According to Signature TV, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Convener of the Igbo Agenda Dialogue, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of engaging in nepotism at a level surpassing that of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari. He made the claim while reacting to the distribution of ministerial positions in Tinubu’s administration.
Okorie recalled how Buhari’s government faced heavy criticism throughout his eight years in office for marginalizing the Southeast. However, he argued that Tinubu’s pattern of appointments has gone further in entrenching favoritism, concentrating power in the hands of his closest allies. “President Tinubu has proved that President Buhari was a learner in nepotism. Ogun State alone has five powerful ministers, the whole of the Southeast has only five,” he declared.
He insisted that the issue goes beyond political calculations, stressing that ministerial appointments are not symbolic but strategic in shaping policy and directing federal resources. By allocating multiple influential portfolios to one state while limiting the Southeast to minimal representation, Okorie said the president is entrenching inequality.
“The Southeast has a strong population and contributes massively to Nigeria’s economy, yet it is consistently shortchanged. Such exclusionary practices send dangerous signals about belonging and equity in this country,” he warned.
The Igbo Agenda Dialogue convener urged leaders from the Southeast to set aside party affiliations and confront the reality of political imbalance. According to him, remaining silent only encourages further marginalization.
Okorie’s remarks capture growing frustration in the region, where many believe Tinubu’s appointments disproportionately favor the Southwest. Critics argue that such lopsided representation risks widening divisions in a country already struggling with issues of trust, fairness, and inclusiveness in governance.
Love Reading Authentic News Stories, Click The Button Below
