Presidency Refutes Claims of Favoritism: Northerners Still Predominantly Lead Security Sector

The Presidency addresses concerns of regional favoritism, emphasizing that Northerners continue to hold key positions within Nigeria’s security sector. Read more about the current leadership distribution and insights on national security appointments.

The Presidency has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is biased towards the South West in its security sector appointments.

The criticism gained momentum on social media after Major General Olufemi Oluyede was appointed as Acting Chief of Army Staff, with some detractors accusing President Tinubu of engaging in “Yorubanisation”—a term that refers to favoritism towards the Yoruba ethnic group.

Oluyede’s appointment comes after General Tahoreed Lagbaja had to temporarily step down for medical treatment abroad. This decision sparked discussions among some Nigerians, who contended that there were other qualified generals from regions outside the South West who could have assumed the position.

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In response to these concerns, Sunday Dare, the President’s Special Adviser on Public Communications and Orientation, provided a detailed overview of regional representation among the heads of security agencies in President Tinubu’s administration.

According to Dare, the North West has the most appointees with eight, followed by the South West with five. The North Central region has four appointees and the North East three. Both the South South and South East each have one representative.

“Facts speak for themselves. The information below reveals the regional distribution of President Tinubu’s appointments across 20 security agencies, challenging the notion that he favors Yorubas in these roles. Nigeria we hail thee!” Dare posted on social media, alongside a list of appointees.

Dare contends that this comprehensive analysis debunks allegations of regional bias in the administration’s security appointments, supporting the Presidency’s assertion that these appointments demonstrate a fair national representation.

Refer to the table: