Presidency Apologizes for Errors in Federal Appointments List

The Presidency has issued an apology for mistakes in the list of appointments released to address concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s alleged lopsided appointments.

The list, intended to showcase the diversity of appointments across Nigeria’s geo-political zones, was criticized for omitting key figures, including the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

In a recent interview with Arise Television, Senator Ali Ndume, an APC lawmaker representing Borno South, accused the President of violating the federal character principle in his appointments.

Opposition politicians have accused President Tinubu of favoring his home region, the South West, in his appointments. Senator Ali Ndume, an APC lawmaker, criticized the President for violating the federal character principle, which aims to ensure representation from all regions.

The initial list released by the Presidency showed appointments from various regions, with 29 appointees from the South West, 35 from the North West, 22 from the South-South, 16 from the South East, 25 from North Central, and 24 from the North East.

However, critics argued that the list was incomplete, citing the absence of Gbajabiamila’s name as evidence of regional imbalance.

Sunday Dare, Special Adviser, Media & Public Communication, acknowledged the errors, stating, “We have noticed a number of errors in the list of appointments tweeted. We are sorry. We will provide an updated list later. Thank you.” The Presidency has promised to release a revised list, but the reasons behind Gbajabiamila’s omission remain unclear.

The controversy surrounding the appointments list has sparked debate on social media, with many questioning the administration’s commitment to diversity and representation.