“Nigerians anger with Tinubu is selective outrage” — Ozekhome

Human rights advocate and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, has sparked a heated debate by pointing fingers at former President Muhammadu Buhari for paving the way for what critics now call President Bola Tinubu’s “Yorubanisation” of key government positions.

Speaking at a symposium in Abuja organized by the International Human Rights Commission, Ozekhome argued that Tinubu’s perceived favoritism towards his Yoruba ethnic group is merely a continuation of the regional bias that defined Buhari’s administration.

“When I hear northerners complain that Tinubu has ‘Yorubanised’ Nigeria, I ask them: Where were you when Buhari, for eight years, ‘northernized’ every position in the country?” Ozekhome said.

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The senior lawyer didn’t hold back, criticizing Nigerians for tolerating what he described as Buhari’s “selective appointments” during his tenure. He highlighted how regional loyalty often overshadowed the collective good, saying, “Even when Buhari’s policies didn’t benefit his supporters, many still defended him blindly because he was ‘their man.’”

Ozekhome’s comments have reignited discussions on ethno-political favoritism and its long-term implications for Nigeria’s unity. With Tinubu’s appointments now under scrutiny, the question remains: Is Nigeria trapped in a cycle of regional politics, or will this spark a shift towards true inclusivity?