By Okoi Obono-Obla
Ethnicity vs Merit: Nigeria’s Leadership Debate
This morning, I woke up surprised to see a message from my Facebook friend, Mr. Smart Okeke. In the interest of transparency—and because the issue he raised touches on matters of public concern—I informed him that I would make both his message and my response public. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and debates about its governance must be conducted openly and responsibly.
The Trigger: Mr. Smart Okeke’s Concerns
Mr. Okeke wrote:
> “Good morning Chief,
> Nigeria is our primary cause, and it is only in a better Nigeria that we shall all find full expression of our endowments. Your stature in society is towering, and only a hallucinating mind would attempt to cast aspersions on your well-earned prestige.
>
However, certain things happening in Nigeria should be looked at beyond politics. Nepotism is rife, tribalism entrenched, and some frustrations that fueled the 1966–1970 crisis are gradually resurfacing. If we are truly multi-ethnic, is the absolute dominance we see across governance right?
>
> Fake Agency With 300 Workers, ₦24bn Take-off Grant and ₦1.3bn Budgetary Allocation:
> – President is Yoruba
> – Chief of Staff is Yoruba
> – CBN Governor is Yoruba
> – Minister of Finance is Yoruba
> – Minister of State for Finance is Yoruba
> – Accountant General of the Federation is Yoruba
> – Auditor General of the Federation is Yoruba
> – Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation is Yoruba
> – House Committee Chairman on Appropriation is Yoruba
> – DG of the Fake Agency is Yoruba
> – DG of the Fake Agency accused the Chief of Staff Gbajabiamila, also Yoruba
> – President Tinubu, Yoruba, is expected to investigate with Yoruba officials: DG DSS, EFCC Chairman, ICPC Chairman, NIA Chairman, IG of Police.
>
> The case will be ‘Amala and Ewedu,’ swallowed with Coca-Cola. This mediocrity MUST END in 2027.”
My Response: Beyond Ethnic Calculations
While I appreciate Mr. Okeke’s passion, I vehemently disagree with the ethnic framing of national appointments. Nigeria cannot progress if every decision is reduced to tribal arithmetic.
– The Chairman of ICPC is Dr. Adamu Musa Aliyu, SAN, a Fulani man from Kano State—not Yoruba.
– The EFCC Chairman is a seasoned lawyer, formerly Chief of Staff to Ibrahim Magu and later Secretary of the EFCC under President Muhammadu Buhari. He specializes in money laundering and economic crimes. His competence, not ethnicity, qualifies him.
– The Inspector General of Police is Yoruba, but that should not disqualify him. Under President Buhari, all IGPs came from the North, and heavens did not fall.
– The DG of NIA under President Buhari was from Kano and performed competently. Ethnicity did not diminish his effectiveness.
– The Chief of Staff is a discretionary appointment, not constitutional. Every President appoints someone trusted and close.
– The Minister of Finance and CBN Governor being Yoruba or South-Western should not be an issue. President Jonathan appointed Godwin Emefiele and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from his own region, and heavens did not fall.
– The Accountant General and Auditor General are civil service positions filled by seniority under Public Service Rules.
– The Senate and House Committee Chairmen are legislative positions, not presidential appointments. Concerns should be directed to representatives.
– The claim about a “fake agency” remains an allegation until proven in court.
Conclusion: Merit Over Tribe
If we are serious about changing Nigeria, we must rise above the prism of tribe, ethnicity, religion, or sectionalism. What matters is competence, qualification, and integrity. If the current government is deemed mediocre, the democratic process allows Nigerians to wait until 2027 to vote for a party that prioritizes meritocracy.
Nigeria’s tomorrow depends not on ethnic dominance but on building institutions that reward excellence and integrity.
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