The Presidency has issued an apology for inaccuracies in a recently released list of federal appointments meant to counter claims of regional bias in President Bola Tinubu’s appointments. The list, intended to demonstrate balanced representation across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, sparked controversy after critics noted significant omissions, including the name of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who hails from the South-West.
The initial document showed 29 appointees from the South-West, 35 from the North-West, 22 from the South-South, 16 from the South-East, 25 from the North-Central, and 24 from the North-East. However, the exclusion of key figures like Gbajabiamila fueled accusations of deliberate underrepresentation of certain regions, particularly the South-East.
The debate gained momentum after Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) criticized the President during an interview with Arise Television, accusing him of violating the federal character principle. Ndume argued that, despite being a member of the ruling party, he had a duty to call out perceived imbalances in governance.
In response to the backlash, Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser on Media & Public Communication, acknowledged the errors in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We have noticed a number of errors in the list of appointments tweeted. We are sorry. We will provide an updated list later. Thank you.”
However, Dare did not clarify why Gbajabiamila’s name was missing or address concerns about the South-East’s low representation.
The controversy highlights ongoing scrutiny of Tinubu’s administration over allegations of favoritism, with opposition figures and some allies demanding stricter adherence to constitutional provisions on equitable appointments. The Presidency has promised an updated list, but the omission has already intensified calls for greater transparency in federal appointments.
