Prominent voices from Northern Nigeria, particularly among Arewa youth influencers and civil society actors, have raised fresh concerns over what they describe as glaring nepotism within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The accusations stem from a viral post by an influencer, Faarees (@MFaarees_), who listed several key national positions currently occupied by individuals of Yoruba extraction.
According to the post, 18 major positions—ranging from the President, Chief of Staff, and Chief of Army Staff to heads of critical agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC)—are allegedly dominated by Yoruba appointees.
“There has never been such a nepotistic administration in the history of Nigeria,” Faarees tweeted. “Tinubu is indeed a master strategist!” he added sarcastically, attaching a list of positions reportedly filled by Yoruba individuals.
The tweet quickly gained traction on social media, sparking heated debates and polarizing opinions. Critics argue that the administration is failing in its constitutional duty to reflect Nigeria’s federal character and ethnic diversity in government appointments. They claim this concentration of power in the hands of one ethnic group threatens national unity and deepens regional distrust.
Arewa activists have called on the National Assembly, political stakeholders, and elder statesmen to intervene, warning that continued marginalization of other ethnic groups could destabilize the fragile peace in the country.
However, supporters of the president argue that many of the appointees are qualified professionals and that the administration’s focus should be on competence rather than ethnic balancing.
As the controversy grows, analysts warn that perceptions of ethnic favoritism, if left unaddressed, could erode public trust in the Tinubu government and widen Nigeria’s already tense regional divides.
