The founding National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Prof. Udenta O. Udenta, has voiced serious concerns about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sensitivity to Nigeria’s ethnic diversity.
During his appearance on Channel TV’s ‘Sunday Politics’, Prof. Udenta, a distinguished Fellow at the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, articulated his worries regarding the ethnic affiliations and inclinations of President Tinubu.
The scholar shed light on the complex dynamics of ethnicity in Nigerian politics, which significantly influence governance and national unity. He emphasized that Tinubu’s ethnic orientation could have profound implications for his administration’s policies and the nation’s cohesion.
He argued that recognizing the ethnic dimensions of leadership—essential for understanding legitimacy—is vital for promoting inclusivity and addressing the multifaceted challenges Nigeria faces today.
“It’s troubling, to say the least; the bigger question of legitimacy lies with the composition of the governance infrastructure. Are you aware that four ministers represent Ogun state and 5 ministers represent the South East zone? Almost ⅓ of the country’s population has four ministers, and one state of the federation has four ministers.
“Legitimacy is inclusive democracy and inclusive government. There are four key dimensions of governance: the criminal justice system headed by the president under him, the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General, the DSS and EFCC, all from one geopolitical basket of this country. Not because there’s a consensus of elements within that basket, but a narrow insular, almost primitive, chauvinistic manipulation of power to capture the criminal justice system.
“Secondly, the infrastructure of economic governance, outside of the President, the coordinating minister of the economy and the finance minister, the CBN governor, the digital economy minister, blue economy minister, FIRS, custom, immigration, etc., all under one geopolitical zone.
“Thirdly, if you look at the security apparatus; Army, Air force, Immigration, Customs, Immigration, Police all from one political zone, This is shocking! How can you improve the economy? How can you galvanize the people to buy into your project of governance when they feel completely annihilated? Inside the Villa, you’ve the Chief of Staff, Bayo Onanuga, you’ve now brought in Sunday Dare, you’ve Chief of Protocol, you’ve the commander of the Brigade of Guards, the ADC all from one basket of the country. This is wakeup call not just for the nation but for the Yoruba people- a proud, glorious people I worked with.”
Prof. Udenta also criticized the current administration for attempting to stifle the media, asserting that a free press is essential for the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
“The publication by the Guardian merely reflects the desperation felt by the citizens of this country. It serves as a wakeup call and does not warrant a heavy-handed rebuttal from the government. In their response, they are trying to crush an ant with a sledgehammer, intimidating the media into neglecting its fundamental duty to the people of Nigeria.”
