Claim: An X user claims that all senior executives appointed by President Tinubu are from the Southwest.
Verdict: The claim that all senior executives appointed by President Tinubu are from the Southwest is FALSE. Many of these appointments come from various regions across Nigeria, including the North, Southeast, and South-South.
Full Text
Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made several appointments that have sparked praise and criticism, particularly regarding regional equity and fairness concerns.
The federal character principle, as outlined in Nigeria’s constitution, mandates that the composition and conduct of the government should reflect the diverse makeup of the country, ensuring no particular region or ethnic group dominates federal appointments. However, there has been an ongoing debate, with allegations that President Tinubu’s key appointments disproportionately favour the Southwest, his home region.
Critics warned Tinubu against repeating ‘mistakes’ made by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who was frequently accused of favouring his ethnic group in major appointments. This criticism has extended beyond ministerial roles to other key positions, with accusations that Tinubu has concentrated influential appointments within his region, particularly among his close associates, often referred to as “his Lagos boys.”
Some of the notable appointments cited include Femi Gbajabiamila as chief of staff, Yemi Cardoso as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Wale Edun as minister of finance, and Zacch Adedeji as chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
On August 8, 2024, President Tinubu appointed six presidential liaison aides for public engagement across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones. This move came amidst the #EndBadGovernment protests, which highlighted widespread discontent with the government’s handling of economic issues.
However, less than 24 hours later, an X user, Sarki (@Waspapping_), claimed that all of Tinubu’s senior executive appointments had been allocated to the southwest, adding to the ongoing debate about regional bias.
The post, which has gained traction with over 122,000 views and 1,154 likes by August 19, 2024, stated, “All the senior executive appointments under this administration have gone to the southwest. We are left with SAs.”
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a review of credible reports from multiple sources to verify this claim. These reports (here, here, and here) confirm that President Tinubu appointed 45 ministers from various regions, reflecting Nigeria’s geo-political diversity.
A keyword search and further analysis revealed that at least 28 senior officials appointed by Tinubu are from the Northern region of the country. Notable appointments from the North include Abubakar Kyari, minister of agriculture and food security (Borno State); George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (Benue State); Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (Adamawa State); and Mohammed Badaru, minister of defence (Jigawa State).
Further checks reveal representation from the Southeast and South South regions as well. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women’s affairs and social development, hails from Anambra State in the Southeast, while Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory, is from Rivers State in the South South. Others include David Umahi, minister of works (Ebonyi State), and Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development (Delta State).
DUBAWA also checked the six Senior Special Assistants to the President on Community Engagement, appointed hours before the claim. The SSAs are Moremi Ojudu (Southwest), Chioma Nweze (Southeast), Gift Johnbull (South South), Abiodun Essiet (Northcentral), Abdullahi Yakasai (Northwest) and Abdulhamid Abba (Northeast).
Conclusion
The claim that all senior executives appointed by President Tinubu are from the Southwest is FALSE. Our investigation shows that a significant number of the senior executive members in Tinubu’s administration hail from the Northern, Southeast, and South-South regions, demonstrating a broader geographic representation than the claim suggests.
The researcher produced this fact-check as part of the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship, which is in partnership with Bridge Radio 98.7FM, Asaba, to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.
