President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has come under fire for the appointment of Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi as the Acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGoF).
The criticism came from the Arewa Youths Integrity Network (AYIN), a socio-political group from Northern Nigeria, which accused the president of favoring his Yoruba kinsmen over other ethnic groups in the country.
AYIN made their position known on Friday, December 13, during a press conference in Abuja.
The group expressed anger over what it described as “blatant nepotism” and a disregard for the North.
Tinubu’s Controversial Appointment
President Tinubu, through his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, announced Ogunjimi’s appointment earlier this week.
The appointment follows the directive for the current Accountant-General, Dr. Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madein, to proceed on pre-retirement leave.
Madein’s leave comes four months ahead of her official retirement in March 2025.
The announcement of Ogunjimi, another Yoruba appointee, has fueled accusations that Tinubu is disproportionately favoring his ethnic group.
“The North Is Being Sidelined,” AYIN Alleges
AYIN’s spokesperson, Barr. James Ismaila, accused Tinubu of marginalizing the North and ignoring qualified Northerners for top government roles.
Ismaila criticized the decision to replace one Yoruba appointee with another in such a crucial financial position.
“Appointing another Yoruba man, who is equally close to retirement, to replace an outgoing Yoruba woman in the nation’s treasury is a great disregard for the North,” Ismaila said.
He added that the North would not tolerate continued marginalization in national appointments.
“Does Tinubu Think No Other Tribe Is Qualified?”
The group also questioned whether Tinubu’s appointments suggest other ethnic groups are unqualified for leadership.
“Does that mean there are no other tribes in Nigeria that could efficiently head those positions?” Ismaila asked.
“Since becoming president, Tinubu has appointed his kinsmen to head the Central Bank of Nigeria, EFCC, Ministry of Finance, NNPC Board, and Customs Service. And now, another Lagos man as Accountant-General,” he added.
AYIN warned that if this trend continues, public trust in Tinubu’s leadership could erode.
“We Supported Tinubu in 2023, But This Is a Betrayal”
AYIN reminded the president of the Northern support he received during the 2023 elections.
The group noted that many Northerners resisted calls for another Northern president in favor of Tinubu’s candidacy.
“We stood by Asiwaju during the elections because we believed in one Nigeria,” Ismaila said.
He argued that Northerners supported Tinubu in the spirit of equity and fairness.
“But from the look of things, it appears Asiwaju is not operating in the same principles,” he added.
A Call for Inclusive Governance
AYIN urged Tinubu to remember that Nigeria belongs to all its tribes, not just the Yoruba.
The group called on the president to stop favoring his ethnic group and adopt a more inclusive approach to governance.
“Asiwaju should purge himself of any ingredients of nepotism and favoritism,” Ismaila said.
He stressed that Tinubu must justify the confidence Nigerians placed in him by being fair in his appointments.
