NewStats: 3,259,438 , 8,170,120 topics. Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 02:00 AM 1f5a48

In the heat of Nigeria’s often polarized political environment, accusations of ethnic or regional favoritism are never far off.

Recently, claims have surfaced, most notably from Senator Ali Ndume of Borno State, that President Bola Tinubu’s appointments are lopsided in favour of the South. While such remarks may stir public sentiment, they do not stand up to factual scrutiny.

A comparative analysis of 40 top federal appointments under President Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, reveals a more balanced and inclusive pattern than critics claim.

Under President Buhari, the regional spread of key appointments was overwhelmingly tilted towards the North. Out of 40 major federal positions, 36 were held by Northerners, with just 4 positions going to Southerners. This raised genuine concerns about marginalization during his tenure, and these concerns were well documented.

However, under President Tinubu, the trend appears significantly different. The same list of 40 key federal appointments shows that 24 are currently held by Northerners, while 16 are held by Southerners, a much more balanced distribution.

LET'S EXAMINE THIS CLOSELY THROUGH THE PROVIDED LIST:

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, remains a Northern appointment under both Buhari and Tinubu, maintaining consistency in that office.

The Chief of Staff, COS, however, shifted from the North under Buhari to the South under Tinubu.

The ant General, AMCON leadership, EFCC, DSS, and Police—all of which were previously occupied by Northerners under Buhari—are now in the hands of Southerners under Tinubu, reflecting a deliberate effort to bridge the past imbalance.

A number of other notable offices also changed regional hands:

The Air Force shifted from the South under Buhari to the North under Tinubu.

The Army switched from North to South.

The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, flipped from South to North.

The Navy, previously led by the North, is now headed by someone from the South.

This back-and-forth clearly shows a give-and-take that was missing under the Buhari istration. Tinubu’s appointment choices seem to show an awareness of Nigeria’s regional sensitivities.

In the realm of intelligence and security, the North continues to hold offices such as the Director of Military Intelligence, DMI, Director of Defence Intelligence, DIA, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, and State Security Services, SSS/DSS,—although the DSS under Tinubu is now headed by a Southerner. This is noteworthy, given how security leadership has traditionally been a Northern stronghold.

When it comes to major regulatory agencies like NCC, NCS, NDLEA, NFIU, NHIS, NIS, NNPC, NPA, NSCDC, NTA, NUC, and NYSC, most of these remain under Northern control under Tinubu.

However, Southerners now lead crucial bodies like the PTDF, FIRS, NIMC, BOA, and NIMASA, which shows effort toward regional inclusion in technocratic and economic sectors.

It is also significant that under Tinubu, Southerners continue to lead both the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the Head of Service, HOS,—positions that had previously gone South under Buhari, too.

Now consider these figures: Buhari’s appointments were 90 percent Northern (36 out of 40), while Tinubu’s reflect a Northern/Southern ratio of roughly 58:42. While not perfectly even, Tinubu’s istration is far more regionally representative. Such efforts deserve recognition, not distortion.

The charge of lopsidedness appears to be politically motivated, particularly as the data proves otherwise. The accusation that Tinubu is favouring the South ignores the many strategic positions still occupied by Northerners. In fact, with 23 key posts going to the North, the region still retains a majority—just not an overwhelming one.

What Tinubu seems to be doing differently is attempting to create a more equitable federal structure where every part of the country sees itself reflected in governance. The appointments so far show inclusivity without alienating any region, especially the North, which continues to hold majority representation.

At a time when Nigeria is grappling with economic reform, security challenges, and the urgent need for national unity, inflaming regional grievances based on unverified assumptions does more harm than good.

The facts laid bare in this analysis demonstrate that President Bola Tinubu is not favoring Southerners at the expense of Northerners. Rather, his istration is attempting to strike a fairer balance, one that corrects the over-centralization seen in the recent past while promoting national cohesion.

https://thestreetjournal.org/is-tinubus-appointment-truly-lopsided-the-data-says-otherwise/

Let's disabuse ignorant minds, dismantle lies and propaganda, dispel misinformation and bitterness. God bless President Tinubu, God bless Nigeria.

s over to you..



-Kiss the truth!

That Dare guy has to learn that you always use third columnist like this to respond to rumors like the one Ndume was giving.

He belittles his office when he not only officially responded to it, he also made a mistake.

lie lie

What is South, there is nothing like South anymore, the writer refused to be specific with the type of south...

If South east, south south and the north are complaining about lopsidedness then what is south? Even Buhari's nepotism wasn't as bad as this within the north, I ask again what exactly is south?

This is not a north versus south issue. The lopsidedness we are saying is that majority of Tinubu's appointments have gone to his zYoruba kinsmen. The question is: out of the 40 positions, let's know how many are held by the zYorubas. From the so-called data provided, they said 24 positions have gone to the north. Out of the 24 claimed to be given to the north, Fagbemi is there, Ojulari is there, and many others.


Is Lateef Fagbemi a northern name?

Is Ojulari a northern name too?

If Tinubu's first term is like this, it will be better for all of us to imagine what his second term will be than experience it oh! My advice is especially to our northern brothers.

What was good for the goose is presumably good for the gander 😀

Hmmm

More disappointed in youth still ing this government when their parents are crying for food and security in the village.

See how these fools make it a North and South thing but when it comes to everything else, they will there are Southwest, Southsouth and Southeast. Idiots. South kill all of you there.

This is not about north and south. A good portion of northern appointments are held by Yoruba people. And 70% of southern appointments are held by Yoruba people. This shows this istration is a Yoruba istration

I can't see southeast in the data. Therefore una propaganda na rubbish.



Dem don hire agberojournal to do another propaganda job for babablu.

Okay... When you say Southerners, Do you know there are 3 geopolitical zones and multiple ethnic groups in the South?

Even among the Northerners, do you know the North is not just made up of Hausa - Fulani tribes?

Now redo your analysis on the basis of tribe

ehikwe22:
This is not about north and south

Don't mind the hypocrites and cowards. They are only deceiving themselves. They can't face the North alone, that's all they are avoiding whenever you hear them say South.

Liars

Be sure that all liars will go to hell!

Firstly, there are 6 regions in Nigeria, not 2.


Be sure the chicks will eventually come home to roost

TimeManager:
Let's disabuse ignorant minds, dismantle lies and propaganda, dispel misinformation and bitterness. God bless President Tinubu, God bless Nigeria.

s over to you..



-Kiss the truth!

How can say such things about yourself.

It would have been better if the analysis listed the names and state of origin

..the machinery of the Lagos Ibadan expressway propaganda Media house of lies & deceit has been set in motion..

...the good thing is that this exposition of crass tribalism & nepotism never experienced in the annals of Nigeria history..was first done by one of them: a tribal fallen demon..who published a fake & uncompleted parapo appointment list between the North & South..because he wanted to prove that Thief'nubu is not a tribalist..

..they will unleash the Lagos Ibadan expressway Media house of lies for the next few weeks tire..

..no amount of explaining tire by fallen demons propaganda Media houses will erase the despicable acts of tribalism, clannishness under the fraudulent grab & snatch malistration of mandate thieves..

Good, let's set the record straight and shame wailers.

Ok

But some people are saying that Tinubu is appointing only SW people.
Unlike Buhari and Jonathan,Tinubu is fairing better.
Thanks to data.Kudos to people who keep records of events.

ehikwe22:
This is not about north and south. A good portion of northern appointments are held by Yoruba people. And 70% of southern appointments are held by Yoruba people. This shows this istration is a Yoruba istration

I didn’t vote for Tinubu. But can you send in the data for the vote ratio for south east/ southwest. You reap only what you sow. Got it?

Brendaniel:
What is South, there is nothing like South anymore, the writer refused to be specific with the type of south...

If South east, south south and the north are complaining about lopsidedness then what is south? Even Buhari's nepotism wasn't as bad as this within the north, I ask again what exactly is south?

Dijita:
I would have been better if the analysis listed the names and state of origin

Nonexisting1:
Don't mind the hypocrites and cowards. They are only deceiving themselves. They can't face the North alone, that's all they are avoiding whenever you hear them say South.

kingsways:
Liars

Be sure that all liars will go to hell!

Firstly, there are 6 regions in Nigeria, not 2.


Be sure the chicks will eventually come home to roost

JAWBONE:
Okay... When you say Southerners, Do you know there are 3 geopolitical zones and multiple ethnic groups in the South?

Even among the Northerners, do you know the North is not just made up of Hausa - Fulani tribes?

Now redo your analysis on the basis of tribe

ehikwe22:
This is not about north and south. A good portion of northern appointments are held by Yoruba people. And 70% of southern appointments are held by Yoruba people. This shows this istration is a Yoruba istration

jmoore:
I can't see southeast in the data. Therefore una propaganda na rubbish.



Dem don hire agberojournal to do another propaganda job for babablu.

bunmmy5:
lie lie

Shame catch una say una lies don burst. Point out one lie in the fact check. A Northerner made an accusation about the North being marginalized, insinuating that Tinubu's appointment does not reflect federal character ( federal character reflects a balance between the North and South ). It is necessary to fact check and compare with Buhari's appointments between the North and South and see who truly marginalized who.

LegacyB:

I didn’t vote for Tinubu. But can you send in the data for the vote ratio for south east/ southwest. You reap only what you sow. Got it?

Then FG should stop collecting taxes from southeast indigenes.

zero8zero:
















Shame catch una say una lies don burst. Point out one lie in the fact check. A Northerner made an accusation about the North being marginalized, insinuating that Tinubu's appointment does not reflect federal character ( federal character reflects a balance between the North and South ). It is necessary to fact check and compare with Buhari's appointments between the North and South and see who truly marginalized who.

Babablu bulabu. SW, SS or SE. Nothing like south.

JAWBONE:
Okay... When you say Southerners, Do you know there are 3 geopolitical zones and multiple ethnic groups in the South?

Even among the Northerners, do you know the North is not just made up of Hausa - Fulani tribes?

Now redo your analysis on the basis of tribe

Igbos are somewhere around 16 while Yorubas are 29 and South South...25.
Hausa/fulanis have the largest chunk.
They have always had 65% -70% of appointments which had affected Nigeria negatively because of their capabilities and capacity to operate in those capacities positively.

Northerners generally occupy more roles than southerners in this istration.

However, they expect to be the one leading some keys positions like efcc, custom, cbn, which BAT has given to southerners. This is quite painful to them. Appointing Bayo as nnpcl pained them more.

Even if BAT should give SE people 50% of southerners roles, they won't stop hating him. I like the way BAT ignored them.

U hate him, hate his wife and family.

Continue hating ...

Jagaban is never your mate.

Opposition will use everything to Play politics, even if Tinubu appointment was dominated by Igbo people they still won't stop calling him bad names and that won't stop them from voting Peter Obi over him any day despite the big failure Obi is in all ramifications.


In fact they will only use it to gloat and chest beat and taunt Yoruba people over it saying bullshits like it is because they are more competent.

You can not please your enemies, this is impossible. When Buhari filled everywhere with Fulani this hypocritical Northerners crying now didn't see it then.

Tinubu already learnt his lesson in Lagos, he gave them opportunities in Lagos politics but that didn't stop them from being his opposition, they won't be satisfied until you stand up from the table and put them in charge while you look. What they can not demand in Anambia and Enugo you will see them demand in Lagos while voting failure like Peter Obi and Ikpeazu every 4 years.

Yoruba are now very proud of being tribalistic

Majority (90%) of their appointees in the SW are from Lagos

jmoore:

Babablu bulabu. SW, SS or SE. Nothing like south.

NW, NE, NC - Nothing like North too.. dullard.