Of President Tinubu Sundry Sins: Part III - Sin Of Nepotism

In the second part of my article, I considered the devaluation and floating of the Naira by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT or President Tinubu). I argued that the Naira floatation as well as the Naira devaluation by PBAT is another misinformed economic policy that has placed a lot more Nigerians in abject penury, increased poverty and worsened the living standards of a great majority. I opined that the Naira devaluation by President Tinubu, barely after he assumed office would appear to have failed in its bid to cure whatever imbalance in trade he sought to achieve and contended that the currency devaluation would have made sense if we had increased exports and see to a decrease in imports, but sadly, this is not the case in Nigeria. I further stated that contrary to assertions in certain quarters that Nigeria’s currency devaluation under PBAT might have been a positive turning point in Nigeria’s currency reform drive, it would appear President Tinubu spoke too soon and poorly so, as his monetary policy stance, working hand-in-hand with the apex bank would appear not to be working and has seen since backfired - with the attendant negative effects largely borne by majority of Nigerians who are left worse of. I observed that one of the negative effects of President Tinubu hurriedly executed Naira floating and devaluation policy can be best seen in prices of raw materials and other key items required for production as well as equipment and spare parts (often imported) and which have skyrocketed - on account of the Naira devaluation, Naira floatation and rising energy costs, thereby, resulting in such production costs being transferred to end consumers and low purchasing power of Nigerians.

I conceded that while there may be some merit to the arguments offered in some quarters about the willing buyer and willing seller approach as well as demand and supply reaction to the Foreign Exchange (FX) market, the move made by PBAT to unify the rates in Nigeria’s FX market has woefully failed to bring an end to the multiple foreign exchange markets and if anything at all, has further shown the volatility of our seemly fragile economy and unpredictability as well as uncertainty/unhealthy speculative transactions permeating the Nigerian FX market. I then suggested that what President Tinubu ought to have done is to have dealt with the FX backlogs, increased liquidity by encouraging more export driven ventures and conscientiously regulate FX demand through the CBN – statutorily empowered to do so. I concluded by urging President Tinubu to retrace his steps, revisit the policy somersault on Naira devaluation and flotation of the Naira as well as adopt a more home-grown solution that place less reliance on foreign borrowed options or concepts but tailored solutions that best fit a dynamic and unique society like ours with its peculiar challenges.

In the third part pf this article, I shall be considering President Tinubu’s sins of nepotism amongst his sundry sins. While there is no one size-fits-all approach to what nepotism is, some guidance have been provided in leading dictionaries as to what nepotism entails and its tell tale signs, For instance, the Cambridge Dictionary, Collins Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Dictionaries define ‘Nepotism’ to include: (a) use of power or influence to get good jobs or unfair advantages for members of your own family or unfairly giving good jobs or advantages to members of your family; (b) favouritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship; and (c) the unfair use of power in order to get jobs or other benefits for your family or friends or favouritism shown to relatives or close friends by those with power or influence. The origin of the word is said to be traceable to the Italian word ‘nepotismo’ which itself comes from the Latin word ‘nepos’ meaning nephew and the former papal practice of granting special favours to nephews or other relatives. Nepotism, could therefore be said to patronage bestowed or favouritism shown on the basis of family relationship in business and politics.

The foregoing in mind, one would be attempting to say the obvious if one proceeds to assert that PBAT’s administration has been marked by varying cases of nepotism. While the Presidency has made different attempts in the past to debunk the nepotism allegation, it is the considered view of the present writer that the facts speak for themselves – after all, it is trite principle of law that facts evident and glaringly so – rarely needs further proof or be proven. Take for example, the appointment of Major General Olufemi Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and his promotion from to the rank of Lieutenant General. It would be recalled that Lieutenant General Femi Oluyede, a Yoruba man from Ekiti State, succeeded another Yoruba man – Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja (now of blessed memory).

Beyond the nepotism in the military, there have also been instances of nepotism in the Public Service of the Federation. Just in March 2025, PBAT appointed Mr Babatunde Ogunjimi as the Accountant-General of the Federation - claiming the appointment was done ‘after a rigorous selection process.’ It would be recalled that the immediate Accountant-General of the Federation - Oluwatoyin Sakirat Madehin equally a Yoruba from Ogun State. While not a soothsayer or seer, it won’t be out of place to imagine the question on most Nigerians lip – whether only Yorubas are the only qualified persons in a multi-ethnic country like ours and please note, that I write this out of genuine concern (devoid of malice) as a patriotic Nigerian borne to a darling Yoruba Mother from Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area in Osun State and my wonderful Igbo Dad from Ochafu-Igbeagu, Izzi Local Government in Ebonyi State. Useful to also note that I was primarily borne and raised in the South-Western region of Nigeria amongst the awesome and very warm welcoming Yorubas who allowed me to thrive and realise my full potentials with the grace of God as well as God-sent Yoruba benefactors.

Quite instructive also is the case of Dr Kayode Egbetokun – current Inspector General of Police (IGP) who ought to have left the office of the IGP since he turned 60 years of age in September 2024, but who the Presidency unilaterally sponsored the amendment to the Police Act – a bill that was hurriedly passed in the National Assembly on the same it passed first, second and third readings – with a view to giving some sort of legitimacy to the highly controversial, bad precedent setting and constitutionally upsetting move – having failed to factor in the clear stipulation in the Public Service Rules that mandates all public officers – of which police officers are and bound – to compulsorily retire upon attainment of 60 years of age or 35 years of service – whichever comes first. I particularly recall having to institute a case before the Federal High Court to challenge the tenure elongation of Dr Kayode Egbetokun despite having reached the mandatory age of retirement at 60 and also passed the 35 years in service sometime this year, having enlisted in the Nigeria Police as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on 3 March 1990 – same year and about nine months before my dear Mum delivered me in Osun State! Having served for over 35 years in service and passed the mandatory age of retirement as a public servant, one wonders what the current IGP is still looking for and what the PBAT stands to gain in further enabling this nepotism and reckless disregard for the concerns of other ethnic groups in Nigeria. It is on record that the present IGP was the Chief Security Officer to the PBAT circa 1999 when the PBAT was then Lagos State Governor and one barely needs to look further to the favouritism emanating from PBAT to Dr. Kayode Egbetokun – as PBAT, known in some cases to reward loyalty with some key exceptions, might somewhat believe it owes some of his political successes to the current IGP and the latter could be very instrumental to his success at the ballots come 2027. After all, who better to guarantee the ballots than the men in uniform who have – rather strangely and disturbingly so, in at least two instances, shown blatant disregard for lives of citizens in the case of Osun and Rivers State - where they unilaterally withdrew from the Local Government Elections at the eleventh hour and abruptly left the states’ residents to see to their own protection, thereby, abandoning their primary and statutory duty, to always protect lives and properties, without fear or favour? Little wonder, some have now termed the Nigeria Police Force as an extension of the arm of the ruling party – APC – All Progressives Congress! Ironically, one begins to wonder what exactly is ‘progressive’ in the party called APC given all the hardship, abject penury and varying cases of human rights violation as well as blatant disregard for the rule of law by some of its core public office holder – including PBAT. Not to worry, I will be more than happy to validate my claim of disregard for the rule of law in one of my the forthcoming publications but for now, I shall return to the allegation of nepotism.

Useful to note that the nepotism allegation against the PBAT’s administration is not new. For instance, there have major reactions on social media from concerned Nigerians with allegation that President Tinubu is favouring his tribesmen against other sections of the country – thereby, continuing in the part of his predecessor – Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) who did a similar thing with his heavily lopsided appointments while President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. While there might be some truth to the arguments offered in some quarters that President Tinubu is only attempting to right the wrongs done to the Yoruba people by the last administration, it would accord with good reason that two wrongs barely make right and PBAT would be better advised not to follow a trend that could divide the country along ethnic walls as this was one of the core factors that brought the first republic to its kneels.

The appointments of Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya as the Commander of the Guards Brigade responsible for the PBAT’ security, Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, MON as the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS) – AKA – ‘Spy Chief’ – since August 2024, confirmation of the appointment of Mr. Adewale Adeniyi as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service since October 2023, appointment of Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since October 2023, March 2025 appointment of Brig, Gen. Olakunle Nafiu as the NYSC DG and not easily forgotten appointment of PBAT’s son-in-law, Mr. Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, married to Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, President Tinubu’s daughter, as the CEO of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), amongst others, are credible evidence of Mr President’s nepotism.

One cannot also easily forget the accusation also lodged circa November 2024 by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe accusing PBAT of encouraging nepotism, citing his appointment of four ministers from Ogun State against other states that struggled with just one. According to Senator Abaribe, PBAT’s favouritism mirrors the tendencies of former President Muhammadu Buhari but has worsened under Tinubu’s watch. What a disheartening comparison!

The People's Gazette, in a May 2024 publication, also reported outrage by Nigerians - to the President Tinubu led administration’s questionable and highly irregular confirmation and award of N15 trillion contract sum to a company linked to Mr Seyi Tinubu and the President’s long time friend – Mr Gilbert Chagoury. Apart from the glaring conflict of interest situation, one barely need to look forward for nepotism evidence than the award of the much touted Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway project contract to Mr. Gilbert Chagoury’s company, one in which Mr. Seyi Tinubu has been said to be sitting on its board - as of the time of the contract award. Little wonder – one of the major opposition leaders – Mr. Atiku Abubakar - was credited to have accused the Tinubu-led government - of not only inflating the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project - but also unduly favouring President Tinubu’s son and his long time ally - Mr Chagoury. Curiously, the President Tinubu’s led administration, while reacting to Mr Atiku Abubakar’s criticisms, was reported to have insisted that PBAT’s son’s involvement with Mr Chagoury’s company, remains ‘immaterial’ and even went as far castigating Mr Atiku for complaining about the deal. What a response! What a ‘conscientious’(?) presidential reaction!! What a country!!!

Joseph Onele, a legal practitioner, writes from Lagos, Nigeria and can be reached via thejosephonele@gmail.com or joseph.onele@primusgrace.com

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