‘The List Is Too Yoruba-centric’, Tinubu Lands in Trouble Over Appointment Of New Service Chiefs, IGP, Others
The sacking of all Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and others, and the subsequent appointment of their successors by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have continued to generate knocks and praises from social media users.
In a statement released today in Abuja by the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, the president approved the immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, and Comptroller-General of Customs from service.
Also contained in the statement are the names of the replacements of the displaced service chiefs. The newly appointed officers are: Mallam Nuhu Ribadu – National Security Adviser; Maj. Gen. C.G Musa – Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. T. A Lagbaja – Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla – Chief of Naval Staff; AVM H.B Abubakar – Chief of Air Staff; DIG Kayode Egbetokun – Acting Inspector-General of Police; and Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye – Chief of Defense Intelligence.
The news of the sacking of the officers and appointments of their replacements has, however, led to different reactions from Nigerians who took to social media to express their diverse opinions about the development.
Reacting to the sacking, a Twitter user, @ciceroxadrons, chastised the president for allegedly filling the major part of the new appointment with people from the Southwest region. According to him, such appointments are counterproductive for an administration aiming to achieve an all inclusive administration.
He wrote, “This list of appointments is too Yoruba-centric for a government that wants to toe the path of national unity. The Southeast and South South are hard done by these appointments.”
He continued, “One of the pitfalls of Buhari’s government was the pro-northern bias of his appointments, and there was an outcry. BAT should do better than being a clansman.”
Supporting his stand, a popular controversial Twitter influencer, @DanielRegha, wrote, “Tinubu only appointed Yorubas & northerners after sacking Service Chiefs, advisers, & Comptroller General of Customs; No one from the Southeast was appointed. As usual, it’s tribe over everything. Bigots are celebrating, but this is not how to run a govt, the SE is being snubbed.”
Another user, @Isemin_bri59131, wrote, “Igbos, Ibibios, Ijaws, Efik, Kalabaris, Itsekiri, and every other ethnic group in the Southeast and South South, I hope you are taking notes of how one-sided these appointments are being done? Do these appointments portray any sign of national integration or one Nigeria?”
@Akayofficial_ tweeted, “This appointment is not balanced, you can’t systematically ignore/omit a certain tribe from the security architectural appointment. On this, baba no do well, and if he wants to compensate for this, he has to compensate with a position that is worth it.”
In contrary opinions, other users hail the appointment by Mr. President, adding that the best hands have been appointed to the key positions.
Hailing the appointment, @IdokoChukeme wrote, “From the feelers so far, all the new service chiefs appointed today, especially the chief of Army, seem very rooted in their jobs. I WISH THEM GODSPEED AS THEY LEAD THE CHARGE IN SECURING OUR TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. Thank you once again, Mr. President PBAT, and may you succeed.”
Another user, @Taiwomi, tweeted, “Tinubu no be ‘baba go slow,’ na ‘baba go fast.’ God bless our president. I love the way he gives us those breaking news at night. What a way to sleep, knowing fully well Nigeria is working and in capable hands!”
@Bellorian wrote, “One of the things I like about PBAT’s appointments is that it shows reward for hard work. God knows this country needs to return to rewarding good people for their hard work. Congratulations to all the Service Chiefs.”
This is, however, not the first time President Tinubu will be displacing top government officials since resuming office on May 29. It will be recalled that the President has earlier suspended Godwin Emefiele and Abdulrasheed Bawa as the Governor of the Central Bank and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, respectively.
