What If Tinubu Brags About 62% Muslim Appointments?

By Rasheed Abubakar, Publisher, Muslim News Nigeria

The presidency recently boasted about Christian-dominated appointments and Nigerian Muslims are expected to stay silent. The front page of ThisDay newspaper on Friday, May 16, 2025, carried a headline that should concern every Nigerian Muslim:

“Tinubu Heads to Rome on Pope Leo XIV’s Invitation with Bragging Rights of 62% Christian Appointees”. That claim wasn’t a media spin. It reportedly came directly from the presidency, according to the newspaper.

But beyond lamentations, do Muslims really have any manifest or covert strategy, locally and globally?

Imagine the reverse. If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or any Muslim president had boasted of 62% of his appointments being Muslims, despite being a majority Muslim country, the nation would have been in turmoil. There would have been media-unleashed brouhaha. Front page condemnations would have emerged, series of TV panels would have been concocted and sensationalised, emergency NGO press releases would have surfaced and international headlines about “Islamisation” from the Islamophobes who often disguise as activists and journalists would have pervaded the media space.

But since the appointments favour Christians, many of those openly opposed to President Tinubu’s election suddenly consider the development as a ‘proud accomplishment’ with uncanny narrative and dubious commentaries being spun to support the unjust and wicked development. And the presidency expects Muslims to accept this lopsided development quietly, with applause, isn’t it?

Numbers reflect a story of exclusion

Of the remaining 38% appointments, the overwhelming majority are from the North, meaning that Southern Muslims, the same people who defended and voted for the President massively are left with a paltry share.

The marginalisation becomes more painful when one remembers how many unscrupulous Christian leaders as well as Christian denominations and communities secretly and openly rejected the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, labeling it “Muslim-Muslim”, portraying it as a threat to national unity and a veritable expressway to complete and radical ‘Islamisation’ of Nigeria. The hostility persisted despite the repeated explanation of political expediency for the choice of Tinubu-Shettima and notwithstanding the fact that Tinubu’s family is essentially Christian with a devout Redeemer wife.

Today, those same critics are the greatest beneficiaries of Tinubu-Shettima presidency. Of course, Muslims are known for always being just and fair whenever they hold positions of authority.

Is Tinubu to blame?

Politically speaking, while Tinubu needs to appease the aggrieved Christians and Christian community and convince them that the Muslim-Muslim ticket does not represent any danger to Christendom, he must as a necessity reward Muslims, particularly the short changed Southern Muslims in his second term if he emerges. This he must do to be just and fair to all.

Nonetheless, Muslims must ask themselves these tough questions:

– Do they engage the political process smartly?

Do they build the capacity to demand fair representation?

Do we know how to convert numbers into negotiation power?

The bitter truth is: Muslims have become used to mere lamentations. They complain and agitate when wronged, but rarely follow through with strategic actions.

And this isn’t just a Nigerian problem, it’s a reflection of the pathetic global conditions of Muslims.

Palestine and the global Muslim dilemma comes to mind.

In the besieged Gaza, Palestinians, particularly innocent children and women are being slaughtered and starved real-time. Yet, Muslim leaders across the world remain unable to mount an effective, united response. Why? It is because most of them lack the military and diplomatic strength to act.

Despite a population of over 1.9 billion, the Muslim world remains fragmented, weak, and overly dependent.

Western powers have successfully divided Muslims by nationality – then demand that no nation should ever interfere in each other’s affairs. That way, they easily isolate and crush one Muslim population at a time, while others watch helplessly.

What Must Be Done?

Nigerian Muslims must say: Enough is Enough to token representation and empty outrage. They must organise politically, invest in leadership development, and build institutions that can influence policy and public perception. Our engagement must be tactical, strategic, consistent, and united – across sects, tribes, and regions.

To Muslims globally: Unity is not optional. They need to build joint institutions, support one another economically, and speak with one voice on global issues. The world will not respect a disorganised community, nation or an Ummah that refuses to build internal strength and strengthen its external actions with unity.

The time for endless lamentations is over. What Muslims need now is focus, unity, and collective capacity. Until we act like a serious people, no one will take us seriously.

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