Abuja – The Northern Nigeria Minorities Group NNMG has condemned attempts to ethnicise the nomination of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission INEC describing criticisms unwarranted, divisive and dangerous to national cohesion.
NNMG Convener Chief Jacob Edi (Kakaki Bassange) stated that Professor Amupitan, a renowned legal scholar, Senior Advocate of Nigeria hails from the Okun ethnic group of Kogi State, minority nationality Northern Nigeria, emphasizing that the North comprises 19 states with diverse ethnic cultural identities but “none superior to another tribe, tongue or faith.”
“We are deeply concerned with the spate of commentaries on social media tirades portraying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Amupitan as ethnic bias. Nothing could be more farther from the truth,” statement read. NNMG noted that the nomination marks the first time in 65 years since Nigeria established statutory electoral commission in 1959 that northern minority is appointed to lead it.
Edi urged Nigerians to recognise northern minorities as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project, and not just as mere demographic fillers stressing that inclusivity strengthens democracy. The statement condemned “old dangerous trend” that began in the Obasanjo administration where appointments of northern minorities were dismissed as “not northern enough.”
“The North defined geography — broad, inclusive, inherently multi-ethnic. Those promoting narrow, toxic narrative are the real enemies of national unity,” the group warned outlining position by reducing leadership choices to ethnic arithmetic undermines strong region nation while divisive thinking, which is outdated, is also contrary to modern governance ideals; competence, integrity, capacity — not ethnicity — guide national appointments.
NNMG described Professor Amupitan’s nomination as “milestone equity, meritocracy, inclusivity” commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recognising North’s diversity and ensuring every segments of the federation feel a sense of belonging. “Time for ethnic arithmetic is over. It is now the era of competence, fairness and national responsibility,” the statement concluded.
“Northern minorities not just minorities — but together, forms a stabilising force of federation true believers in Nigeria’s unity and progress,” Chief Jacob Edi affirmed.
