The recent appointments under President Bola Tinubu’s administration have sparked criticism for perceived ethnic imbalance. Notably, only one Igbo person has been appointed to head a security agency out of Nigeria’s 22 security bodies. Critics argue that the appointments heavily favor the Yoruba ethnic group and Christians, with several key roles occupied by individuals from the Southwest, Tinubu’s region.
This pattern has raised concerns about the commitment to Nigeria’s federal character principle, which mandates fair representation across ethnic and regional lines to promote unity. Organizations such as the Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) and Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) have voiced concerns, calling for a more inclusive approach in future appointments to prevent regional or religious favoritism. Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an Igbo sociocultural group, has also expressed disappointment, emphasizing that national unity hinges on equitable representation.
