Buhari’s appointments: Nigerians fear 'Ethnic Favoritism, Northern Agenda'



Since the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29 as the 6th Executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the frequency of his major appointments from the north has generated murmurs of unease from citizens.

Political analysts who expressed concerns, lamented that the mantra of change that the All Progressives Congress, APC, was parroting, may not be holistic as President Buhari appears to be “pursuing a northern agenda.”

Of the nine appointments made by Buhari so far, eight are from the North, while one is from the South.



Buhari's appointments so far: 

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mrs Amina Zakari (North),

Head of Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Mordecai Ladan (North)

 Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris (North)

Chief Security Officer, Abdulrahman Mani (North)

The State Chief of Protocol, Lawal Kazaure (North)

Aide De Camp, ADC, Lt. Col Mohammed Abubakar (North)

 Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu (North)

 Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina (South)

 Chief of Staff, Col Hamid Ali (North)

 Director of State Security Service, Lawal Daura (North)

Some NigerianEye readers have claimed that Buhari has favored the North so far with his appointments, also suggesting reasons why they felt President Buhari was making  lopsided appointments,  probably to compensate the North which turned out massively to vote for him in the last presidential election.

Read some randomly selected comments from readers below...

AnonymousJune 26, 2015 at 7:48 AM
This is exactly what we were talking about this Buha and his APC government. Every thing is turning to a NORTHERN-NORTHERN AND MUSLIM-MUSLIM affairs. I just hope the country is not tending towards becoming an islamist state This is really the change the agitated for.



  1. AnonymousJune 26, 2015 at 12:57 PM
    I fear 4 xtain, eastern and southern. Watch out for more northern appointment.

AnonymousJuly 3, 2015 at 6:58 AM
Buhari always appointing northerner to key positions. Why not chane the name of Nigeria. Clueless president

AnonymousJuly 3, 2015 at 8:48 AM
Buhari is trablistic, we are watching if he fails to balance the situation. Note that

AnonymousJuly 3, 2015 at 8:27 AM
It is very wrong for all the appointments to go to the northerners only. I hope Buhari know what he is doing. Former President Jonathan avoided war I hope Buhari will do so too.
EL MATOSKYJuly 3, 2015 at 8:44 AM
HEY BUARIA! Now na MUSA. Continue and the DISINTEGRATION of NIGERIA U dey work towards. GOVERNMENT of NORTHERN NIGERIA, by BUHARI, for HAUSA FULANI PEOPLE.
Tinubu, where are U?

Abba EsahJuly 3, 2015 at 8:59 AM
Matosky and the rest theres something i don't really understand here... sentiment apart when GEJ was there he put people that he trusted from the south *note that* and who complained? Nobody now GMB has put someone he could trust too hows that a problem? Besides didn't you hear of the alleged bugging of the aso villa by the former leadership of the agency? #NoInsultsJustPassingBy

Abba EsahJuly 3, 2015 at 9:35 AM
check dis trend since 1999
1999 - 2007
President - Olusegun Obasanjo. Region - South-West.
DG SSS - Colonel Kayode Are. Region - South-West.
2007-2010
President - Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Region - North.
DG SSS - Afakariya Gadzama. Region - North.
2010-2015
President - Goodluck Jonathan. Region - South-South.
DG SSS - Ita Ekpenyong. Region - South-South.
2015
President - Muhammadu Buhari. Region - North.
DG SSS - Lawal Daura. Region - North.

  1. AnonymousJuly 3, 2015 at 9:59 AM
    Buhari has not done anything. The north is half Nigeria. Always look at it zonally. The north has three zones called north altogether. JEG and OBJ in their appointments neglected this core north concentrating on the christain northerners. Look at the formation of the present army chiefs you will get clue. GEJ replaced Sanusi with the present Ibo man as CBN governor nobody shouted. During OBJ regime all his ministers across North central are all christain except El-rufai and nobody shouted. I therefore advised we look at credibility to bail our beloved country first of all form the menace of PDP before individualism or zonalism and tribalism.
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  2. HumphreyJuly 3, 2015 at 10:21 AM
    Northerners and their borne to rule syndrome. Buhari is at it again.

  1. AnonymousJuly 1, 2015 at 7:40 AM
    President - north
    Senate president- north
    Speaker - north
    Inec chairman - north
    What does it show? It shows that they will be deciding and executing what they want even if the decision does not favor the south. Those people from south who voted for him should be watching with their eyes



    1. AnonymousJuly 1, 2015 at 9:57 AM
      Have you forgotten, the accountant general of the federation also from the NORTH. That is the change the south west clamored for. Up APC.


  2. AnonymousJuly 1, 2015 at 8:42 AM
    Next time the south will not put all its eggs in one basket. Why did you not elect senators from south south under APC? they could have been senate presidents. When will fail to see the light, you do not complain for darkness. We are at their mercy, stop crying, start praying.

As we wait for the ministerial list where more key appointments will be made, it is important not to jump into conclusions or cause any ethnic division/war at this crucial time in our democracy. It is also important to remember Buhari's proclamation during his inauguration speech, when he declared “I belong to nobody, I belong to everybody.”

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  1. If the people that would move/change this country is a Northern/ Southern/Christian /Muslim/short/tall let him/her be appointed. The issue of this quota/federal character has made appointments based on political rather than been on merit. Enough of this politicians hiding under d coat of a responsible citizen. We have seen criminals from of part of the country so also we have good people.

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  2. A month and a week has just gone by. After six months, we shall be able to determine clearly if Buhari of 2015 is not the same Buhari of 1980s that we know.

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  3. President Buhari can't just appoint anyone to work with him all in the name of balancing fair representation from all zones. Our focus should be on the development of the country and if he fails to deliver then he should be castigated. We need to step up form the myopic mentality of ethnicity. Competence and trust is key to good governance. Nobody wouldn't want to work with those he trust and can sleep with his two eyes closed.
    We need to fight this issue of ethnicity and religion, it is really preventing us from achieving progress as a country. GEJ key officers were from the south-south and no one complained. Please let's work on our mind and start dropping this religion and ethnicity bias judgements and focus on how we can attain greatness. God bless Nigeria.

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  4. Make I no hear anybody shout oo! Na una vote baba, make una no complain oo!

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  5. Point of correction, Adesina is from West and not South.

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    Replies
    1. It's called SOUTH-west, have you forgotten that?

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    2. I am not surprised at all about Nigerians not having trust in each other going by the happenings in the country.You can see how often they kill one another when engaged in business deal all because of lack of trust and greed.Fathers don't trust their children and children on the other hand wouldn't mind eliminating their parents just because they want to inherit or benefit from things they never worked for

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  6. Fellow Nigerians, let us learn that a house divided against itself cannot stand. President Buhari didn't get there by mistake or because of the Nothern voters, it's because God chose Him. PLEASE LET US LEARN TO STAND BY GOD'S CHOICE, let us trust God to finish what He has started. President Buhari, God bless you and strengthen you and lead you to make the RIGHT choice every time. I Love Nigeria. God bless Nigeria.

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  7. Asiwaju single handedly gave the President to GMB. True or False? Then let all act on the spirit of one Nigeria. Cikena! Oto! Long live Mr Predident! Long live Nigeria!

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  8. Buhari did not really need to win any Southern State to be elected. Votes in Katsina and Kano according to the last elections will see him through. This is a precedent set for future elections and census. Katsina had double the votes cast in Lagos State! We are just shouting that Lagos population is high. For the Southwest, the votes in Katsina was higher than all the Southwestern states put together. This will be confirmed in the next census and revenue allocation will have to be adjusted accordingly!

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  9. Many are the devices in the heart of men but only the counsel of God will stand in this nation.

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  10. Ur comment is d best

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  11. I think we should stop profiling our leaders along the lines of divide that our past leaders have used to divide and rule us else we will have another non-performing government . We should start assessing, documenting and considering the credibility and integrity of our leaders and not their religion or region where they hail from.

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  12. BUHA-TOSKY!
    I BELONG to NOBODY(i.e TINUBU & SOUTHWEST), I BELONG to EVERYBODY (i.e HAUSA-FILANI & NORTHER NIGERIA).
    AAPEECEE! CHANGEEE!

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  13. One question, when the clueless GEJ was in power, how many key positions did he give to the South-South? I thought he too favoured the North. He should have appointed his people as well, but for the EEGIT he is, he went about pleasing the North and the North messed him up. The thing is, Buhari is fortifying himself with guys/guyesses he can trust; deal with it and move on. I am from the South-South, and I have no issues with Buhari's appointment because our own guy was a total Jackass!

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  14. Go back and think about Jonathan's appointments before shouting. Find out about yr votes and see what contribution 6r local area made to realize the dream of Buhari.

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  15. Buhari has heard the news loud and clear. If he ignore the yearning of the people of Nigeria, he will be making a terrible mistake.

    Buhari should get on with the job at hand and be guided by natural wisdom.

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  16. Please leave Buhari alone, he has not done anything wrong to offer to serve. He is only but human and ever learning. Nigerians chose him to serve, let us please allow him do just that. Overtime he had offered his service to no avail. Nigerians in their wisdom readily gave in to his CHANGE agenda and ushered him unto the saddle. In less than a few days we are already crying wolf, please where is the wolf. Granted a chance, I will say the wolf is or are the Nigerians who are feigning and seeking. When the man proclaimed change, I guess we should have been more matured than sit on the fence, now the change has started we wake up and want to antagonize our choice. Talking of Muslim Christian, please are Muslims in all offices and all states as Leaders, I beg to be challenged if there is any office in this country where the wolf these Nigerians are seeing Buhari is not found. Before you will say jack the book of 1st Timothy 5:8 will be flaunted and quoted for you, even when you would offer to subjugate your birth just to be annexed, either as a member of the family, state or faith, you will be aghast in the discern and humiliation you will receive. It is easy to cry wolf because today it looks as the puppy has seen a dead chick, how about the numerous dead puppies at the dunes where chicks are scavenging. Please if truly we want to key into the change that is whirling, may we please start the change from within. Just as these Nigerians are wailing, same wail are going on in states, of truth, Buhari is not acting in isolation, he is taking a cue from what our governors are doing. Please pry the lists of appointees yet released by the Christian (non Muslim) states and tell the world the truth if this same thing that Buhari is being accused is not the order of the day. For Gods sake can Nigerians please change and Nigeria will change and CHANGE WILL SUBSIST. Go to equity with clean hands.

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    Replies
    1. May God bless you. I really appreciate your words.

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    2. Is Fani Kayode and Fayose Prophets?

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  17. The President must reverse this negative impression of being pro-North (Hausa-Fulani) and pro-Islamic. The appointments made so far give a cause for concern as it has been purely a Hausa affair, completely at variance with his famous inaugural speech where he declared that he belong to all and he belongs to nobody. He must carry all sections of the country in major appointments, otherwise he will lose the support of other tribes. It is not yet late to make amends.

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  18. Where are the Niger Delta's, we need SEPARATIONS NOW before it is too late. Let buhari rule north and lets choose our own leader.

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