Arewa Youths Accuse Tinubu of Favoring Yoruba in Appointments

A sociopolitical organization from northern Nigeria called the Arewa Youths Integrity Network (AYIN) has charged that the president has favored the Yoruba ethnic group while ignoring other Nigerian tribes.

The organization specifically denounced Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi’s recent nomination as the Federation’s Acting Accountant General (AGoF).

Since other Yoruba people already hold a number of important positions in the government, the organization said in a statement that it was disappointed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appointed his Lagos kinsman to this crucial position.

Recall that Ogunjimi was named Acting AGoF on Tuesday by President Tinubu, who made the announcement through his spokeswoman, Bayo Onanuga. He is anticipated to hold this role until Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein retires in March 2025.

Madein’s pre-retirement leave and planned retirement are only a few months away from Ogunjimi’s appointment.

Northerners are equally qualified for such high-level jobs, according to AYIN’s spokesperson, Barr. James Ismaila, who claimed the group considers the nomination as a contempt for the northern region in a statement released on Friday.

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The statement said, “It is a huge disservice to the north to assign another Yoruba man, who is also getting close to retirement, to take the place of an outgoing Yoruba woman in such a delicate role.” This is something that we at AYIN vehemently disagree with and will not stand for.

“Believing in the unity of Nigeria, we pushed aside regional pressure for a northern candidate and backed Asiwaju in the 2023 election. In the spirit of justice and fairness, we desired a southern president following eight years of northern rule. President Tinubu appears to be deviating from these ideals, nevertheless. It seems that the only people deemed qualified for important positions are his relatives.

“We cannot continue on this way as a nation. Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, and many other tribes are all part of Nigeria. Asiwaju need to serve as president for the entire Nigerian population, not just a select few. He has to overcome any inclinations toward partiality and nepotism. The group said, “We backed him because we trusted his vision; now he needs to live up to that trust.”