Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, claims that President Bola Tinubu was the first governor to appoint an Igbo man as a powerful commissioner in his government during his tenure as Lagos State Governor.
It was reported that Tinubu appointed Ben Akabueze as Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, a position known as the most powerful ministry in the Lagos government.
Tinubu also nominated Ben Akabueze for the position of Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation.
According to Omokri, Tinubu was generous in appointing Igbos to prominent positions when he was governor.
His comment comes while disputing claims that President Tinubu extended the tenure of Inspector General of Police, Kayode Igbetokun, because he was unwilling to appoint an Igbo man, Frank Mbah as the IGP.
He said, “President Bola Tinubu was the first and only Governor in the Southwest to make an Igbo man a powerful Commissioner in his government as Lagos Governor. He made Ben Akabueze Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget. The most powerful ministry in the Lagos State Government. He thereafter nominated that Commissioner, Ben Akabueze for appointment as Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation. Asiwaju also gave several prominent positions to people of Igbo origins.
So, it is absurd to say that the President extended the tenure of the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, because he does not want an Igbo man, Frank Mbah, to be the IGP.
Come on, use your heads, and do not allow sentiments to mislead you. Which position is more prominent between the Inspector General of Police and Chief of Naval Staff? Yet, didn't President Tinubu name a man from Enugu, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, as the Chief of Naval Staff?
The position of Inspector General of Police is, by law, a tenured position. Please do not allow Omoyele Sowore to deceive you. Read the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, as amended.
The retirement age for police personnel is 60. However, once you are appointed as an Inspector General of Police, your tenure is four years, irrespective of your age.
Section 7(6) of the Act states, "Any person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years.”
DIG Frank Mbah is a Lagos Boy, born and raised in Lagos. He benefited from the Tinubu administration when the President presided over the Lagos State Government. What these guys are spreading is preposterous propaganda.
DIG Frank Mbah continues to be a golden boy under Tinubu because he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police by President Tinubu, who approved his new rank on Monday, June 17, 2023, a mere two weeks after he assumed office as President of Nigeria.
It was even IGP Egbetokun that decorated Mbah with his new rank.
Please let us focus on facts rather than sentiments. A President who made the wife of Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, a powerful minister, has nothing but love for Ndi'Igbo."
President Bola Tinubu was the first and only Governor in the Southwest to make an Igbo man a powerful Commissioner in his government as Lagos Governor. He made Ben Akabueze Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget. The most powerful ministry in the Lagos State Government. He… pic.twitter.com/3nTLJevgSr
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) February 3, 2025
