Ohanaeze faults tenure extension of Customs CG, demands fairness
The umbrella association of Igbo cultural organisations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has criticised the extension of the tenure of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, by President Bola Tinubu, describing the action as reprehensible. It demanded fairness for the South East.
The umbrella association of Igbo cultural organisations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has criticised the extension of the tenure of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, by
President Bola Tinubu, describing the action as reprehensible. It demanded fairness for the South East.
Ohanaeze spoke in a statement signed by
its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, on Saturday, noting that the extension was to stall the promotion of a Deputy-Comptroller of Customs, B. U. Nwafor, who is from the South East to the CG’s seat.
It further described the purported presidential fiat as selective justice, institutional unfairness, and a blatant display of nepotism over merit.
The statement further read, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed deep dissatisfaction with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his tactful manoeuvre to deny Deputy Controller General of Customs, DCG, BU Nwafor from Anambra State her legitimate right of elevation to the rank of Controller General of Customs, CG.
“President Tinubu, a few days ago, granted a one-year tenure extension to the current Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who is already due for retirement, thereby shortchanging the next in line of succession, DCG BU Nwafor, whose retirement would be due in October 2026.
“With this reprehensible development, the next in hierarchy after Nwafor, DCG KI Adeola, is strategically positioned to take over from CG Adeniyi in 2026, rather than DCG Nwafor.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide sees this selective justice and situational ethics as a crown jewel of institutional unfairness, a peak of favouritism, and an ultimate display of blatant nepotism over merit, bureaucratic standard, and social conscience.
“This discriminatory act is a violation of the principle of national unity and tenets of the Nigerian national anthem, which echoes: ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ in brotherhood, we stand.’
“Is this the prototype of the Nigerian brand of brotherhood and patriotism? Can we continue to pretend that we are one people and one nation in the face of this canonical ethnic profiling?
“We therefore call on President Tinubu to revisit this obvious act of robbing Peter to pay Paul, which amounts to injustice, inequity, failure of public morality, and a bruise on national pride. We once again ask, What has become of the constitutionally provided federal character principle?”
The statement further read, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed deep dissatisfaction with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his tactful manoeuvre to deny Deputy Controller General of Customs, DCG, BU Nwafor from Anambra State her legitimate right of elevation to the rank of Controller General of Customs, CG.
“President Tinubu, a few days ago, granted a one-year tenure extension to the current Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who is already due for retirement, thereby shortchanging the next in line of succession, DCG BU Nwafor, whose retirement would be due in October 2026.
“With this reprehensible development, the next in hierarchy after Nwafor, DCG KI Adeola, is strategically positioned to take over from CG Adeniyi in 2026, rather than DCG Nwafor.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide sees this selective justice and situational ethics as a crown jewel of institutional unfairness, a peak of favouritism, and an ultimate display of blatant nepotism over merit, bureaucratic standard, and social conscience.
“This discriminatory act is a violation of the principle of national unity and tenets of the Nigerian national anthem, which echoes: ‘Though tribe and tongue may differ in brotherhood, we stand.’
“Is this the prototype of the Nigerian brand of brotherhood and patriotism? Can we continue to pretend that we are one people and one nation in the face of this canonical ethnic profiling?
“We therefore call on President Tinubu to revisit this obvious act of robbing Peter to pay Paul, which amounts to injustice, inequity, failure of public morality, and a bruise on national pride. We once again ask, What has become of the constitutionally provided federal character principle?”
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