Nigeria: Governors seek juicy appointments as Tinubu eyes technocrats
By
Eniola Akinkuotu
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Posted on
April 24, 2023 11:25
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President-elect, arrives polling unit during the 2023 Governorship and State House of Assembly at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday. (Photo by Adekunle Ajayi / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)
With Nigeria’s debt, inflation and unemployment rates at an all-time high and foreign direct investment at a record low, the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, hopes to make some key appointments from the private sector to turn things around. However, at least eight serving governors and other political gladiators are seeking juicy appointments as rewards for their role in Tinubu’s victory. How will he balance political expediency with competence?
Simon Lalong’s plan was to be elected to the Senate after the expiration of his tenure as governor of Plateau State. This has become the norm for many outgoing governors in Nigeria who seek to remain politically relevant after their tenure.
However, he was defeated by a retired general, Napoleon Bali of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the general election and ought to be preparing to proceed on political retirement.
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