President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has stirred controversy by appointing his son-in-law, Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, as the head of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), raising concerns about nepotism.
Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo is married to Mr. Tinubu’s eldest daughter, Folashade, marking the first instance of President Tinubu appointing a relative to a position within the federal government.
The presidency, in announcing Mr. Ojo’s appointment, highlighted his “over a decade of work experience in the housing and hospitality industries,” along with his previous tenure as a member of the House of Representatives.
However, the move has ignited a strong backlash on social media, with many questioning the decision and suggesting that there were more qualified candidates for the role.
“Blatant nepotism is a leadership weakness. It’s unfortunate Nigerian leaders don’t see it as a form of ethical failure,” remarked one individual on X platform.
Nevertheless, some have defended Mr. Ojo’s appointment, arguing that his familial ties to the president should not disqualify him from government positions.
The appointment of Mr. Ojo is part of President Tinubu’s broader efforts to revamp the management of the housing ministry, with the FHA, falling under its purview, tasked with facilitating the delivery of affordable housing across Nigeria.
At the time of reporting, the government had not issued a response to the criticisms surrounding Mr. Ojo’s appointment.