South-West APC Support Group Accuses Tinubu of ‘Lagonising’ Appointments, Calls for Regional Equity

Rumblings in the South-West region of Nigeria have intensified as the South West APC Support Groups (SASG) expressed concern over what they perceive as a sense of entitlement among chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Lagos State.

The group accused prominent Lagos politicians of disproportionately cornering appointments in the Tinubu administration.

In a statement issued by the National Coordinator of SASG, Otunba Tunde Filani, titled “Dangers of ‘Lagosizing’ Southwest,” the group highlighted the concentration of appointments from the region to politicians based in Lagos, whom they referred to as “Lagos boys.” SASG pointed out that this trend could create division and resentment within the Southwest.

Quoted statement from SASG National Coordinator, Otunba Tunde Filani: “We have observed, with utmost dismay, the ongoing unpleasant development at the presidency whereby most appointments are being filled with ‘Lagos boys’. We the Southwest APC Support groups are constrained to say that this trend, if not checked, might make the Southwest the first boiling point.”

The South West stakeholders emphasized that the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the region’s previous elections was not solely attributed to Lagos State, as other states such as Ondo, Ekiti, and Oyo also played crucial roles in the electoral success. They urged President Tinubu to ensure equitable representation for all Southwest states in his administration, rather than allowing appointments to be dominated by individuals with strong ties to Lagos.

Quoted statement from SASG National Coordinator, Otunba Tunde Filani: “We hereby wish to call the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to this ugly development and to state that a situation whereby politicians from Lagos State are seen to be the ones taking all the benefits that accrue to the entire Southwest is totally unacceptable to other States in the region as Lagos is not the only State in Southwest.”

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The group specifically cited the recent appointment of 20 aides by the president, with about 13 of them being described as Lagos-based politicians. They expressed concern that if this trend continues, it could create tensions within the Southwest and negatively impact the unity of the region.

Quoted statement from SASG National Coordinator, Otunba Tunde Filani: “Looking at the appointments of 20 aides that was recently made by Mr President, we can categorically count on our fingers about 13 of them who are Lagos based.”

Furthermore, SASG highlighted instances where certain Lagos politicians accompanied President Tinubu on official trips and occupied key positions despite lacking official portfolios, raising concerns about favoritism towards the “Lagos boys” at the expense of other Southwest states.

Quoted statement from SASG National Coordinator, Otunba Tunde Filani: “Another scenario is that if you look at Tinubu’s first trip to France as president, those who accompanied him on that journey are those from Lagos despite the fact that most of them are without official portfolio or capacity. This is uncalled for. This administration shouldn’t be made an all-lagos affair. It doesn’t project Mr. President well as a nationalist and a pan-Nigerian leader.”

SASG appealed to President Tinubu to stand firm in ensuring a diverse and inclusive administration that represents the interests of all states in the Southwest. They stressed that such balanced appointments would foster unity and foster a sense of belonging among the diverse communities in the region.

Quoted statement from SASG National Coordinator, Otunba Tunde Filani: “Mr President should stand his ground and not allow himself to be misled under any unwarranted pressure. He should be a president for all.”

The statement concluded with a call for restraint from Lagos politicians in exerting undue pressure on President Tinubu for appointments, reminding them of the contributions made by other states in the Southwest to the success of the APC during the 2023 general elections.

Quoted statement from SASG National Coordinator, Otunba Tunde Filani: “Politicians from Lagos should stop the unwarranted sense of entitlement to this administration as they contributed nothing to the success of Mr. President and cease from giving him unnecessary pressure.”

SASG further appealed to President Tinubu to ensure that other states in the south west zone are given a sense of belonging in his administration.

Quoted statement from SASG National Coordinator, Otunba Tunde Filani: “His appointments should spread out to other States in the Southwest because if not, it will be as if Lagos State is the only State in the entire region.”

The call by SASG comes as a significant voice in the region, reflecting the growing concern among stakeholders about the need for fair and inclusive representation in President Tinubu’s administration. As the debate unfolds, all eyes are on the president to address these issues and ensure that his administration embodies the principles of national unity and equal representation across all Southwest states.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the South West APC Support Groups (SASG) are solely attributed to them and do not represent the views of our organization or reporter