“Tinubu is Only Appointing His Boys” – El-Rufai

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s pattern of appointments, accusing him of favoring his close associates from Lagos rather than ensuring a balanced representation in government.

Speaking in an interview on Arise TV on Monday, El-Rufai argued that Tinubu’s selections should not be blamed on the entire South-West but rather on the president’s personal preferences. He emphasized that the appointments were not necessarily made based on ethnicity but on loyalty to Tinubu.

“President Tinubu’s appointments are quite imbalanced. Don’t blame the South-West for what one individual is doing,” El-Rufai said. “The appointments are not being made because the appointees are Yoruba, but because they are his own boys, and most of the appointments do not even reasonably cover the South-West.”

He urged Nigerians to avoid generalizing the issue, cautioning against holding an entire ethnic group responsible for the president’s decisions. Drawing a parallel to past grievances, he warned against punishing Yorubas the way some have blamed northerners for past military regimes.

El-Rufai called on Tinubu to address the concerns and ensure more inclusive governance, warning that there is growing discontent in the north. “President Tinubu needs to do something about that. It’s still not too late. He can correct it, but there is palpable anger in the north,” he added.