Re: The Appointment of Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari as GCEO of NNPC Ltd
The Yoruba Initiative has noted with grave concern the controversy surrounding the appointment of Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).
In a statement signed by its secretary Olufemi Adefemiwa read:
“Despite his undisputed qualifications, technocratic expertise, and lifelong ties to Northern Nigeria—including being born and raised in the region and educated at Ahmadu Bello University—Ojulari’s appointment has come under tribal scrutiny by sections of the northern elite who question whether he is “northern enough” to lead the nation’s foremost oil institution.
“This ethnic second-guessing of a federal appointment is a dangerous indictment of the imbalanced federalism Nigeria continues to practice. That Ojulari felt compelled to go on BBC Hausa to affirm his “northern credentials” rather than focus on national priorities is deeply troubling. It reflects a culture where national institutions are viewed as regional preserves, rather than the collective property of all Nigerians.
“A Pattern of Lopsided Appointments
In the past decade alone, the leadership of NNPC has been monopolized by individuals from the North:
• Joseph Thlama Dawha (Borno State): 2014–2015
• Maikanti Baru (Bauchi State): 2016–2019
• Mele Kyari (Borno State): 2019–2025
The reaction to Engr. Ojulari’s appointment—despite his northern upbringing—suggests that even the slightest perception of regional balance is unacceptable to certain interests. This is a grave affront to national unity and meritocracy.
Federal Institutions Must Serve the Federation
The Yoruba Initiative categorically states that national institutions like the NNPC must not be reduced to the political estates of any tribe or region. It is unacceptable that a Nigerian technocrat is forced to pledge loyalty to a region before assuming office in a federal role. Such actions diminish the legitimacy of our constitutional order and erode public confidence in the integrity of national appointments.
Let us be clear: if every geopolitical zone were to adopt a similar mindset—claiming exclusive ownership of institutions or sectors located within their domain—Nigeria would quickly unravel.
A Call for Equity and National Consciousness
We call on all Nigerians—especially those in leadership—to resist the urge to ethnicize every federal appointment. No region has a monopoly on competence. The idea that a post once held by one part of the country must forever remain with that region is not only parochial; it is an existential threat to Nigeria’s future.
Engr. Ojulari’s appointment should signal a long-overdue rebalancing of representation in our critical sectors. Instead, the response has exposed entrenched biases that must be dismantled if Nigeria is ever to function as a true federation.
Conclusion
The Yoruba Initiative affirms its support for equity, merit, and inclusivity in the governance of our national institutions. The federal character principle must not be applied selectively. We reject the notion of ethnic gatekeeping in national affairs and urge the Presidency and all Nigerians to stand firm in upholding the values of unity in diversity.
Nigeria belongs to all of us. It’s time we began to act like it.”
Signed,
Femi Adefemiwa
General Secretary
For The Yoruba Initiative
