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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Presidency has described recent nepotism allegation against Acting President Yemi Osinbajo as untrue, unfair and laughable.
Ismaila Farouk from Zamfara State had, in an article, accused Osinbajo of appointing his aides either from his home State, Ogun or his church, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) into federal agencies.
Farouk described the appointments as sectional and not in the interest of the North.
But, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Legal Matters, Dr Bilkisu Saidu, who spoke on “Shirin Safe’’, an interview programme on BBC Hausa Radio yesterday, described the nepotism allegation as simply “laughable, untrue, unfair and should not be taken seriously.”
She said contrary to Farouk’s conclusions, most senior positions in the vice president’s office are held by Muslims, including northerners.
“If you are talking about religion, the most senior official or position in the Office of the Vice President, apart from the Vice President himself, is the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and the name of the person occupying that office is Abdulrahman Ipaye, a Muslim.’’
“The positions following the Chief of Staff, in the order of hierarchy, are the Special Advisers in the office of the Vice President. Here, there are three Special Advisers and two out of them are Muslims, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Barrister Mariam Uwais from Kano State,’’ she added.
Saidu said a cursory look at the other senior positions in the vice president’s office indicate that religious consideration was never a factor in the appointment of the officers.
“If you look at the remaining senior positions, most of them are held by Muslims from the North. For instance, the Director of Protocol is Ambassador Abdullahi Gwary from Yobe State; those in charge of welfare and health in the office of the Vice President are mostly Muslims from the north.
“Worthy of note is the stewards who serve the Vice President’s meals, they are mostly Muslims, so, what do the critics mean when they talk about religion?” She asked.
Saidu concluded that when non-progressive minded people fail to win public support on their personal agenda, they often resort to the use of religion considering its sensitivity among Nigerians.
“When people have exhausted all avenues to speak evil against perceived opponents or ridicule the good works they are doing, they resort to use of religion or other means possible to damage the image and reputation of such opponent,” she said.
