- noting that many top and key ministries and parastatals are led by Nigerians of northern extractions.
Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has refuted claims that the president Bola Tinubu administration has not being fair to the northern region.
He said since Nigeria gained its independence no government has done for the north in terms of appointment what the Tinubu government has done.
He noted that many top and key ministries and parastatals are heades by Nigerians of northern extractions.
He spoke in an interview with the Radio France RFI Hausa Service; monitored by our correspondent in Kaduna on Sunday.
He said: “If the truth shall be told, out of 46 Ministers,24 are from the North. Since we’ve gotten our independence till date, go and investigate, there was never a government where huge government parastatals, from Defense to agriculture, Education, and health were the North in need, who is manning these sectors? Look at the Ministry of Defence, Minister Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar is not from Badagry. He is from Babura in Jigawa. The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle Maradun is not from Mushin.He is an indigene of Maradun in Zamfara.”
“Who is the Minister of Agriculture? Abubakar Kyari. He is not from Ekiti, he hails from Mobbar in Northern Borno. How about the Minister of State, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, he is from Borgu.So, some of these allegations are baseless. The Minister of Education is not from Akoko.Tahir Mamman is from Adamawa. How about the Minister of State, Dr.Yusuf Sunono is from Yauri, not Yewa? So where does this allegation come from?”
“It should be known also, that the President established the Ministry of Livestock for the development of the sector in the North. Who are the animal herders? He also okay the establishment of the North West Development Commission for the uplifting of our people in the North West Zone. There are other several things on the ground.”
“If you look at the Minister of Petroleum, Minister of Gas, they are from the South. But who heads the NNPC? Mele Kolo Kyari. Kyari, even if you heard that name in America, is from Borno. If you go to the Ministry of Marine Transport, Blue Economy, big parastatals under this ministry like the Nigerian Port Authority, the head is Abubakar Tsoho from Taraba. The head of the Shipper’s Council… is from Benue. If you go to the Ministry of Communication, the Minister is indeed a Yoruba man but the huge parastatals there like Nigerian Communication Commission,the Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Wada Maida is a Katsina man.Who heads NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi.”
“So what we are saying, is this does not start today. Just yesterday Rt. Hon Aminu Bello Masari was appointed to head TETFUND, former Governor of Katsina State.”
“So the President loves the North and is grateful to the North. 63% of the votes came from the North and he is very proud of us. He is grateful and honestly, he’s being kind to us. But when it comes to politics no matter what you did, your opponent would always look for where to criticise. There will be a time when we shall mount the drum to talk, to explain whether he kind or not.”
He said the Ministries that get a big chunk of the budget were all headed by ministers of Northern extraction.