Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th National Assembly, has advised President Bola Tinubu to avoid the mistakes in appointments made by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Sani urged President Tinubu to prioritize competence in his appointments to achieve results that will advance the country.
Sani stated, “During Buhari’s eight-year administration from May 2015 to May 2023, nepotism was rampant, yet no significant results were achieved in key areas of governance, including security, economy, education, and healthcare.
“I advise President Tinubu to be cautious not to repeat President Buhari’s mistakes, and I believe he is experienced enough to recognize this.”
He noted that under Buhari, ministers were appointed for the entire eight-year period without cabinet reshuffles or removals. Even when ministers were removed, replacements took three to four months, which hindered governance.
Sani emphasized that nepotism was prevalent under Buhari, with people being appointed and retained despite their lack of performance. He also pointed out that service chiefs were kept in office despite their failures, which negatively impacted the careers of other officers, as many were retired to make way for a single appointment.
To move the country forward, Sani suggested that competency should be the primary criterion for appointments.
He also highlighted that the situation in northern Nigeria reflects the failure of political leaders from the region, who did not use their political power to reduce underdevelopment in the 19 northern states. He questioned the use of power in the region, noting that it has not benefited the people for a long time.