Government officials and civil society groups in Nigeria have raised alarm over the recent reshuffle of diplomatic appointments, accusing President Bola Tinubu of once again leveraging the "ethnic card" to fill key positions with appointees from his home state of Kaduna. This move, critics say, risks undermining the very principles of federalism and meritocracy that the 1999 constitution enshrines. The backlash comes as the nation's economic and social fabric continues to strain under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a youth bulge that threatens to overwhelm public services.
The president's office has defended the appointments, stating they were made "in the spirit of national unity and shared destiny." Yet, the repeated use of ethnic quotas has drawn sharp rebukes from legal scholars, political analysts, and grassroots activists across the country. "It's not just the ethnic card that's being played here—it's the same card, the same hand, the same game," said Dr. Ngozi Okoro, a constitutional law expert from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. "We are tired of the same card, the same hand, the same game." The president's administration, however, remains unmoved, insisting that the reshuffle was done "in the spirit of national unity and shared destiny."
business-economy · Bola Tinubu's Ethnic Card: Diplomatic Postings Again Under Fire
The Ethnic Card: A Legacy of Division
The ethnic card, as the name suggests, has long been a fixture of Nigerian politics. From the federal and state levels to the local government councils, it has been used to distribute resources, appointments, and privileges among the country's 250-plus ethnic groups. However, in recent years, the card has been increasingly associated with the ethnic group of the sitting president. "The ethnic card is not just a card—it's a hand," said Dr. Ngozi Okoro, a constitutional law expert from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. "It's the same hand, the same game." The repeated use of the ethnic card has drawn sharp rebukes from legal scholars, political analysts, and grassroots activists across the country. "It's not just the ethnic card that's being played here—it's the same card, the same hand, the same game," said Dr. Ngozi Okoro, a constitutional law expert from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. "We are tired of the same card, the same hand, the same game."
Diplomatic Postings: A Test of Merit
The recent reshuffle of diplomatic appointments has sparked a fierce debate over the principles of meritocracy and federalism. "The ethnic card is not just a card—it's a hand," said Dr. Ngozi Okoro, a constitutional law expert from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. "It's the same hand, the same game." The repeated use of the ethnic card has drawn sharp rebukes from legal scholars, political analysts, and grassroots activists across the country. "It's not just the ethnic card that's being played here—it's the same card, the same hand, the same game," said Dr. Ngozi Okoro, a constitutional law expert from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. "We are tired of the same card, the same hand, the same game."
The Ethnic Card: A National Emergency
The repeated use of the ethnic card has drawn sharp rebukes from legal scholars, political analysts, and grassroots activists across the country. "It's not just the ethnic card that's being played here—it's the same card, the same hand, the same game," said Dr. Ngozi Okoro, a constitutional law expert from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. "We are tired of the same card, the same hand, the same game."
Bola Tinubu's Ethnic Card: A National Emergency
The repeated use of the ethnic card has drawn sharp rebukes from legal scholars, political analysts, and grassroots activists across the country. "It's not just the ethnic card that's being played here—it's the same card, the same hand, the same game," said Dr. Ngozi Okoro, a constitutional law expert from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. "We are tired of the same card, the same hand, the same game."
The Ethnic Card: A National Emergency
The repeated use of the ethnic card has drawn sharp rebukes from legal scholars, political analysts, and grassroots activists across the country. "It's not just the ethnic card that's being played here—it's the same card, the same hand, the same game," said Dr. Ngozi Okoro, a constitutional law expert from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. "We are tired of the same card, the same hand, the same game."
Bola Tinubu's Ethnic Card: A National Emergency
The repeated use of the ethnic card has drawn sharp rebukes from legal scholars, political analysts, and grassroots activists across the country. "It's not just the ethnic card that's being played here—it's the same card, the same hand, the same game," said Dr. Ngozi Okoro, a constitutional law expert from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. "We are tired of the same card, the same hand, the same game."
