Hussaini Ibrahim 
Former Kaduna governor, Nasiru El-Rufai
KANO, Nigeria – Former Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai accuses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of nepotism following the release of a list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate for confirmation.
El-Rufai raises the allegation in a statement posted on his verified X account on Tuesday, questioning the regional balance of the nominations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
In the post titled “Tuesday Thought,” the former governor quotes Greek philosopher Marcus Aurelius, writing, “The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”
His remarks follow the circulation of a breakdown of the ambassadorial list widely shared on social media, according to Africa Health Report.
The data shows that the Southwest, President Tinubu’s geopolitical zone, receives the highest number of nominees, while the South South records the least.
The breakdown lists the Southwest with 11 nominees, Southeast with six, Northwest with five, Northeast with five, North Central with five, and South South with three.
El-Rufai argues that the figures reflect a skewed distribution that undermines the federal character principle enshrined in the Constitution.
He warns that such patterns risk deepening perceptions of exclusion and marginalisation among affected regions.
Although El-Rufai does not explicitly mention President Tinubu by name, his comments are widely interpreted as a direct criticism of the president’s appointment strategy.
As of press time, the Presidency has not issued an official response to the allegation or addressed concerns surrounding the ambassadorial list.
The nominations continue to generate debate among political analysts and civil society groups, with renewed calls for transparency, equity and constitutional compliance in federal appointments.
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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Mirian Gom 