El-Rufai Reacts as Kperogi Accuses Tinubu of Appointing Yoruba People to Major Positions in NNPCL

• Professor Farooq Kperogi has criticised President Bola Tinubu's appointments, accusing him of ethnic favouritism in the NNPCL by appointing "Yoruba people" to prominent positions
• Kperogi drew parallels between Tinubu's alleged actions and former President Muhammadu Buhari's "Arewacentricity" during his tenure
• In response, Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna state, said, "two wrongs do not make a right" and advocated for "sensible inclusion" over "arrogant exclusion"

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state, has weighed in on Professor Farooq Kperogi’s recent criticism of alleged ethnic favouritism in President Bola Tinubu's appointments.

In an article titled "Tinubu's Buharisation of the NNPC," Kperogi accused President Tinubu of appointing "Yoruba people" to significant positions at the NNPC.

He said an anonymous source claimed that a certain Bayo Ojulari is “being proposed as GMD after Mele Kyari’s term expires” in early 2024.

Read also

NNPCL reacts as Kperogi accuses Tinubu of appointing Yoruba people to top positions in oil company

I haven’t independently confirmed the accuracy of this claim," Kperogi wrote, "but given the closeness of the source of information to people in the circles of power, it’s probably best to not dismiss this with the wave of the hand."

Tinubu repeating what Buhari did - Kperogi

Kperogi drew parallels between Tinubu's alleged "Yorubacentric" appointments in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and the "Arewacentricity" he criticised during former President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure.

“Tinubu is doing in the economy sector what Buhari did in security sector,” Kperogi stated.

He added that the concentration of Yoruba figures in critical economic roles, including the minister of finance and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), represents "state-sanctioned ethnocentric domination of a critical segment of national life."

Two wrongs do not make a right: Nasir El-Rufai reacts

Reacting to Kperogi's article on X, El-Rufai said two wrongs do not make a right.

Read also

Reno Omokri tells Northerners what to do about Niger Republic allegations

His words:

“Two wrongs do not make a right. Sensible inclusion always trumps arrogant exclusion!”

Kperogi's allegations: NNPCL reacts

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the NNPCL debunked allegations of ethnic bias in its leadership structure, stating that employment decisions are based solely on merit.

In a statement made available to Legit.ng on Saturday, December 28, Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the NNPC Ltd., addressed concerns raised in Kperogi's article.

Soneye clarified that the NNPC's leadership structure is guided by business requirements, expertise, and merit rather than ethnicity, tribe, religion, or political affiliation. He said the NNPCL prides itself on being a professional organisation with a diverse leadership lineup, including individuals from various parts of the world.

Source: Legit.ng