeria. Asiwaju need to serve as president for all Nigerians, not just a select group. He needs to overcome his propensity for partiality and nepotism. We backed him because we trusted his vision; now he needs to fulfill that trust,” the group continued.
