Those Making Marginalisation Charges Want Political Appointments — Osinbajo

Acting President, Prof.  Yemi Osinbajo, said Wednesday that individuals making marginalisation claims were doing so to get political appointments.


Some prominent citizens have been calling for a restructuring of the country, citing alleged marginalisation of their section of the country as a reason for the call.

Similarly, some groups in the South East are demanding an independent state of Biafra on the allegation that the region had been neglected.

But speaking at a seminar at the Institute of Security Studies in Abuja, Osinbajo said it was wrong to equate hate speech as freedom of expression, adding that hate speech preceded tragedies in human history.

He said:  “It is a false narrative that nations formed the way ours was formed is bound to fail. The term, mere geographic expression, is not original to Nigeria.

“It is also a false narrative that one group is more corrupt than the other. Not so. If you look at a corruption charge sheet, there is unity, you find all ethnic and religious groups equally represented in corruption. There’s complete unity in the business of corruption.

“It is also a false narrative that we are better off when ethnic groups are on their own. We are better united when different ethnic groups have strength.

“It is also not true that those who make marginalisation charges are altruistic. Often, what they are saying is: ‘I am marginalised, appoint me’.”