Don’t act like Buhari, prioritize competence over nepotism, Shehu Sani tells Tinubu

Politics tamfitronics

Former Kaduna lawmaker Shehu Sani has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against repeating the mistakes of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, particularly regarding appointments.

In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Sani emphasized the importance of prioritizing competence in appointments to achieve tangible results. Reflecting on Buhari’s administration, which spanned from May 2015 to May 2023, Sani highlighted that nepotism was rampant, yet it failed to deliver progress in critical areas such as security, economy, education, and healthcare.

Sani remarked, “I will advise President Tinubu to be careful not to make the mistakes of President Buhari, and I believe he is experienced enough to understand this.”

He criticized Buhari’s approach of retaining ministers for the entire eight years without cabinet reshuffles or timely replacements. “Even if there was a removal, it took three to four months to replace a minister. That was how the country was governed,” Sani noted.

Sani also pointed out the detrimental effects of nepotism during Buhari’s tenure, where individuals were kept in office regardless of their performance. This practice, he argued, not only failed to deliver results but also stunted the careers of competent officers waiting for their turn. “Service chiefs were retained despite their failures, and by retaining them, you destroyed the careers of those behind them,” he said.

To move the country forward, Sani urged that competence should be the primary criterion for appointments. He further criticized political leaders from northern Nigeria for not utilizing their power to address the region’s underdevelopment. “What has all these powers been used for? It has not been used for the benefit of our people for a very long time,” Sani lamented.

By focusing on merit and competence, Sani believes President Tinubu can avoid the pitfalls of the past administration and drive meaningful progress for Nigeria.