By Yunusa Umar
On August 9, 2024, an X user, Sarki (@Waspapping_) posted a claim that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the 16th executive president of Nigeria appointed all his senior executives from his region, South-West.
The claim’s caption reads, “All the senior executive appointments under this administration have gone to the South-West. We are left with SA’s”.
The claim has generated 122k views, 113 reposts, 32 quotes, 1,153 likes and 15 bookmarks as of the time of filing this report.
One of the replies from the post by X user, @Jidifeanyi reads “It’s turn by turn. Buhari did worst, at the end mediocrity reigns”.
Another X user, @Marylifted also commented on the post with “This was exactly what Buhari did when he was on seat. It is the time of the West now. No more Federal character in Nigeria”.
A verified X user @Onyeani_Kalu commented with a different caption that reads;
“You are always poisoning the atmosphere, why posting what everyone know is Fake news? Of all the North got in this administration yet your still complaining? What do you want people of South East and South South to say ? The North has all key government positions, even more than the South West where the President came from. This is 21st century we are wiser now, no one can brain 🧠 wash the public again”.
The claim made is quite significant as the X user made the post less than 24 hours after President Tinubu appointed six presidential liaison aides to the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. NV-A went on to verify this claim.
VERIFICATION
A report by Channels TV showed that Tinubu appointed 45 Ministers into his cabinet with people from the six geo-political zones heading different portfolios in the ongoing administration.
NV-A conducted a keyword search to verify the viral claim and results show that at least 28 individuals from the Northern region are part of President Tinubu’s senior executives and cabinet members, with many of them appointed.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari hails from Borno while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume is from Benue State.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman are indigenes of Adamawa State. While the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru is from Jigawa State, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle hails from Zamfara State.
Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu and the Minister of State for Education, Yusuf T. Sununu is from Kebbi State. The Minister of Housing, Ahmed M Dangiwa and the Minister of Art, Culture and the creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, hails from Katsina State.
The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi T. Gwarzo and the Minister of State for FCT, Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure are indigenes of Kano State. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf M. Tuggar and the Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate hail from Bauchi State.
Police Affairs Minister, Ibrahim Geidam is from Yobe State. The Minister of Information and National Orientation of Nigeria, Muhammad Idris Malagi and the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi is from Niger State. The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi and the Minister of Youths, Jamila Bio Ibrahim hails from Kwara State.
Also, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal hails from Kaduna state while the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali is from Gombe State. Imaan Suaiman Ibrahim, Minister of State for Police Affairs and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong hails from Plateau state. The Minister of Special Duties And Intergovernmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo is an Abuja indigene.
The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu A. Audu is an indigene of Kogi State while the Minister of State for Steel Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu is from Taraba State. The Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev hails from Benue state while the Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Muhammed Goronyo hails from Sokoto state.
Further checks revealed that the senior executive members of this administration also include individuals from the South-South and South East region of the country.
Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the minister of women affairs and social development hails from Anambra of South-East region while Doris Uzoka serves as Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria from Imo. David Umahi is the minister of works who hails from Ebonyi and Uche Nnaji as the Minister of Science and Technology from Enugu.
Nyesom Wike, who is the Minister of FCT hails from Rivers State in the South-South Region while Uche Nnaji as the Minister of Science and Technology is from Enugu. Festus Keyamo, from Delta State is the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and Abubakar Momoh who is the Minister of Niger Delta Commission hails from Edo State.
Ekperikpe Ekpo is the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources(Gas) from Akwa Ibom while Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources(Oil) is from Bayelsa State and John Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development comes from Cross River State.
CONCLUSION
The claim that all the senior executives appointed by President Tinubu are from the South-West is FALSE as findings reveal that out of the 52 executive cabinet members in President Tinubu’s administration, at least 28 of them come from the Northern part of Nigeria and there are other appointees from the South-South and South-East.
