By Ike Mgbatogu
Staff Writer

Onumba.com,USA ———- When candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared it was his turn with the memorable “emilokan” remark, it left no doubt that coddling his Yoruba ethnic group was coming ——– if he were to become president of Nigeria.

Ultimately, he became president, treading right in his predecessor’s footsteps regarding appointments to plum federal jobs.

What’s new? That’s just how the cookie crumbles in the giant of Africa ——— Nigeria.

But even so, few, if any, could have imagined this degree of ethnic partiality tilted so profoundly, so blatantly, so staggeringly, in favor of his own ethnic group.

In short, Tinubu’s brand of ethnic and regional jingoism concerning federal appointments makes former President Buhari’s northern bias look like a warm-up act ——- an amateur gig.

In a big, vibrant country boasting more than 250 ethnic groups, the skew in favor of the Yorubas is both epic and unparalleled ——– signaling a bleak outlook for a country struggling to foster national unity through ethnic embrace. That’s highlights only one tragedy in all of this. Tinubu’s overt favoritism toward the people of his ethnic heritage also undermines the principle of federal character, which is rooted in fairness, equity and justice.

Meanwhile, because of its vast demographic sprawl, the Igbo ethnic group suffers the most from this extreme imbalance —– which perhaps helps account for the depressing pittance of federal presence in the eastern region. The veracity of that claim faulting this administration is not in question ——- yet political tricks and slick charlatans such as the Minister of Works Dave Umahi and Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state would see all of this and glibly turn a blind eye.

On the national stage, reaction to this lopsided dynamic has been virtually nonexistent at worst and halfhearted at best. Yet that notwithstanding, no one, not even the coddled Yorubas ‐——- assuming they are fair minded and honest ——– would applaud such a reckless and flagrant betrayal of fundamental tenet of balance and equity.

Now, Nigeria is on the throes of a bruising presidential election set for next year. It is disheartening enough that the Chairman of INEC Joash Amupitan was appointed by the incumbent president in a contest in which he is a candidate.  But on top of that conflict of interest dynamism ——-wrap your head ——- if you can, around the fact that the INEC chairman is also a member of Tinubu’s ethnic group ——– this, in a corrupt and lawless kakistocracy where politics at the pinnacle of it, is transactional and known thieves are sheltered by the ruling party.

Here’s the playbook.  Loot government money as a member of one party, then hop out and join APC —— bingo, you are in the clear —— safe and sound.  This practice, plus a laundry list of other factors, makes EFCC a colossal joke ——— a complete laughingstock.

All of that said, the Tinubu – Amupitan ethnic ties, in my humble opinion, is a potent harbinger and undeniable augury that the deck is staggeringly and hopelessly stacked against his opponents and realistically qualifies as the most visible threat to any effort to achieve a free and fair election in Nigeria.

Let’s dive deeper into who actually runs INEC.

Brace yourself, folks.

INEC Chairman: Yoruba

INEC Director of Procurement: Yoruba

INEC Director of Planning: Yoruba

INEC Director of Litigation and Prosecution: Yoruba

INEC Director of Commission Secretariat: Yoruba

INEC Director of Voter of Register: Yoruba

INEC Director of Audit: Yoruba

INEC Director of Electoral Operation and Logistics: Yoruba (recently appointed)

Now let’s take a look at the rest of Tinubu’s appointments.

President of Nigeria: Yoruba

Chief of Staff: Yoruba

Central Bank Governor: Yoruba

Minister of Petroleum: Yoruba

Minister of Finance: Yoruba

Attorney-General” Yoruba

Minister of Solid Minerals: Yoruba

Accountant General: Yoruba

Inspector General of Police: Yoruba

Army Chief: Yoruba

Customs Chief: Yoruba

NNPC Boss: Yoruba

FIRS Boss: Yoruba

EFCC Chairman: Yoruba

SSS DG: Yoruba

NUPRC Boss: Yoruba

NIMASA DG: Yoruba

Fire Service Boss: Yoruba

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