Shehu Sani, a former federal lawmaker from Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the Eighth National Assembly, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against repeating the errors made by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari. Sani urged the president to focus on appointing competent individuals to key positions. He made these remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
Sani pointed out that during Buhari’s eight-year tenure from May 2015 to May 2023, nepotism was rampant. He explained, “I advise President Tinubu to avoid the mistakes of President Buhari. I believe he has the experience to understand this.”
The former senator criticized the lack of cabinet reshuffles during Buhari’s administration, noting that ministers were retained for both terms without significant changes. He added, “Under President Buhari, ministers were in office for the entire eight years without reshuffles or prompt replacements when necessary. This was how the country was managed.”
Sani also highlighted the prevalence of nepotism under Buhari, stating that many officials remained in their positions regardless of their performance. He noted, “Service chiefs were kept in office despite their failures, which hindered the careers of others. Many officers were retired to accommodate the retention of a few.”
Sani emphasized that if Tinubu aims for progress, competence should be the primary criterion for appointments. He concluded, “For this country to move forward, competency must be the standard for appointments.”