Sowore Denounces Tinubu As Worst Nigerian President On Tribalism
Rights activist and former publisher of SaharaReporters online newspaper, Omoyele Sowore, has chided President Bola Tinubu for being the worst Nigerian leader in the area of promotion of ethnic favouritism in federal appointments.
...Condemns Extension Of Tenure For IGP, Customs, Immigration bosses
Rights activist and former publisher of SaharaReporters online newspaper, Omoyele Sowore, has chided President Bola Tinubu for being the worst Nigerian leader in the area of promotion of ethnic favouritism in federal appointments.
Sowore questioned the continued stay in office of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS,
Kemi Nandap, as well as the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, despite exceeding the statutory 35-year service limit respectively.
In a post on his X handle on Sunday, titled ,
"Governance By Tribalism, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Is The Worst," Sowore described the situation as “governance by tribalism,” describing Tinubu as “the worst” in terms of promoting sectional interests over national unity and the rule of law.
His words, “These officers in the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Customs Service, and Nigeria Immigration Service have exceeded the 35-year service limit and should have retired.
“But due to tribal favoritism, they remain in office.
“Their continued stay in service and office is a violation of service rules and a slap at national integrity. This is not governance, it’s ethnic capture."
The post, was accompanied by the hashtags #RevolutionNow and #TinubuMustGo, signalling Sowore’s continued criticism of the current administration and its policies.
On July 23, 2024, the National Assembly passed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, which specifically targeted the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The bill was initiated by President Bola Tinubu and sent to both chambers of the National Assembly. It swiftly passed through second and third readings in the Senate and House of Representatives on the same day.
The amendment introduced a new subsection, Section 18(8A), which states: “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (8) of this section, any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”
This amendment effectively overrides the mandatory retirement age of 60 or 35 years of service, allowing IGP Egbetokun, who turned 60 in September 2024, to remain in office until October 31, 2027.
The tenure extension quickly drew sharp criticism from legal experts, civil society groups, and political activists.
The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, ALDRAP, noted that the amendment violates Sections 214–216 of the 1999 Constitution, which govern police appointments and tenure, adding that only a constitutional amendment can override the retirement provisions.
Prominent human rights lawyer Chidi Odinkalu also criticised the speed and secrecy of the bill’s passage, calling it a “dangerous precedent” that undermines democratic norms, even as the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, defended the extension, saying that the amendment was passed before Egbetokun’s retirement date, making it legally valid under the revised Police Act.
On March 31, 2025, President Tinubu approved an extension of Mrs. Nandap’s tenure as the NIS Comptroller-General through December 31, 2026.
Mrs Nandap began her career in the NIS on October 9, 1989.
Similarly, the Citizen Initiative for Good Governance, CIGG, recently urged the National Assembly to block any attempt to extend Adeniyi’s tenure. The group accused the customs leadership of fostering corruption, revenue leakages, and promotion based on bribery.
“Their continued stay in service and office is a violation of service rules and a slap at national integrity. This is not governance, it’s ethnic capture."
The post, was accompanied by the hashtags #RevolutionNow and #TinubuMustGo, signalling Sowore’s continued criticism of the current administration and its policies.
On July 23, 2024, the National Assembly passed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, which specifically targeted the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The bill was initiated by President Bola Tinubu and sent to both chambers of the National Assembly. It swiftly passed through second and third readings in the Senate and House of Representatives on the same day.
The amendment introduced a new subsection, Section 18(8A), which states: “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (8) of this section, any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”
This amendment effectively overrides the mandatory retirement age of 60 or 35 years of service, allowing IGP Egbetokun, who turned 60 in September 2024, to remain in office until October 31, 2027.
The tenure extension quickly drew sharp criticism from legal experts, civil society groups, and political activists.
The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, ALDRAP, noted that the amendment violates Sections 214–216 of the 1999 Constitution, which govern police appointments and tenure, adding that only a constitutional amendment can override the retirement provisions.
Prominent human rights lawyer Chidi Odinkalu also criticised the speed and secrecy of the bill’s passage, calling it a “dangerous precedent” that undermines democratic norms, even as the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, defended the extension, saying that the amendment was passed before Egbetokun’s retirement date, making it legally valid under the revised Police Act.
On March 31, 2025, President Tinubu approved an extension of Mrs. Nandap’s tenure as the NIS Comptroller-General through December 31, 2026.
Mrs Nandap began her career in the NIS on October 9, 1989.
Similarly, the Citizen Initiative for Good Governance, CIGG, recently urged the National Assembly to block any attempt to extend Adeniyi’s tenure. The group accused the customs leadership of fostering corruption, revenue leakages, and promotion based on bribery.
What's Your Reaction?
