Avoid falling into nepotism trap, Shehu Sani cautions Tinubu
Shehu Sani, a former senator, has asked President Bola Tinubu to avoid getting sucked into the nepotism vortex when making key appointments.
Tinubu has faced criticisms for allegedly favouring the south-west, his home region, in his appointments.
On April 8, Ali Ndume, the senator representing Borno south, said Tinubu’s appointments have not reflected the diversity mandated by section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution.
The federal government subsequently lashed out at critics, describing those pushing the narrative of sectionalism as “pokers of embers of hate and disunity” whose claims should not be taken seriously.
Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme on Thursday, Sani said African leaders often prioritise appointing individuals from their ethnic groups when they assume power.
“I will say that President Asiwaju should also be very careful,” the ex-senator said.
“He shouldn’t toe that line because it has been in African political geography that each time a person takes over position of office, he fills the major positions with people from his ethnic group and it is happening everywhere.
“So, people who find themselves in power should see it as an opportunity to serve not as those who have conquered and as such, they have to put their people everywhere.”
The former Kaduna lawmaker criticised opposition figures who were silent when past leaders made appointments without recourse to federal character.
“Two wrongs do not make a right. But let us know that when nepotism favoured a part of the country, you were silent, and now you raise it up because you have an issue with this government,” Sani said.
“I would appreciate the morality of the opposition if I can hear your voice when your own man from your tribe, from your ethnic group was perpetrating those evil and you stood against it.
“And when you keep quiet when it favoured you and now you speak out when it doesn’t favour you, it means you have other intentions.”
