Appointments: Arewa Economic Forum Accuses Tinubu of Nepotism

James Emejo in Abuja

The Arewa Economic Forum (AEF), yesterday, berated President Bola Tinubu for alleged nepotism in his appointments of persons into key positions in his administration.

Chairman of the forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Dandakata, said the North, which remarkably  contributed to the emergence of Tinubu as president,  was being edged out of key appointments particularly in the finance and ICT sectors, which remained crucial for economic development.

 Speaking at a media briefing, Dandakata, accused Tinubu of a deliberate attempt at “Yorubanisation and Lagoslisation” of the polity.

He, therefore, urged 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.”

Specifically,  he noted that both the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, and the acting Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Folashodun Shonubi, hailed from the southwest.

He further alleged that appointments of heads of strategic government agencies in Finance and ICT were from the Southwest, particularly Lagos State, where the president hails from.

The AEF chairman also alleged that chief executives of some key public institutions, who were northerners were gradually being replaced with Lagosians, and expressed worry that the trend might continue moving forward.

“As you may be aware, Finance and Information Communication Technology (ICT) are crucial to the economic eldorado that the president envisions for Nigeria.

“While the Federal Ministry of Finance manages the finances of the federation, including controlling and monitoring federal revenues and expenditures, the Federal Ministry of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy develops a knowledge-based economy and facilitates the development of the ICT industry towards increasing its contribution to GDP.

“The two ministries play greater roles in facilitating businesses, e-commerce, job creation, empowerment and increased efficiency and productivity, which are vital for economic growth and prosperity. The importance of finance and ICT sectors are such that we must be circumspect in the kind of decisions we make in those sectors.

“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 some parts of the country but also to be seen to be fair to all parts.”