Buhari Was Worse in Nepotism Than Tinubu — Shehu Sani Defends President Amid Northern Criticism

• Amid rising accusations of nepotism against President Bola Tinubu, Senator Shehu Sani argued that Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was more guilty of favouritism.

As President Bola Tinubu’s administration faces mounting criticism over alleged nepotistic appointments, former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has pushed back on the narrative, stating that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari was far worse in that regard.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Sani said, “It is clear the nation has a very short memory… What was the profile of nepotism at that time?” He claimed that during Buhari’s tenure, over 30 high-level federal appointments were handed to individuals from Katsina State alone—Buhari’s home state. Among those he listed were the Directors-General of the SSS, NIA, SMEDAN, and heads of several agencies such as NIMET, NIMASA, and the Railway Corporation, all reportedly from Katsina.

Sani also highlighted the dominance of northern figures in key military and paramilitary positions during Buhari’s time, naming individuals such as Babandede (Immigration), Hamid Ali (Customs), and Alkali Baba (IGP).

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Addressing Tinubu’s northern critics, he questioned their silence during Buhari’s tenure, saying: “I will appreciate the morality of your position if I can hear your voice when your own man from your ethnic group was perpetrating these same actions.”

While admitting Tinubu should avoid repeating past mistakes, he urged the current president to maintain balance in appointments and not follow the precedent set by his predecessor.