"Civil War": Southeast Stakeholders Blast Tinubu Over Customs Controller Tenure Extension
- Stakeholders from the southeastern region of Nigeria have condemned President Bola Tinubu's decision to extend the tenure of the current Controller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Bashir Adewale
- The stakeholders perceived the development as a way of denying B.U. Nwafor, the Deputy Controller of the NCS, from attaining the position
- Lawmaker knocks President Tinubu over his decision as she explains the effect of the civil war still plaguing the region
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Awka, Anambra State - Prominent figures from the southeastern region of Nigeria have voiced their concerns over the approval of the tenure elongation of the current Controller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, by President Bola Tinubu.
Source: Twitter
Legit.ng gathered that the extension granted to Adeniyi has been greeted with outrage and condemnations in Nigeria's Southeast, as stakeholders from the region have viewed the development as a subtle way to deny the next in line, Mrs B.U. Nwafor, the opportunity to assume the position.
Stakeholders voice their displeasure over tenure extension
The stakeholders argued that the customs boss is due to retire from service this year, with many believing his retirement would pave the way for the next in line, Deputy Controller General, B.U. Nwafor, a highly respected officer from Anambra State, is to step in.
In a turn of events, President Tinubu offered a one-year tenure extension for Adewale, thereby scuttling the chances of Nwafor, who is due for retirement in October 2026.
The immediate past National Vice President of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ichie Damian Okeke Ogene, described the development as a continuation of Tinubu's marginalisation of the Igbo people.
In an exclusive interview with a Legit.ng correspondent,
Okeke Ogene said, "Looking at all statutory positions in government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you'll find out that eighty per cent (80%) are occupied and manned by people from the Southwest.
"Federal character principles have been thrown into the dustbin. The tenure extension is purposely orchestrated to stop an Igbo person from heading the Nigerian Customs. Generally, we're not happy about it."
A prominent member of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade John Nweke, has also condemned what he called the alleged denial of Nwafor from attaining the position of Customs Controller General.
In a chat with Legit.ng correspondent, Nweke criticised President Tinubu's decision to extend the tenure of the Customs CG, which he views as a denial of opportunities for Nwafor, who is from the Igbo ethnic group.
He highlighted issues of representation and the importance of allowing individuals from different regions and backgrounds to contribute to national development.
Also voicing her concern, Dr. Philomena Akudo, a prominent member of the Anambra State Association in the United States (ASA-USA), opposed the president's decision to extend the tenure of the CG of the Nigeria Customs Service.
In a chat with Legit.ng correspondent, she argued that Tinubu's decision denied Nwafor, who is from the Igbo ethnic group, the opportunity to take up the position, which Akudo views as a continuation of the marginalisation of her ethnic group under President Tinubu's administration.
Akudo lamented that such decisions undermine the principle of federal character, which she said is meant to ensure representation and equity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.
She expressed concerns about inclusivity and fair representation in government appointments, particularly in a country with a rich tapestry of ethnic diversity.
"This situation highlights ongoing discussions about leadership, representation, and the importance of ensuring that all regions and groups have a voice in national governance. It has happened, and Anambra women are not happy about it," she said.
Civil war still haunts the Southeast region – Lawmaker
A prominent female member of the House of Representatives, who requested anonymity due to concerns about possible intimidation from the current administration and ruling party, has also condemned the president’s tenure extension of Adewale.
She criticised the decision as a blatant denial of Nwafor's rightful succession, who is next in line for the role.
The lawmaker called for an immediate reversal of this decision, arguing that such actions could reinforce perceptions of President Tinubu as a tribalist or despotic leader.
She said, "Already, feelers from the Southeast highlight ongoing frustrations regarding equitable representation and succession in government positions, particularly for qualified candidates from marginalised regions such as the Southeast.
"Mrs Nwafor is the next in line to succeed the current Controller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. Her record is exemplary, her service unblemished, and her rise through the ranks marked by diligence, discipline, and distinction.
"However, in a deeply disappointing turn of events, DCG Nwafor has now been denied this well-deserved elevation following the recent one-year tenure extension granted to CG Adeniyi just days ago.
"A.U. Nwafor's retirement looms in October 2026, and with this manoeuvre, the door has been quietly, but deliberately shut on her legitimate opportunity to lead," the lawmaker explained.
The lawmaker argued that the continuous marginalisation of the southeastern region by the present administration is the unending effect of the civil war, which has denied the region equity in governance.
"Instead, DCG K.I. Adeola is now positioned as the next in line after Nwafor's retirement. A succession plan that feels less like meritocracy and more like a calculated bypass of justice.
"This is not how to heal a nation. This is not how to build trust in the aftermath of the Buhari years, which many Nigerians rightly recall as a season of division, selective appointments, and wounded national spirit.
"The civil war ended nearly sixty years ago, yet the ghost of that conflict still haunts our institutions. Continued marginalisation of the Southeast this time embodied in the denial of an Igbo woman’s rise in the Customs hierarchy, sends a dangerous message to millions who still believe in equity, unity and national inclusion.
"Sadly, many Igbos within the APC have chosen silence, even complicity, when it comes to injustice cloaked in procedure. How can a nation truly move forward when merit is sacrificed at the altar of politics and ethnic manipulation?" She concluded.
Source: UGC
Tinubu approves tenure extension for customs boss
Legit.ng previously reported that President Tinubu has extended the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, by one year. Adeniyi's tenure as Comptroller-General of Customs is due to expire on August 31, 2025.
The extension will enable Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete critical initiatives of this administration.
Northern Nigeria stakeholders decry Tinubu's marginalisation
Legit.ng also reported that leaders from Northern Nigeria's political and civic spheres gathered in Kaduna for a pivotal evaluation of President Bola Tinubu's governance, exposing underlying tensions and disagreements over perceived marginalisation and federal government performance.
Stakeholders held divergent views on President Tinubu's tenure, with some commending his development initiatives and appointments in the North, while others expressed deep concerns about perceived neglect, rising insecurity, and economic exclusion.
Source: Legit.ng
Mokwugo Solomon (Anambra State Correspondent) Anambra's regional correspondent Mokwugwo Solomon is an Editor, Investigative Journalist, and Media Consultant, with a wealth of experience spanning 17 years. He bagged his B/Ed degree in English Education from University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University. After 17 years in various areas of journalism, Mokwugwo Solomon is now the Correspondent of Legit.ng in Anambra State, Nigeria, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. Contact him at: mokwugwosolomon@gmail.com OR: +2348063831036.
Abdul-Hafeez Fadehan (Editorial Assistant) Abdul-Hafeez Fadehan is a Legit.ng journalist with over a year of experience writing for Punch Newspaper. He received his BSc in Criminology and Security Studies from FUOYE. His background in media communications and criminology, with practical experience in research, interviewing, and digital media, allows him to craft compelling narratives that drive positive change. Fadehan is an Editorial Assistant on Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng. He is committed to ethical journalism, leveraging his skills to create a meaningful impact. Reach him at abdul-hafeez.fadehan@corp.legit.ng or 070622666732.
