Northern Groups Allege Lopsidedness In Tinubu’s Appointments

Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on perceived lopsidedness in appointments in his government.

The CNG in the letter signed by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman and made available to LEADERSHIP in Abuja yesterday said that it was writing regarding some pressing issues that are affecting the nation.

In the letter titled, “ Open Letter To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Three-Arms Zone, Abuja, On The Perception Of Lopsidedness In Your Administration’s Appointments And The Pervasive Frustration, Hunger And Anger In The Land,” dated September 19, 2023, the group reminded the president that what paved the way for his emergence as the presidential flag bearer of the party was the support of some Northern governors who insisted on a shift of power to specifically the South-West.

It said at the time there were resistance from some Northern politicians who feared that a Southern president would further marginalise their region, yet these governors, who were mostly from the North-West and North-East, persisted that a shift of power to the South-West would help to foster national unity, even as some Northern politicians accused them of betrayal and of putting their personal interests ahead of the larger Northern agenda.

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“And in the build-up to the secondary election of February 2023, despite efforts by both the government in power at the time and your own party, the All Progressives Congress, to sabotage your success, the Nigerian people stood firm and gave you massive votes, with Northern Nigeria giving you more than 60% of the votes,” it said.

The group brought to his attention the pervasive frustration, hunger, and anger being felt by many in the country just three months into his administration.

“Furthermore, some sections of the country are already raising concerns over perceived lopsidedness in your appointments to key positions in the government. As a leader who ran on a platform of change and inclusivity, it is crucial that this pervasive feeling of frustration and anger is addressed. There is a need to urgently put in place policies and programmes that will bring relief and restore hope in the people. Your administration must be seen as one that listens to the voices of the people and acts accordingly.

“Additionally, we urge you to pay attention to the concerns raised over perceived lopsidedness in your appointments. It is important that key positions are held by qualified individuals regardless of their ethnic or religious background. The unity and progress of the country depend on fairness and equity in all areas, including governance.

“Second, we wish to bring to your attention a crucial issue that affects millions of students in the country. Despite your recent directive for the status quo of school fees to be maintained in universities and tertiary institutions, most higher institutions have hiked their fees, causing immense hardship for students and their families,” the group wrote.

It said the current situation is alarming, as millions of students are unable to meet up with the exorbitant fees being charged by these institutions, as a result, many students are forced to drop out of school, abandoning their dreams of getting an education and fulfilling their potential.

The group added that it is crucial that urgent action be taken to address this issue, saying students are the future of our country, and they deserve access to quality education without undue financial burden.