Osinbajo Replies Critics, Nepotism Claims In Buhari’s Govt Baseless

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has dismissed allegations of favoritism in the appointments made by his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking to some journalists in Lagos over the weekend, Osinbajo said President Buhari’s cabinet is comprised of 20 Christians and 18 Muslims.

The Vice-President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, made the transcript of the interview available to journalists on Sunday.

Recall that in a letter last month, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, levelled allegations of nepotism and clannishness against the Buhari regime.

But reacting to the allegations, Osinbajo said: “In the north, seven northern states have no senior minister, including the president’s home state, Katsina.

“Now, there are those who will say, if you are nepotistic; surely seven northern states have no senior minister. It’s a narrative depending on how you want to run it.

“The south-west, for the first time in the history of this country, has one minister who is in charge of three ministries: Power, Works and Housing. The ministers of finance and communications are also from the south-west. These are critical ministries. You can run the narrative in whichever way that you choose.

“There are people who don’t know that the number of CEOs from Anambra state are more than the number of CEOs from Katsina state or anywhere else, except Ogun.

“Let us look a little deeper into that, so there are those who may argue, for example, that the North has an upper hand or perhaps one section has an upper hand in the cabinet as one narrative.

“The South-East, for example, has five states. Four of the south-eastern states have senior ministers; all of them, except one, who is Minister of State for Education.”

Osinbajo further stated that the President had promised to take a second look at areas of allegations of nepotism he found to be true, especially in the appointments into security agencies.