The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu for extending the tenure of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, describing the move as a clear display of “institutional injustice and ethnic bigotry.”
In a statement released on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, Ohanaeze accused the President of deliberately blocking the elevation of Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) BU Nwafor from Anambra State, who was widely seen as the rightful successor to the position.
“President Tinubu’s decision to extend CG Bashir Adeniyi’s tenure, despite his retirement timeline, is a calculated move to sideline DCG Nwafor from assuming leadership,” the statement alleged. “This action appears designed to pave the way for DCG KI Adeola—junior to Nwafor but expected to remain in service beyond 2026—to eventually take over.”
Nwafor, who is due to retire in October 2026, is now at risk of being overtaken by a less senior official, according to Ohanaeze.
Calling the decision “the crown-jewel of institutional unfairness,” Ohanaeze accused the federal government of undermining merit, promoting ethnic favoritism, and violating the spirit of unity embodied in Nigeria’s national anthem. “Is this the Nigerian version of brotherhood? Can we continue to claim we are one nation amid such ethnic profiling?” the group questioned.
Ohanaeze also condemned the move as a breach of the constitutional federal character principle, which seeks to ensure fair representation across all regions and ethnic groups.
The group urged President Tinubu to immediately reverse what it described as “an injustice, an ethical failure, and a bruise on the nation’s collective pride.”
“What has become of the constitutionally provided federal character principle?” the statement concluded.
