By Nidala M. Rabi'u A wave of political outrage has erupted over the appointment of Aliyu Tajudeen, brother of the Speaker ...
By Nidala M. Rabi'u
A wave of political outrage has erupted over the appointment of Aliyu Tajudeen, brother of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, to a key federal position, replacing the earlier nominee, Hon. Jaja.
The development has been condemned by the Northern Youth Political Thinkers, who accused the Speaker of nepotism and violating the principles of merit and fairness.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the group’s spokesperson, Comrade Bukar Jiddah, the group described the appointment as “a betrayal of public trust and a clear abuse of office.”
According to the group, Hon. Jaja was originally nominated by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, citing his track record, political experience, and grassroots support. However, his name was reportedly removed at the last minute and replaced with that of the Speaker’s brother.
“This sudden substitution reeks of favoritism, abuse of office, and a blatant disregard for meritocracy,” the statement said. “While we do not oppose Aliyu Tajudeen’s right to public service, we strongly condemn the unjust replacement of a more qualified candidate due to familial connections.”
The group warned that allowing such actions to go unchecked could set a dangerous precedent in which appointments are based on family ties rather than competence.
“Nigeria’s democracy must reward loyalty, experience, and competence—not nepotism. If positions were handed out solely based on bloodlines, individuals like Seyi Tinubu or Yusuf Buhari would be in charge of everything,” the statement added.
The group argued that Aliyu Tajudeen lacks the political pedigree, administrative experience, and community engagement that Hon. Jaja brings to the table.
They also described the override of Governor Sani’s nomination as a slight to the governor’s authority and a weakening of democratic processes.
The Northern Youth Political Thinkers called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani to urgently revisit the appointment and launch a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the last-minute change.
“The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, should know better than to condone or facilitate such blatant cronyism. Leadership demands transparency, justice, and accountability,” the group said.
They concluded by urging the federal government to take immediate corrective action, warning that failure to address the issue could further erode public confidence in democratic institutions.
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