On Monday, August 7, the Senate confirmed 45 of the 48 ministerial nominees sent to it by President Bola Tinubu. However, it deferred the confirmation of three nominees – Nasir el-Rufai, Sani Danladi, and Stella Okotete – due to undisclosed security concerns.

Tinubu transmitted the names of the 48 nominees in three separate correspondences to the Senate on different dates, which included replacements for previous nominees. Many Nigerians are perplexed by this development, as nominees are expected to pass security clearance before Senate consideration.

There seems to be a hidden factor at play, and some speculate that the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies may have conducted due diligence, but it's unclear why these concerns were not addressed earlier. There is an expectation that these nominees, especially El-Rufai, might eventually be cleared if Tinubu desires it.

The Senate faced criticism for their swift confirmation of nominees, including one with a reported minimal academic record. The senators were allegedly rewarded financially for their cooperation, which was inadvertently exposed during a live session.

While there are concerns about the Senate's performance under Akpabio's leadership, the main focus shifts back to the composition of Tinubu's 48-member cabinet. Some find it bloated, considering the country's financial challenges. However, the most significant issue is the perceived disregard for the South-East.

Tinubu's cabinet nominations appear skewed, with a lack of proportional representation for the South-East, violating the Federal Character principle. This treatment has caused discontent, as the South-East feels marginalized. The Constitution stipulates one minister from each state and additional ministers based on geopolitical zones. However, Tinubu's approach seems to have overlooked this balance.

The South-East is the only region without zonal representation, despite having five states, leading to a significant underrepresentation compared to other regions. This lack of fairness and equity raises questions about Tinubu's intentions, as it appears he's continuing a pattern of political exclusion seen in Buhari's doctrine.

Although APC holds power in two South-East states, the region feels singled out for reprisals. Some are puzzled by this, considering that other regions also showed mixed results in the presidential election. The unequal representation in the 48-member cabinet emphasizes the region's perceived marginalization and raises concerns about Tinubu's political direction.

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