Shehu Sani, a former senator representing Kaduna Central, says northern Nigerians remained silent during the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari because they benefitted from a culture of nepotism and favouritism.
Sani made the remark during Politics Today, a Channels Television on Thursday.
He said Buhari’s government gave priority to appointments from Katsina, the former president’s home state.
Sani listed several top positions that were filled by individuals from Katsina, including the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
His words: “The DG of SSS, Daura was from Katsina state, the DG of NIA, Rufai was from Katsina state, the MPA, my sister Hadiza, she’s from Katsina state, Director of Federal Mortgage Bank, Katsina state, SMEDAN, Katsina state, FRCN Katsina state, NIMET Katsina state, NIMASA Katsina state, Railway Corporation, Katsina state.
“All those things, you don’t talk of Chairman of federal civil service — about 30 of them — we don’t have time, I can state all of them. All from Katsina state.”
The former lawmaker said military and paramilitary appointments were also skewed in favour of the northern region.
He cited examples such as the comptroller general of immigration, comptroller general of customs, commandant general of civil defence, and chairman of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Sani said northern voices remained muted because the region was the primary beneficiary of the imbalance.
According to him, the same silence would not have occurred if the situation had been reversed.
He said many southerners are now vocal about perceived lopsidedness in President Bola Tinubu’s appointments, suggesting that northerners would have reacted similarly if roles were reversed.